B (7:47)

Well, you know, I just might have asked a little question when we were on holiday in Disneyland Paris and we got engaged.

A (7:55)

Yay. Erin and I are now engaged.

B (7:57)

We are.

A (7:58)

We've announced this via social media but wanted to come on here and tell you in case you're not following us on those platforms, which first of all, rude. Just wanted to.

B (8:07)

I was going to plug us Mickey Jo theatre. Aaron James UK I already have.

A (8:11)

Oh, I've said it like three times in this video. Go follow Erin AaronJamesUK A E R O N We got engaged a couple weeks ago and the first story I want you to tell is the engagement that you were planning to do before. I made your plans difficult by deciding to go to Brazil at the last minute.

B (8:29)

One of your all time favorite shows is Les Mis and it means it has many, many significant meanings to you.

A (8:35)

I think it's my number two show of all time.

B (8:37)

So we're in the process of planning were gonna be invited to the theatre for interviews and then be surprised and I'd be there and stuff. So it was already gonna be difficult because I was like, oh, then after that we could have a fun evening or we'd see the show or something like that. But obviously knew that if you were invited to do an interview, you would plan the day to be very productive and efficient.

A (8:59)

I would plan every single minute of that day.

B (9:02)

You would have been so, like, right, we'll see this show afterwards and I'm gonna rush there and like, I probably.

A (9:08)

Would have worn like an Enjolras cosplay that I have and then I would have been like, I'm getting engaged in an Enjolras cosplay. Like, I'd have had fake dirt on my face. It wouldn't have been good. It wouldn't have been good. It's a lovely idea. But ultimately what ended up happening is we'd booked a trip to go back to Disneyland Paris. Then also for the weekend after that, I had started to make last minute plans to go to Brazil. Those plans all came together very quickly.

B (9:36)

So I Was kind of like, I Dr. Rather ask a question before you go to Brazil, because that was scaring me, seeing you go on your own. So I'd rather. That would have kept me a bit calmer. I, at that point, had already, like a month before, had already sorted out kind of the rings. Hello. So this is. Will be past Erin when Mickey and everybody sees this, but me and the parents have just been to the Jewelry Quarter, so I'm from the Midlands, so it's. So the Jewelry Quarter is somewhere that I've always been aware of. It's famous for rings and incredible jewellery and it's where people travel across the nation to. To get their rings. And so we went to. We went right here to Dripdorp to look at an engagement ring for me and Mickey. And the first one I saw we got. And it was a lovely, lovely experience. And. Yeah. So part one success, we have the rings, which means it's happening, which makes me nervous. But, yeah, so that had already been sorted before, kind of the specific plans so that I knew they were on route, but they were en route kind of on a day, which would have been fine with a few days to go. And I was like, actually, this will all work for Disneyland Paris at this exact time. Mickey here decided that we were going to go to do the crazy north trip that you've seen to do Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield.

A (11:07)

I was like, what if we go and stay in Leeds and then we can go see In Dreams? Because we were already planning to see Saigon. I was like, oh, what if we go up the night before we can see In Dreams? We'll go straight from the Derren Brown event. We can fly from Manchester to Disney and it's perfect. But that meant your life was tricky again.

B (11:24)

Yeah, it meant that I literally, I think I had one hour because I couldn't go to Derren Brown.

A (11:30)

Because you were waiting for.

B (11:32)

I was waiting for the rings to.

A (11:33)

Come, at which point I was kind of like, I didn't press you on it, but I was like, this seems like a very important delivery.

B (11:39)

It was stressful. My mom reminded me that Disney Store did the castle engagement ring boxes that also were Christmas decorations, so that you can then, like, have it on your tree afterwards. So it's not just for a moment. And so do you want to go get it? Got that?

A (11:55)

Yeah.

B (11:55)

Let me go get it. So this is it. So I went and got it. And when you open it and there's.

A (12:02)

A mirror, only imagine a ring inside.

B (12:04)

And a ring. And it also says inside, will you Marry me.

A (12:08)

I didn't even see that.

B (12:09)

Will you marry me?

A (12:11)

And this is the ring. These are the rings.

B (12:13)

Oh, yeah. So people thought that we were engaged. They're diamond cut, which means that they're very sparkly without having.

A (12:20)

You mean people thought that we were married?

B (12:22)

Yeah, loads of people thought we were married.

A (12:23)

We're not married. We're just engaged.

B (12:24)

We're just engaged. It's just that we both wanted to have rings so that somebody didn't think one of us were engaged and the other one wasn't.

A (12:31)

I didn't know for like straight people that men don't get rings of their own.

B (12:35)

Yeah, weird.

A (12:37)

Alright. Yeah. I want you to have a ring. Yeah, yeah. We both get rings.

B (12:40)

Yeah.

A (12:40)

And they're matching.

B (12:41)

Yeah.

A (12:42)

I never realized how hairy my hands were until I had to show lots.

B (12:44)

Of close up pictures.

A (12:46)

I now understand why you were so stressed at airport security as well.

B (12:49)

Yes. I'd heard of people recently having moments where somebody figured out they were getting engaged to at the airport security because of a beep and stuff. So I just wanted to ensure that like I'd done everything possible but there was no way that it would get found out. Like I made sure you met in front of me at security when we were kind of moving and stuff. It was always in the bag that I knew that you wouldn't look through when we were in Manchester and then when we were in Disney.

A (13:16)

Because you were planning to do it on the first evening.

B (13:19)

And I did do it on the first evening.

A (13:20)

I know. And you. But you'd said to me you'd booked.

B (13:24)

So I booked Walt's for the Saturday.

A (13:26)

Which is a lovely restaurant which overlooks Main street.

B (13:29)

And you see the parade go by and it's very like.

A (13:31)

And you kind of suggested to me I should bring a nice shirt. So I was like, am I getting proposed to at Waltz? And so I kind of had that in the back of my mind, especially with you having to wait in for a big parcel. And you hadn't told me what it was. I was like, I feel like I'm putting this all together, but. So I thought you were gonna do it on Saturday and we'd arrived on the Friday, but then we were heading into the park on the Friday into.

B (13:50)

Main Disneyland park and it was Bastille Day. So all the fireworks and like the special drones and everything. So I knew that would be happening on the evening. So I felt like if. If we got engaged before and asked the question before then that would be like a really nice and special Kind of way to top off at evening. And it's a day that you won't forget. Like date wise, it's a. It's a memorable.

A (14:13)

Now we'll always know what day we got engaged because it will always be best deal day.

B (14:16)

Exactly.

A (14:17)

But you were like, let's go walk over here. Which is something that like you never do. And I was like, oh, it's happening now. And you wanted to.

B (14:26)

Well, before that we kept changing glasses.

A (14:29)

Oh, I kept changing between my sunglasses and glasses. And I was like, can I get my glasses out of the bag? And you kept doing it for me. And I was like, I can do it. And you kept not wanting me to.

B (14:38)

Go in the bag because you will see it. Because I had two ring boxes as well as that in. Because I changed it over but then needed them in there because mine was in there as well so that I could put mine in afterwards if you'd said yes. So then that was all there. So every time you asked, I was like, wait one moment. And lounge. Flies are great for carrying stuff, but difficult to maneuver stuff without having to get something out.

A (15:04)

So we went to the. We didn't do it. You didn't ask me in front of the castle, which I appreciate is in.

B (15:10)

Front of the castle, but it wasn't a castle.

A (15:14)

I didn't need an audience. I didn't need lots of European people clapping. But we went to the little. What's it called? The.

B (15:23)

So there's a wishing well. Wishing well in front of the castle. It's by the castle stage.

A (15:26)

Why did I want to say enchanted mill? I was like, what's the word for the thing with the bucket? And it goes. I know. I just couldn't think of the word for well.

B (15:33)

Well. So it's like this. It's kind of like the snow white wishing. The snow white well that they have in front of the castle to the side by the castle stage. And I knew that you have a castle behind it. It's really pretty, but it's also a special area that's kind of keep quiet.

A (15:48)

It's cute.

B (15:49)

It keeps quiet. And it's kind of there for that purpose.

A (15:52)

And you're waiting for people to dissipate. And you were like, look at all these details on the castle. And I was trying to help you out.

B (15:57)

And I was like, it's trickier on bus steel day when it is a literal fall park.

A (16:02)

I was playing along and then we went over to go and look at the wishing well. And I was like, oh, cute. Such attention to Detail. They've even got a fake pigeon.

B (16:10)

It was not a fake pigeon. Our heads were underneath in that gap, thinking in a well. So we're looking up, and it was in the roof. And I was like, that is a real pigeon. And I looked. I could. There were signs that a real pigeon was there, but you didn't believe me. And then it started blinking. And I instantly thought, if that flies or tries to escape now, we are gonna get hit.

A (16:30)

You ran away.

B (16:32)

Well, then I was a bit like, veto plan.

A (16:35)

But then I'm sure it was a fake pigeon. I'm still convinced at this point it wasn't real pigeon.

B (16:40)

By the time we got back.

A (16:41)

Well, yeah, no, now I know.

B (16:42)

But at the time, yeah, you were so certain. So then I kind of was like, okay, let's go into fantasyland.

A (16:48)

So you took me to the bit where Cinderella's carriage is.

B (16:51)

So a burge de Cinderella, a Burgessendre Lyon. There we go. They have a courtyard in the middle of it, which is kind of normally is really cute. And you can look out because it kind of looks out through the castle and down. So I was like, oh, back up, because it'll be quiet. I think Internet was just like, where is quiet? And then didn't realize that there were maintenance works in that area, which was not my issue.

A (17:16)

My issue was it was just a little too much Cinderella, I will never live this down. And then you were scrambling at this point.

B (17:23)

Well, it was difficult because it was so busy. And I was thinking, I don't know if it's gonna happen, though, because I can't think of anywhere else that's quiet. I suddenly was thinking, oh, maybe at the top of, like, the Queen of Hearts castle in the Alice maze, because it's got the view of the castle behind it, but also lots of people going up there.

A (17:41)

You suggested we went on it. And I was like, no, it's always horribly busy up there, because at this point, I know what's going on. So I'm as much trying to help you out as anything. Being, like, without telling me that's happening. He didn't. You didn't know that I knew?

B (17:52)

No, I just had a weird feeling of when you were like, let's go this way. Actually, I was like.

A (17:58)

And then we went on It's a Small World, and we happened to get the back row of the boat to ourselves. And I was like, is he gonna ask me to marry him on It's a Small World?

B (18:06)

That was not gonna happen.

A (18:07)

And so I was just wandering the whole way Around. I was like, is this it? Is this the place?

B (18:11)

It's funny as well because we always play games on it. Small World every time. Like, we'll do a count how many.

A (18:16)

Instruments or spot the animals. And so I was like, how can I make Small World romantic? And so I was. Was I like couples?

B (18:23)

Yeah.

A (18:23)

Did I, like, spot the couples? I was trying to help. I was trying to. I was trying to force a romantic atmosphere on It's A Small World After All.

B (18:31)

And I was like, it is not happening here.

A (18:33)

And then I decided to develop a sense of humour and. Because at this point, I know what's going on. And I thought it would be funny to see how you would react.

B (18:42)

It was not funny.

A (18:43)

If I just kept offering to help you reorgan because I'd given you something else to put in the bag. And you were so stressed with it, trying to move things around.

B (18:50)

That was the worst point as well, because you said it, like, literally right before we were getting off the boat.

A (18:55)

I was like, help me. I'll help you reorganize the bag. Here, pass me the bag. I can move things around for you. I can fit everything in. Let me. I thought it was funny.

B (19:04)

It was not.

A (19:04)

But I'm also very mean.

B (19:06)

Yeah. It was not funny at all at that point.

A (19:08)

I was. It's because, on balance, I was trying to help you find a good place. And then I also thought I would just. Just poke at the same time. But we ended up going back to the old mill because we got off the ride and you were like, no.

B (19:17)

We didn't go to the old mill.

A (19:18)

Not the old mill.

B (19:19)

We went. Well.

A (19:20)

Wishing well. We went back to the wishing well because we got off the ride and you were like, I don't know where we should go next. And I was like, let's go back to the wishing well and see if the pigeon is still there. And it wasn't. Or it had moved.

B (19:31)

It had moved. We looked under and it had moved. So I was like, it is real.

A (19:34)

At which point I'm like, real bird confirmed. And then there happened to not be enough people around. And then you asked me to marry.

B (19:42)

Yeah, it worked fine.

A (19:43)

Yeah. And we had a lovely weekend.

B (19:46)

We had a lot of cute experiences with different characters.

A (19:49)

Yeah. Yeah. We got to tell Minnie Mouse that we were engaged. She was thrilled. I think Daisy and Minnie Mouse were some of the first people we told in person.

B (19:56)

Yeah.

A (19:57)

And like, some of the princesses.

B (19:59)

Yeah.

A (19:59)

But I then wanted to tell my parents in person, which is why we couldn't Post about it for ages. So I was engaged in Brazil that whole time. It's been a couple weeks now, and a lot of theater YouTubers have been getting engaged recently.

B (20:16)

I know it's been. Because we didn't announce straight away. And then our friends have all announced.

A (20:20)

And it's like Brendan, AKA Wait in the Wings, got engaged at broadwaycon. So pleased for him and Juliana. They're both amazing. Katherine Steele, theatre YouTuber Legend, got engaged again. Posted after we were engaged, I think. And I was just like, this is such coincidental timing, but also, I'm so glad that it's finally out there because. And you can watch this back if you go and look at, first of all, the live I did from Brazil, where I start like this. And you can see I'm wearing two rings, including one on that finger. My Miss Saigon review, I think definitely my In Dreams review. I'm fully wearing the engagement ring, and then about five minutes into each video, I notice it take it off, and that ring jumps over to my middle finger where it's always been before. So I've not been subtle about it. And it's. I'm. I'm lucky that none of you noticed and commented because my mother reads all of my comments and that would have spoiled the surprise. But now it's out there and I can. I can show you. And I don't have to stress about the jewelry that's on my hand. We don't have a date, by the way. Someone actually asked me when the date was. We don't have a date.

B (21:24)

Oh, no, that's. That's. That's to be seen.

A (21:28)

Yeah. I'm not gonna be, like, documenting all of the planning here on YouTube, but if there's something particularly exciting and theater relevant about it all, then maybe I'll do a video telling you. But this is all a long way off, and for the moment, I'm just gonna enjoy being engaged here. I can't call you my stagey boyfriend anymore. You're my stagey fiance.

B (21:46)

Yeah.

A (21:47)

We can do a bit of a professional update because we both have exciting things happening this summer. So you are working on a few exciting things. Do you want to talk to us about Theatre Camp?

B (21:56)

Yeah. So I am supporting on the UKBR campaign for Theatre Camp, which is the Searchlight Pictures film with Ben Platin, Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon. So it's very fun and very exciting and it's a really good film.

A (22:14)

We went to go to a screening a few weeks ago. I don't know if. Am I allowed to Say that it's a very good film yet. I enjoyed it, I can tell you.

B (22:21)

America.

A (22:22)

Fine, good. Yeah, I enjoyed it. If it's. It's kind of like a mockumentary esque thing, but it's not too rigidly stuck in that format. If you've ever seen like this is Spinal Tap or Best in show, it's kind of like that, but for theatre kids, that's the best way I could describe it. It's really funny. It's very stagey.

B (22:39)

There's definitely musical theatre numbers in it.

A (22:42)

There's lots of musical theatre references in it. And I mean like proper theatre kid references.

B (22:46)

The soundtracks out camp isn't at home. I listen to quite often. Well, not like very. A lot. But yeah, it's very exciting to say that I'm working on a Disney film, which I think if people know me, that was when it all came through and when I knew I was on board, I was a bit like, oh my gosh.

A (23:04)

I remember you getting the email. Yeah, I remember how exciting.

B (23:07)

We were out. We were out somewhere and an email came through and all I saw is say was, theatre camp. I can't remember where we were.

A (23:13)

We were walking to London Bridge for some reason and you were like, I need a drink, I need to sit down. I need to.

B (23:18)

Because it literally just came through and said theatre Camp and this. And I was like, oh, okay. And then suddenly went, wait, is that the film?

A (23:25)

But not only that. You're working on PR campaigns for a lot of very exciting theatre shows this summer.

B (23:29)

Yeah, so I'm supporting on six Inquire of Man Bacon. The play, an award winning play, is going to Edinburgh Fringe this year. So when we go to Fringe, it's gonna be fun because one of the shows there I'm looking after.

A (23:42)

If anyone's not too clear on what Aaron's job is. Aaron works for theatre pr, which is the team of people. The. You do a lot of things. Like you send out releases about the show. When you see.

B (23:50)

We do all the news.

A (23:51)

When you see news about shows like what's onstage.com, it's because a press release has been sent out and coordinated by the theatre PR team. When I get invited to review things, nine times out of ten, it's by the PR representative for the show. You're also working on Lord of the Rings?

B (24:06)

Yeah, I'm supporting on the Lord of the Rings campaign as well. Once the barn. It's a lot. It's a lot of different ones across the country.

A (24:12)

A lot of exciting shows this Summer.

B (24:14)

Yeah, it's been fun. It's been. It's fun to work with different theatres and work with different kind of people. It's really nice as well to see when people go to see those shows and love those shows that I've been working on.

A (24:24)

And my final thing I want to tell you, which is something I'm super excited to be working on, is I'm going to be doing a post show Q and A talkback kind of a thing with In Clay in concert this August. So this is a new musical that I saw at the Vault Festival earlier this year and I loved it. The last time I loved a show this much at the Vault Festival, it was ride.

B (24:45)

Yeah.

A (24:46)

So thrilled for that. They're doing a concert version of the material with some new songs at the other palace on 21st August. Monday, 21st August, with an amazing cast. They have Roshani Abbey from Hamilton and Juliet. They have Danielle Steers. They have Danielle Steers from the Cher show from Bad out of Hell from six. They have Alex Young from Standing at the Sky's Edge. It's a brilliant trio of performers and the material is so good. The lyrics in particular are fantastic. I feel like I never really hear great musical theatre lyrics. And so when I found out this was happening, I emailed the team and I was like, I would love to help get involved in this. I would love to have a chance to sit down and talk about the creative process of performing this material, of writing this material. And I'm going to be doing that after the show. So if you come along and see In Clay in concert, it's all about artistic process, it's about pottery, but it sort of transcends that to talk about creativity and artistry and what that means to a creator. So it's at the other palace on the 21st of August, and if you stay after the show, I'm gonna be doing a post show Q and A and you can come, please come, please ask questions and that'll be really fun. I'm excited about doing that. That's kind of something I want to branch into doing more of. There's a lot of shows I'd love to sit down and chat to the people involved and yeah, hopefully that helps to shine a little more attention on this new musical. I keep saying on here it's so important we support new musicals and this is hopefully a really great way of doing that. But that is the life update from the two of us for now. Thank you for watching this video. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for continuing to watch the videos and join our stagey adventures. And we're so excited to show you what else we get up to this summer. Yeah. Make sure to follow us both on social media so you don't miss anything. I'm ickyjoetheater. He isaronjames A E R O N James uk. I hope that everyone is staying safe and that you have a stagey day. For ten more seconds, I'm Mickey Jo Theatre. Oh, my God. Hey, thanks for watching. Have a stagey day. Subscribe.