21st February 2009

I have just received an email from a friend saying great website but you haven't up-dated it since 2005! So here's a potted history! I got pregnant at the end of 2005 whilst living in Madrid and gave birth to our adorable daughter Amélie in July 2006. My husband Jack then got another tour of Cats! playing Munkustrap so we moved to Basel, then Munich and then I gave birth in London. In 2007 Jack was cast as the lead in Roman Polanski's Dance of the Vampires in Berlin so we moved there for 6 months which was amazing. I have carried on working on and off since Amélie was born whilst being pretty much a full time mum and have continued to produce NewsRevue in Edinburgh and co-produce the London show. It celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and we have some exciting plans ahead.

The first show I directed after becoming a mum was David Mamet's The Shawl in 2008 at the Canal Cafe, where I'm still artistic director, with a stunning cast including my dear friend Scarlie currently playing Mary Poppins on Broadway.

Last year I was also sent a wonderful new script by Lynn Howes after an idea by fabulous photographer Stefan Lubomirski de Vaux and after I directed a staged reading of it at the West End's Prince of Wales Theatre, Lynn, Stefan and I recently formed a production company called Spellbound Theatrical Productions and we'll mount Stage Fright at the Canal Cafe in October 2009. Abi Titmuss and Sion Tudor Owen have done some further readings of the play and subject to contract they'll be treading the Canal's boards in the Autumn. Watch this space and I promise to up-date you in less than 4 years!

On the performing front I'm delighted to be working again with Sam Sanns and writer Andrew Doyle. After our total sell out of Sam 'n' Emma in Pop Tarts at the Pleasance, Edinburgh, 2003 it's taken Sam and I just 5 years to do another show together. Andrew was one of our writers on Pop Tarts and he's written an absolute gem for us. It's called How to Save the World.

Earlier this month I co-presented the Fringe Report Awards at Leicester Square Theatre with John Park, Martin Witts and Sarah Louise Young. I'm so proud to be a part of the Fringe Report community and am immensely impressed with how John has built up its profile. I am now director of Fringe Report mothers group so if you're a mum working in the arts please email me at: emma.taylor@fringereport.com.

27th November 2005

I have a confession to make! I received an email from somebody else called Emma Taylor saying 'we rock!' I was actually christened Joanne Louise Nemeth and then decided to change my name. After much contemplation I came up with  Emma Taylor! My married name is Emma Rebaldi!

3rd October 2005

May 2005

The picture on the right was taken by the wonderful photographer Kerstin Alm at the Cannes Film Festival. My husband Jack Rebaldi and I were covering the festival for a TV show and ended up taking part in the 24 Hour Film Challenge - you have 24 hours to write, film, edit and transfer a 3 minute short. You put your hand in a hat and take out a random film title (Lost Identity) and genre (Mockumentary). We blagged our way 'back stage' at the Ritz Carlton Hotel and received complete red carpet star treatment. The 'Golden Girls'  from Energetix provided me with the jewels - earrings and jewel encrusted bracelet - both of which they let me keep! Dress designer Karen Brost had a wonderful collection and I was really spoilt for choice but fell in love with this green silk dress. The clock was ticking and the dress was too big but Karen pinned it up to perfection. Alas there were no shoes so bless her she lent me her own silver mules, two sizes too big but it was those or my puma trainers. The outfit was perfect for the character ~ Zsa Zsa a former Hollywood star who had suddenly lost something. I won't say what!

     We were in the ideal place to start filming. We even did a shoot on the steps of the hotel complete with paparazzi - I can't believe we got away with it! Carlos on our crew managed to film Samuel L. Jackson, Paris Hilton and Kevin Bacon walking the streets of Cannes so they're also in our film! My 'Bacon number' is now officially 1. (You know the 6 Degrees of Separation Theory...)

          The shoot was a fairytale and the editing went well but the transfer from computer to DVD was a nightmare. Miraculously at the 11th or rather the 24th hour it all came together. Phew! The screening of all 12 entries inside the UK Film Tent alas was fraught with technical hitches but it just added to the intensity!

     There's an unexpected twist in Lost Identity that had the audience laughing out loud because it was 'very Cannes'. Everyone was saying it's bound to be ours that wins - but we didn't! Still, it was a great experience and I really enjoyed the film that won and lots of the others too. I highly recommend taking part.

To find out when and where the next one is go to:  www.oddballchallenge.com