In response to a question about how the professional script reading came about:

A few months ago a disability script writing course was mentioned in a Malting’s members committee meeting.  This excited me so much that I felt almost compelled to say a few words urging members to have a go at writing and that writing can be a great way to channel talents and emotions.
After the meeting I eagerly learned more about the course and that Dr Paul Darke of the Outside centre could provide bursaries for disabled people living in Wolverhampton.
An organisation SCRIPT (www.scriptonline.net) actually run the  Poised for Flight course and it would be taught at the Birmingham Repertory theatre.  The Birmingham Rep, Birmingham – our nation’s second city.     A theatre I had heard of and imagined to be an auspicious, select  and generally trendy place to be.   A place where people would probably be impressed to know  you’d visited.
Going to such a place in our nation’s second city was daunting, the course was daunting, would I have even the remotest chance of success?  Was I just being foolish even contemplating such a course.  I hadn’t heard of SCRIPT and had no idea that any organisation existed for dramatic writers of the West Midlands.  Emails were exchanged with SCRIPT Programmes Director Catherine Edwards.   I was impressed with the efficiency and applied online via email. Even more delighted when Catherine told me there were still a couple of places remaining on the course and so I swiftly filled in the form and emailed it  Anyway,  I sent a few emails and I was awarded a bursary to do the course..  It had been years since I’d wrote anything substantial or serious.  Rust had accumulated on my writing cells, my proverbial ink pen had dried up Continue Reading

My play reading went very smoothly and was well received.

The play sounded much different being read by actors as they added emotions, intonations and gave the audience a feel for the play. The actors and director did an excellent job.

I think the audience enjoyed my play and the other 3 plays. My play was a bit humorous and cheeky in parts. Tim flirting with Thelma on the way to the club room for example. Maybe the play achieves the aims of spicing up the image of chess for those who see the sport as a slow, sedate pastime. It can be just the opposite.

I picked up lot of tips from the actors too, which was great. Not sure if my play will go any further but will wait and see. Seems like a promising and encouraging start to screenplay writing.

The day was simply brilliant and so unforgettable that I couldn’t do anything else for a few days.

Such a high. My play had been selected and read out by actors! Wow. Must try and stay grounded though and not lose the momentum of events.

What an exciting day. I would meet the actors and director at 3pm in the Seminar room 2 hours before the readings. We parked on the Lighthouse car park and encountered a bit of hassle from a man who said he was homeless and asked us for some money for a hot drink. I was in a rush and it didn’t feel right to give money so readily and it was a bit scary. We said no, and got a bit of verbal abuse on the car park.

Anyway, we had to find the Seminar room by 3pm. I assumed the seminar room would be signposted as I went up a floor in the lift. We could not find the seminar room though and didn’t ask for directions at the reception as we though the room would be easy to find. Alas, it wasn’t and as 3pm approached and we hadn’t found the room this frustrated me. Luckily we found the room soon after.

I met the director Kerry Murdock and actors. Tracey Briggs (Thelma in my play) said she really liked my play! Got some good feedback. Tracey’s in the new Vodafone advert and has been in Heartbeat, David Proud (Ben character) appears in the new film “Special people” and has played a part in Secret diary of a call girl series 2 I believe. Nick Dutton (Tim), Checka D’Anna (Constance). All great actors. I answered a few queries, received some great tips. Continue Reading