Sally Reid

Local actress Sally Reid plays characters like P.C. Sarah Fletcher in BBC's Scot Squad as well as treading the boards as a theatre actress (including at our own recently rejuvenated Perth Theatre!).  If that wasn't enough to contend she also enjoys making jewellery and runs pop up shops and has recently opened the Theatre Shop Collective in partnership with Perth Theatre.  It is stocked with work by Scottish Indie designers and artists and has fun and funky gift ideas to melt even the grinchiest heart.

She took some time out of her busy schedule to tell us a little about her working day and how she balances rehearsals and improvising with running a successful shop.  When not working she's a bit of a board game geek and her ideal breakfast is an Aberdeen Buttery with lashings of Butter.   Mmm.  Find out more in today's Workdays and Weekends!

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

Being an actor, I don’t have many typical days. When acting on stage we have long days of rehearsal for a few weeks and when the show starts, I like to arrive at the theatre a couple of hours before the show.

Filming TV shows are another story with long days and early starts with multiple takes but worth it in rewarding roles like my character PC Sarah Fletcher in the BBC Scot Squad, as we improvise the scenes.

When not working as an actress I enjoy making jewellery and in the past have had a few Pop-up Shops.  I’ve presently opened the Theatre Shop Collective in partnership with Perth Theatre. It’s another Pop Up Shop during the Panto Season, stocked with independent Scottish designers and artists selling their excellent collections of fun, funky and fabulous gifts. I am currently rehearsing for a show at the Traverse in Edinburgh and relying on friends and family to run the shop until the show starts in early December. I’ll be there from 10 am until mid-afternoon on Thursdays to Saturday when I’m off to the Traverse for my evening performance. I’m happy to leave the shop in the care of my Mum Florence and friend Sarah until 5 pm and then during the Panto run from 10 until 7.30 pm.

What signals the start of your weekend/days off?

It’s usually a long lie in and a cuppa or else being woken by Vivienne our cat wanting to be fed!

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I am a Scrabble geek.  A games geek in general!  I love discovering new games and the latest one I love is Dobble, a fun card game.  But my all-time favourite board game is Cluedo.

Top of your bucket list?

I’d like to see the Northern lights, swim in the Great Barrier Reef and do an American road trip.

Worst job you’ve ever had?

I have been really lucky in that respect and never really had a really bad job, but I have done my fair share of pub jobs and that comes with a host of the rudest people, one, in particular, was a man who patronised me in front of a bar full of people and told me how to make the ‘perfect’ gin and tonic!  It all goes down the same way

Who or what inspires you?

I am always inspired by people who do things selflessly to help other people.  Last week I was walking through Glasgow late at night and saw volunteers from a charity that helps homeless people.  They spend all night travelling the city giving people blankets and food. 

I am also inspired by people who start small creative businesses from nothing at their kitchen table, a huge amount of time, energy and effort to do what makes them happy.  A lot of the designers at the Theatre Shop are small creative businesses like this.

Tell us about the weekend you’d love to live again?

My best friend’s wedding in a small Tuscan village in Italy a few years ago.  It was a beautiful weekend with wonderful people.  A group of us helped decorate and lay the tables in the garden of the reception and it was such a perfect weekend of friendship and unity.

Also Earlier this year I had a fabulous weekend in Istanbul and only scratched the surface of this wonderful historic capital full of surprises with lovely people and can’t wait to return. 

What’s the best part about your job?

The best part of both of my jobs is meeting wonderful creative people.  I have worked with and continue to work with a great mix of ages and people from so many different backgrounds whom I have learnt so much from.

What’s in the perfect day off breakfast?

A lovely hot Aberdeen Buttery with lashing of butter

Complete this sentence; the best things in life are….

Being kind, family and friends.