STOP PRESS
January 31, 2012
Another thoroughly nice chap, Matthew Graham (see Eternal Law below), sends me some lovely comments about my TV pilot script Hacks, which he describes as 'really powerful'. Just what I need before meeting script editors and radio producers later this week!
January 30, 2012
Are you old enough to remember Doctor in the House? Well, it's being resurrected for the stage, starring Robert Powell and Joe Pasquale. On the back of it, I have the pleasure today of interviewing its 90-year-old author, Richard Gordon. Lucid, witty and self-deprecating, he makes a fantastic interviewee. He's also a thoroughly nice chap.
January 19, 2012
Finally catch up with a full ep of Eternal Law and it completely lives up to its promise. The first ep scripted by Matt, rather than Ash, is fizzing with fabulous, witty dialogue, while the premise is clever and interesting and the production values terrific. Why has it not been commissioned for a second series yet???
January 15, 2012
My efforts to catch up on the first two eps of Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham's Eternal Law (see October 20 below) are scuppered by ITV Player, which allows me to watch up to the first ad break, then refuses to permit any more. Thanks, ITV. It all looks so auspicious, as well.
January 14, 2012
Back-to-back viewings of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and War Horse, which made an interesting day out. (I know, I should have been writing, but all work and no play...) Anyway, the scripts were of particular interest - Dragon Tattoo by Steve Zaillian, War Horse by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis. If you'd asked me beforehand to put money on the best structure, dialogue and emotional depth, I'd have gone for the Curtis co-script without blinking. The reality is somewhat different...
January 8, 2012
Work on the stage play proceeds apace, as well it needs to! Also lined up are meetings with Radio 4 and a TV producer, so there's plenty to keep me busy during these cold winter months.
December-January, 2011-12
A busy month of writing, roleplay and music, including reviewing countless Christmas shows. Easily the stand-out productions across the Midlands this year are the Royal Theatre, Northampton's very silly version of Alice in Wonderland, and the RSC's colourful and clever adaptation of the story of Robin Hood. Traditional pantos, by contrast, seem a little jaded and by-the-book. Unless that's just me...
December 2, 2011
An email arrives to tell me my one-act play The Saul Confession has been shortlisted by Cahoots Theatre Company - www.cahootstheatrecompany.co.uk/short-list.html - out of 100 entries into their competition to stage an evening of short plays next spring. Just the boost I need as the writing of the current full-length play gets into full swing!
November, 2011
Er... whatever happened to November??? Five minutes ago I was at the London Screenwriters' Festival and now I'm staring December in the face. Maybe it was something to do with the tidal wave of following-up, rewriting, reviewing and playwriting that ensued. Not much sign of a let-up, either, so bring it on. I'm ready for Christmas any time you like.
October 26, 2011
Final pieces in place for the start of the London Screenwriters' Festival (Friday to Sunday). We're heading up tomorrow to catch a matinee of Wicked and get orientated, then it's three days of predicted chaos. Ho-hum.
October 25, 2011
A commission from the Royal Shakespeare Company! How exciting. This time it's to write programme notes for their Christmas production, The Heart of Robin Hood. Next time, it could be a full play - who knows? It's still nice to chalk up on the track record.
October 21, 2011
A couple of intriguing examples of madness on stage this week as Leicester Curve performs One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and the RSC offer Marat/Sade. Leicester had the edge on edgy realism, Stratford won hands down for sheer grossness. Take your pick (reviews at www.stagereviews.co.uk)...
October 20, 2011
Fantastic session back at De Montfort University with Matt Graham, whose writing partnership with Ashley Pharoah has spawned such recent classics as Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes. Next up is Eternal Law, an ITV drama with a twist that looks like being both interesting and featuring high production values - Sam West headlining is a good start, for instance. Matt is not only fascinating to listen to, but also a thoroughly nice chap.
For earlier ramblings, check out the Blog page.