Backstage at The Gateway – with theatre manager Sophia Moseley

Looking out of the Gateway Theatre office windows, across to Windsor Gardens, the trees have burst into their summer foliage, and the town council have been busy tidying and planting, so it's all looking very pretty over there.

The seagulls have been busy too. According to my ornithological intel, gulls poop far more during the nesting season, which is why I try and park my car as close to the theatre as possible, so their trajectory is stymied.

My dear old mum used to tell me it's good luck to be pooped on your left shoulder. I'm sure it's an urban myth, bit like the one that says it's good fortune to have rain on your wedding day. That proved to be a fallacy too.

Anyway, there were some far more beautiful and less messy birds at The Gateway this month, in the guise of swans, when we live streamed the utterly gorgeous ballet, Swan Lake. Can there be a more popular ballet, and the Dance of the Cygnets flew me off to my younger days, when I had a brief sojourn on stage wearing my tutu. Sadly, my two left feet turned the elegance of a swan into the waddle of a duck.

Have you seen our latest programme brochure and if you have, did you notice the subtle nod to the Platinum Jubilee? Answers on a postcard, or Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram. There will be a drink on the house for the first person to get the answer right.

Were you at our Open House for the Trooping the Colour? There's nowhere in the world that does parade ground soldiering like our boys and girls, and the fly-past was incredible.

Given his recent publicity, we wondered if Tom Cruise would be joining in with a quick flip over in a MiG-28 or an F-18 Fighter Jet. I've dropped him a line to see if he'd like to come along to our special Top Gun Maverick Gala Weekend. I'll keep you posted.

We were hit by lightning on Saturday night, and it took out one of our satellites which meant we lost the signal for the last few minutes of the Party at the Palace. But our audience left in very high spirits despite the abrupt finish.

Just wondering where the rest of you were, and why you didn't come along to watch this fantastic concert on the big screen? You missed a treat.

We went to Le Pisani for lunch to say a very big and special thank you to someone. It's the first time I've sat there in the window looking out onto the pathway between the two halves of town, and what a great place it is to people watch. I wonder how much busier it will be when Aldi rock up.

Meanwhile, Damian, who runs the Taekwondo Club, has been beside himself with excitement. The Grand Master Shin Byeounghyun visited the Seaton club, and they went for a meal afterwards. I'm not sure the butterflies in his stomach had calmed down by then, he was still buzzing the next day.

If you want some excitement of your own, then get yourself some tickets to our Maverick Gala Night. There won't be a lightning strike, but I guarantee you'll hit a high.