Julie Mullen on Identity, Creativity and Totnes Town

I am no stranger to knocking on doors for opportunities, well, ok, back in the day, and most definitely in the 90’s.

After training at Mabel Fletcher College Liverpool (Theatre Studies Course) and London (Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art/accredited drama school) I was perplexed and disheartened to find myself leaving college without an agent or indeed, an acting job.  Lots of people came out of Webber D with agents and theatrical contracts, offers of TV roles and more.  Amongst the alumni are actors such as the renowned Minnie Driver, Mark Frankel (RIP) and Angela Lansbury, the list flourishes on.   They all trained at Webber D and doubtless left with an entourage of agents carrying offers in their dozens like happy go lucky bagels.

But I did land an agent eventually, in fact I landed many agents, I just kept changing them.  After 20 years of toil and too many poorly bashed door knockers, I left the profession.

Or did I?

These days, what makes me tick is a day at the art studio, flying paint into corners of the room with some of it reaching my blank canvas.  Other days see me using pastels and pencils to discover some real humdingers, very scary characters; that’s me in drawing mode.   Life is rich when I am writing poetry or performing with musicians to achieve that ‘improv nirvana’ ….  But in the old days the complexities and vicissitudes were many when unravelling the bellybutton of enlightenment, the question, the big question was always ….” what do I want to do when I grow up?”

Up For Grabs

At the ripe old age of 66 I’ve had to submit to the fact I just love being creative.  Whether it be dressing up as my muse ‘Foggy Perkins’ she’s particularly intimidating but with a heart of gold.  Or reading from my first poetry book “Erotic Poetry For Vegans & Vegetarians” or most recently performing with the band originating from Manchester & Berlin called ‘GOOD TROUBLE’ at The Barrel House, Ballroom space, Totnes (they were in residence for a week).  It occurs to me that all is up for grabs.

I don’t say, “who am I and what is my purpose” anymore, because it is so apparent that the mischievous Liverpudlian is alive and kicking and still beating the knocker of life into submission.  Meeting Tracie Gillies at The Barrel House has been a life changer.  Tracie manifests and she manifests BIG and SMART and she is outrageously creative.  She’s provided us, the town, with the succulent, remorseless, fabulous, crazy, ecstatic, you know, those nourish nights out we all crave.  Dancing until the early hours or watching extraordinary plays, countless DJ’s and bands, plus bringing the heart-touching, inspiring singing voices to Totnes including: Mae Karthauser, Holly Ebony and Poppy-Jayne Jones to name but a few.

Magical

It’s all that can be imagined in this beautiful town.  I often see Tracie pinning up posters even on a Sunday when by rights she ought to be at home eating her lunch and relaxing.   Totnes is magical, if you are new to this town then you are in for a huge treat.  Creative flair abounds and frankly you can’t help but catch something; lyrics of a song, healthy enthusiastic banter about politics but above all enthusiasm for life.

DIY

When I first arrived in Devon ten years ago I was looking for poetry events and felt a bit let down but soon realised I just hadn’t been looking hard enough.  The poetry King and Queen (Simon Williams and Susan Taylor) put me right and now I am fully imbedded with a diary of extraordinary nights.  The free event that is ‘POETS AND PINTS’ at The Library Bar, Barrel House (2nd Monday of the month).  The Word Café upstairs in the Ballroom (next gig Wednesday 25th September).  There is so much poetry happening in Plymouth and Exeter.  I’d say the spoken word scene is endemic.

what do I want to do when I grow up?

I feel like Totnes is a town for dreaming, for all the do-ers, makers, believers, lovers, speakers, diviners and those who just want to be.  Take a walk down the town and see the young lads that run ‘Gather’ Restaurant, Michelin rated.  Further up the town you’ve got ‘The Bull ‘with their recent award Sustainability Award at the 2024 NRAs.  Then brand spanking new is ‘The Angel,’ I’ve heard tell it is splendiferous.

But whatever you do, don’t ignore the smaller places like luncheon or just coffee and cake at Canteen, entrance through The Mansion House, what a find that is.  All the cafés including Kommüne, the only place I know in the world that serves coffee from a stylish campervan with the Australian barista Justin keeping everyone in stitches, a real comedian……opposite to Justin’s gaff sits The Hairy Barista, then on the plains & High Street, The Curator Café.  The magical second-hand book shop on Castle Street.  The fabulous book shops including The East Gate bookshop and Dartington just for starters.  Jackie Juno is usually in the market on Friday or Saturday or both reading the  tarot cards and don’t forget the market.  Wow to the market including the food stalls.

We came here to escape London and breathe the fresh air of Devon but it has brought us so many gifts, untold gifts.  Recently I had my photographs taken by Tamás Kovács a Hungarian studying in Plymouth.  Yet another layer of creative possibility that just happened as easy as peas falling out of a tin.  I met Tamás at SOAK a performance art night in Plymouth.  Tamás took some great pics and we connected.  Further down the line he agreed to come to Totnes and we spent three hours conjuring up the shots.  With locations such as The Totnes Cinema, The Barrel House Ballroom and finally my studio at 58 Fore Street.

The last set of professional headshots I had taken were in 1993, snapped by the Russian photographer Sasha Gusov.  Walking into his studio in Shoreditch, London, was like arriving on a filmset.  “Look at me like you love me” he snarled.  He made the shots and they got me a lot of work in television.  A week ago working with Tamás was a much quieter affair but boy did he provide me some fabulous photographs to work with.  Surreal, ebullient, poised and quirky would be words I’d use to describe them.  The experience left me hungry for more collaboration.  I can do some of this stuff on my own but I really know that the real magic, the page turners, the miracles, the limitless possibility begins when I ask YOU —TO WORK WITH ME.

 

So, get out there and ASK and make or just be, just as you wish your life to appear.  The right now.  The here.  Hopscotch and lemonade, it’s a date!