All the following meetings take place in the Macready Room at the Bristol Old Vic. Ask at the bar on the first floor for directions. Everyone attending pays £1.
Tuesday, 14 January at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Tuesday, 21 January at 7.30pm: A Wooden Cross and a Bouquet of Twigs by Ray Evans
A reading of the new TV version of Ray Evans’ WWII drama which was performed as a stage play by Crumbling Walls at the Hope Centre a couple of years ago. Based on actual events, it tells the story of three infantrymen who go on a listening patrol behind enemy lines during a lull in the heavy fighting in Normandy.
Tuesday, 28 January at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Tuesday, 4 February at 7.30pm: Meet Michael Jenner
Michael Jenner is the South West representative of the Writers’ Guild and the writer of many episodes of The Bill, Soldier Soldier, Peak Practice, Holby City, Taggart and others. He’ll answer your questions about the Guild, writing for returnable series, the difficulties of getting your own series on TV — and anything else you have in mind.
Tuesday, 11 February at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Tuesday, 18 February at 7.30pm: Sweetness and Light by Stephen Santar
A reading of new member Stephen Santer’s double-act murder mystery which he describes as slapstick, black comedy pantomime — in rhyme!
14 January deadline for our 2003 competition
Bring your competition entry along to our meeting on 14 January! That’s the closing date and entries will not be accepted by post email or any other means. It would help if you could write on the title page whether your script is for TV, radio, stage or screen, and its approximate running time (that’s a new requirement we’ve only just thought of). But don’t put your name anywhere on the script. Instead, put your name and the title of your play inside a separate, smaller envelope to ensure anonymity during the judging process. We hope to announce the winners early in April. This year, the competition administrator is John Colborn.
Calling Up at the QEH
Claire Griffiths’ short play Calling Up, which was a runner-up in our competition three years ago, is being performed by the Horfield Theatre Group at the One Act Play Festival at the QEH Theatre on Saturday, 15 February. The play tells the story of a young beggar and his family. Please support this event — it’s a fine play.
Kate brings Beowulf to Henbury
Kate Stonham has written an adaptation of Beowulf, which is being performed in and around St Mary’s Church, Henbury every day at 7.30pm from Wednesday, 19 February until Sunday, 2 March (excluding only Monday, 24 February). This unique promenade performance promises to be an event to remember and you should even recognise one or two faces in the cast.
Scriptwriters’ associates deliver continuing education courses
Among the lecturers delivering Bristol University Drama Department’s Spring/Summer Writing Courses this year are former Southwest Scriptwriter Toby Farrow, and Geni Hall-Kenny who directed both of Brian Weaving’s competition winners in our last two New Writing events.
Going Through the Motions wins Pook contest
Southwest Scriptwriter Lesley Bown — a runner-up in our 2000 competition — has won the 2001 Peter Pook Humorous Novel Competition for her book Going Through the Motions. This tells the story of a girl who has champagne tastes — but a half-of-lager income — and of some fairly outrageous characters she comes into contact with.