Blog
THOUGHTS ON PROCESS, PROJECTS, PRODUCTIONS AND MORE
Goats in Bulldozers: The Magical Story World of Hefted
Half-human half-goats surround a family farm in their bulldozers, engines revving. Wind turbines send magical and prophetic messages through the...
Hefted: Taking Flight with Community Theatre
There’s just three weeks to go until Swimbridge Jubilee Hall is converted by the Hefted company into a magical storytelling arena. Bringing forth...
Archives and Artistry: Playwriting and History
This extended blog is a reflection on the intersection of archives, history-making and playwriting. Last week I attended Opening Up The Archives...
Transforming the Script: Design and Sound in New Writing
Next week Off The Grid starts an intensive two-week rehearsal period at Half Moon in London, before embarking on its national tour. When the...
Hefted: New Writing with a Mixed Professional/Community Company
(Rugged coastline and urban living side-by-side: the coastal view at Ilfracombe, North Devon) Leaping across landscapes and racing through eras from...
Right Brain / Left Brain Playwriting: Balancing Freedom and Craft
How do you know what you've written 'works'? Or how do you try and entice the most effective choices into your thinking and planning early, to avoid...
How Adaptation Could Unlock Your Playwriting
I think all playwriting is a form of adaptation. As playwrights, we are looking to bring theatrical and dramatic form to the lived experience of...
Developing Plays, Encouraging Talent: Playwriting at the Pit
‘Playwriting at the Pit' sees facilitators Mike Carter and Saffron Myers in a new venue for Autumn 2018. Their workshops have a proven track...
Playwriting from Research: Using Oral Histories
(Documentary photograph by Roger Deakins for the Beaford Archive © Beaford Arts) Hefted is a new play developed in partnership with Beaford Arts and...
Q+A: Developing New Playwrights with John Retallack
Award-winning playwright and director John Retallack (above, in session) launched his Oxford Playwriting School in 2017. As he looks ahead to its...
Arts Council Funding: Insider Tips and Advice
(Stand out from the crowd - how can you make your application count?) A week or so ago the brilliant Theatre Bristol played host to Philip...
Writing Plays for Teenagers: Politics and Poetry
In November 2018 my new play for teenage audiences Off The Grid goes on tour with Half Moon Theatre. In an interview with the company, I was asked...
Sustaining a Playwriting Career: Why, How and For What?
(In the room for What Remains of Us R+D, June 2016 - photo by Barney Witts) This is the first blog on my playwriting that I’ve written for...
Interview: Director and Playwright John Retallack
'A good playwriting tutor uses the group as skilfully as a good director deploys an ensemble of actors.' This year renowned writer and director John...
People in Rooms: Dialogue as Action
There’s a glib and slightly derogatory descriptor for plays that I remember from university, which is that ‘it’s just people sat in rooms talking...
Lane’s List
Information, training and opportunities for UK playwrights
Lane’s List is totally brilliant. An invaluable resource. I wish that it had existed when I was just starting out when getting yourself involved in anything and everything is so important to getting your foot on the ladder.