Yasmin’s Blog

Day 1 – Monday 1 June 2026

Ok so I wake up, too early, 9ish. I was ready by 10, even though I’m meant to be here at 2:30…. anyway! I got here at 2:05, I knew the route, since I used to live right next door then moved , then came here with my school in 2025- long story- I don’t care, I went Tesco, got myself a Dr Pepper , I love Dr Pepper it’s my child no matter what, and I walked it here from Tesco– I love saying Tesco– but my god 2.10 quid for a Dr Pepper? The Nisa next door sells a can for 39p! absolute SCAM.

Any who, I arrived, buzzed the buzzer after staring at it for an extra minute, and I was buzzed in, the stairs? CREACKY, I’m still scared of them. As I walked upstairs, I was greeted by Lydia (she’s amazing the sweetest and kindest person you will ever meet and she will absolutely understand your needs and accommodate them), who double checked that I was Yasmin, I am- I think?

She then gave me my own desk- I HAVE A DESK and I was very happy even though I felt so nervous. Then I was led around the WHOLE of Half Moon, from foyer to bathrooms to red rooms and studios and basements (which are apparently haunted), the red room? Has hidden away dressing tables, with lights! If you’re an actor you’ll love it, and there was an ironing board- It reminds me of the show I did at Queens Theatre Hornchurch- then I got shown the upper studio- THAT’S where the Youth Theatre groups (ages 8 and under) are placed, it’s the size of a- half an office? and very homely in a sense.

Then I was taken to the basement, apparently it was messy (it was not) well- depends on your point of view, I saw it as a kind of chaotic fun organised messy- my motto-

 ‘So long as you know where everything is, who cares if its messy?’ – Yasmin 2026

The props room? Amazing, I loved it there, everything roughly organised and tangled (it was torturous but you’ll see why later), then there’s the workshop, cardboard boxes paint saws tools wood- you name it- it’s there, it’s like the mitochondria of prop creation, then there were STAIRS– if you don’t know me- hi I’m Yasmin and I’ve hurt my ankle multiple times from stairs, 2 times led me to being in a boot on the SAME FOOT–  stairs are scary but I conquered my fear internally and walked up them.

Then, I helped Shjodi gather props for the Youth Theatre group I would watch that night, Solar, we got their bucket of props from the night before and started gathering some silly murder weapons, such as, a tiny banana, a coat hanger boomerang, a phone, a pair of headphones  (which we substituted with ear defenders) and a cup?

What murder are you going to commit? Murder by a banana peel? Oh well.

We bought it all upstairs and I started reading other people’s blogs and typing mine, then I went on my break! I left went to this place called Beyond Boba– it’s a straight line there and back, I got a Lotus Biscoff milk tea- heavenly- and I walked it back and stood outside for 10 minutes and came back in 10 minutes early.

Then Ron gave me a job, print out his letters and stable a leaflet onto it, it was about helping Year 6s transition to Year 7s, Next Steps- WHY DIDN’T I HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY? – anyway, I got 52 done yesterday and left them on my desk. Then the team working with Solar arrives and they did a briefing, which I sat in on, they were all so welcoming and sweet and I felt comfortable in that space within seconds.

Once Solar came in, we began with a movement and our names, then a movement circle, where we’d follow each other’s movements, one of the young people chose the song ‘Zoo’ from Zootropolis 2, and it was a nice way to get out a lot of energy. After that we did a sound circle, where we had to make sounds we’d hear on a holiday- let’s just say- we never left the airport.

Then, Solar split off into their groups to start planning their scenes for their show in a few weeks (which I’m hoping I can go to!) and whilst that happened, me and Shjodi were sent off on a quest- to find these LED glasses with battery packs.

When I say we were in the basement for ages I MEAN it.

It took us a while to find them, then even longer to untangle them. But we got it eventually and were able to return them upstairs. After that we had a 15-minute break, then returned and started watching each other act, as the acted I got given a camera and I took some photos of them acting, I loved their performances! The were all so amazing, once everyone was finished preforming we all celebrated by doing jazz hands! Which was amazing as it allows those who are overwhelmed by clapping to celebrate.

Afterwards, I had to sneak out like some sort of- uh- fox? Into the deep depths of the door near the tech box area, I returned the camera, and gathered up my things, I said goodbye to Lydia and went home, constantly rerunning the whole day over and over because I loved it

Just so you are aware I heard the following songs that day on their radio that I remember: Lush Life, Midnight Sun by Zara Larson, Saphire by Ed Sheran, and Homewrecker by Sombr.

I also saw an Emirates Airbus A380-100 landing at LHR (London Heathrow Airport)

Day 2 – Tuesday 2 June 2026

Can I be so honest? DAY DOS was just a chill day, so calm so relaxing, I loved it.

I came in first, I had my umbrella- it rained A LOT– and they have a bucket for your umbrellas!

I came in, put my umbrella down and found MORE PAPERS TO STAPLE on my desk, 32 to be exact, I counted! So, I stapled them, then was asked to meet some people from this place called Chickenshed. I met 3 university students (and they were really nice) and we sat together and Androulla told them about the history of Half Moon and answered some of their questions.

Then, whilst they went on a tour of Half Moon, I chose to stay back and focus on writing DAY UNO of my blog, and in 1 sitting? Got the whole thing written, then I was given another task, on DAY UNO I did some tallying of survey sheets, and I had to put it in a spreadsheet alongside the public’s answers to the questions.

Then I had my break, what did I do? Went to the greenroom, ate my lunch of a cheese sandwich from Tesco and a packet of Skips, then went to one of the windows on the side of the building and started plane-spotting (I LOVE planes) and saw a few planes, Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000, Royal Jordanian Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, both going to LHR (London Heathrow Airport) alongside British Airways Embraer 190SR, and Heltivic Airways Embraer 1902R taking off from LCY (London City Airport), I also saw a Lufthansa Airbus A320-NEO in a holding pattern mauver in the distance (a holding pattern mauver is when you plane stayed at the altitude it is at and fly’s in circles for a multitude of reasons- e.g. a crowded airport), when my break was over, the plane was on its third loop.

Once my break was done and I went back to my desk, it was time for the Youth Theatre to arrive, Eclipse, and we got ready, I met the team that was leading them and sat in their briefing.

Then in came all the children, they are all nice and there was this very chaotic but joyful energy surrounding us, that whole session I was taking photos! I loved operating the camera, but the battery kept dying even though it was fully charged??? WHY DID IT KEEP DYING?!?!– It was confusing, very confusing.

Afterwards, I got to witness the children putting their piece together and running through it, which was amazing to see, and then I got to see the ending of their piece be created (I won’t spoil it but if you’re going to see their show? You’ll for sure be blown away, for sure.)

That day, the radio played the same songs as yesterday, plus Back to Friends by Sombr.

Day 3 – Wednesday 3 June 2026

So, I spent the start of my day writing DAY DOS.

My whole break consisted of me downing the 2 chocolates (a Galaxy and Mars bar) I bought and reading the final report for the Tenerife airport disaster in 1977 and then also looking at the airplane models that flew from LCY and into LHR yesterday.

Then, once my break was over, Ron returned and he printed the letters out and I did MORE STAPLING! I stapled 37 papers yesterday; I was very proud of myself.

Then, we both started talking about the older Youth Theatre group Orbit, and how I knew a few people from there (shout out to Jannah and Fareeda, you two are my literal sisters <3), then we moved onto the topic of what I do outside of school- and I won’t bore you with the list- actually- I WILL! BECAUSE I AM PROUD!

Within the past 4 years of being at secondary school, I have done: 3 shows for National Theatre Connections: The Sad Club, YOU 2.0, and Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, written a play for New Views with Jannah called Flatline, written multiple poems for First Story (and I’m having 2 published), I’ve done the school musical for 4 years now, The Wiz as a Munchkin, Singing In The Rain as Dora Bailey, Hairspray as Wilbur Turnblad and Oliver as Noah Claypole I’ve been doing dance for a year, I’ve learnt electric guitar and I am currently learning bass, I have worked with Voces8 to teach primary school children to sing, the Tenebrae Choir group, and BBC in Year 7 or 8. Then outside of school I am in the TH Youth Council, and I ran for Young Mayor.

Then, I was given a camera, and for the first half of the Young Theatre group, Equinox, I was taking photos and just- enjoying the hyper energetic energy. Then, when they went on a break, I went and helped Shjodi somewhat organise the props and costume room, putting away the props from yesterday’s group, and constantly reminding her not to forget her keys.

By the time we returned (Time moves FAST down there) it was 5:45pm, and I spent the rest of the time just, talking to her, and when I had to go home, I almost cried because it was my last time seeing her (since she wasn’t in Thursday or Friday).

Ok I’ll admit I shed a few tears on the way home- but I saw JAL Airlines Airbus A350-1000 (Japan airlines) landing at LHR and A Bombardier Challenger 200 (in simple terms. A private jet) taking off from LCY.

That day, the radio played Dracula by Tame Impala ft. Jennie and Gods Plan by Drake.

Day 4 – Thursday 4 June 2026

So, I came in at 10am today and started typing DAY TROIS on Shjodi’s computer (I MISS HERRRR) there was also a CPD session for GCSE Drama teachers.

It was mainly an office day. I stapled about 30 more papers for Ron, then I started designing posters with prompts for the art cart, I made 2: MAKE YOUR OWN BOUQUET and MAKE YOUR OWN LAPTOP before I went onto my lunch.

During my lunch I started walking around the area eating my chocolate and saw 2 Aer Lingus Airbus A320-251N’s landing at LHR, a Eurowings Airbus A319-132 landing at LHR, an IndiGo Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner going from MAN (Manchester) to DEL (Delhi), a British Airways Embraer 190SR taking off from LCY, a Saudia Boeing 777-3FG(ER) landing at LHR, and Qatar Airways Boeing 777-3DZ(ER) landing at LHR. 

Then I came back, made 4 more posters: MAKE YOUR OWN DRINKS SHOP, DRAW YOUR FAVOURITE FOOD WITH ARMS AND LEGS, DRAW ONLY USING CIRCLES, and DRAW YOURSELF AS A ROBOT.

After that, I helped Lydia take the tea cart for the CPD session upstairs and helped with the washing up, and once that was done, I came back downstairs, finished colouring my posters, and I left at exactly 4pm on the dot.

When I left, I saw a British Airways Airbus A321-251NXA landing at LHR. And after that? I went to see The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act at Cineworld! All I will say is that its PHENOMENOL. After that I also saw a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-312(ER) landing at LHR and a British Airways Embraer E190SR taking off from LCY.

On the radio that day was: Hate That I Made You Love Me by Ariana Grande, Dracula by Tame Impala ft. Jennie (again) Saphire by Ed Sheran (again) Bad Habit by Ed Sheran and Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter.

Day 5 – Thursday 5 June 2026

Sad times, sad times, last day today, I genuinely want to cry!

On the way to the theatre I bought everyone a box of Dairy Milk and chocolate Hobnobs and saw a British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and another British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner landing at LHR.

Theres a show today called Take Flight, a baby show for ages 0-2, it’s like an ariel performance, very colourful and it felt kind of magical, in a sense.

Whilst the crew came in and started setting up, I helped Emily take up benches into the theatre and set up and connect chairs which didn’t take long, but I had to go get another chair, it was quite fun and easy though.

Then I gave Lydia the box of Dairy Milk and the Hobnobs I got for everyone, she showed everyone what I bought, and they were all so grateful I was about to cry there and then.

After that? I watched as people came in and waited for the show to start (I saw a teacher from my school! Shout out to her) and once everyone was inside the theatre and sat, I returned to my desk, sat down and started typing yesterday and today.

After all of that? I helped usher people again, then watched the show with them, and let me tell you? It is CAPTIVATING, the colours, the audience interactions, it was amazing

My break? I’m sat here typing again, but I saw a Eurowings Airbus A319-132 landing at LHR and a British Airways Embraer E190SR taking off from LCY. A Qatar Airways Boeing 777-3DZ(ER) landing at LHR, an ITA Airways Airbus A220-100 taking off from LCY, a British Airways Embraer E190SR taking off from LCY, a British Airways Boeing 777-236(ER) landing at LHR, another British Airways Boeing 777-336(ER) landing at LHR, another British Airways Embraer E190SR taking off from LCY, Asiana Airlines Airbus A350-941 landing at LHR, ANOTHER 2 British Airways Embraer E190SRs taking off from LCY, (why are there so many BA’s- oh yea- WE’RE IN BRITAN), a SAS Airbus A320-251N landing at LHR, and an Uzbekistan Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner landing at LHR.

I put up my posters above the art cart and just filled in my final feedback form, stapled a few more papers, filled in a few name tags.

I think I might end the blog here

Shout outs to Lydia, Shjodi, Androulla, Ron, Stephen, Nichole, Rachael, both Emily’s, and anyone else I met along the way because remembering names? It’s HARD.

Thank you for all the memories I’ve made here!