All the meetings below take place in the Macready Room at the Bristol Old Vic — ask at the bar on the first floor for directions. The entrance fee is still just £1.

Tuesday, 13 January at 7.30pm: Gas and Air by Ann-Marie McCormack
After the first reading of this story in the group a year or so ago, Ann-Marie felt it needed a major re-write — despite the fact that it was later accepted by TAPS for mentoring. Set in 1930s Cornwall, this second draft tells the story of a mother and her adopted daughter, both midwives, and of the moral dilemma facing the daughter when she has to make a decision that goes against all her training and what she is trying to achieve.

Tuesday, 27 January at 7.30pm: Chrome Spaghetti by Jeremy Risdon
Delayed from last season by theatre closure, we at last get to read Jeremy’s off-the-wall script. It is the year 3000, and a naive young man gets more than he bargained for when he tries to escape his miserable life and finds himself serving in a fried chicken shop on the Moon.

Tuesday, 3 February at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Includes a reading of John Colborn’s new radio play set around the Wimbledon Championships.

Tuesday, 10 February at 7.30pm: The Tower by Daniel Cull
Peter’s world is collapsing as his father’s business is seized by the Inland Revenue and he, his sister, father and mother are forced to move to the mysterious Twilight Mansion. As the family try to settle, they are plagued by strange noises and unsettling fears. It is only when a peculiar optimism takes hold of the rest of his family, however, that Peter experiences a far more genuine fear that can only be conquered when he discovers the secret of… The Tower.

Tuesday, 17 February at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Includes a reading of William House’s one-act play The Last Fish.

 

Doctors debut
Ann-Marie McCormack’s first episode of Doctors goes out on 29 January at 2.05pm on BBC1. Ray Brooking has two more episodes of Doctors coming up ’ on Friday, 6 February and Tuesday, 16 March, both at 2.05pm, so please put all these dates in your diary and remember to set the video.

 

Baby Bank at the Everyman
A number of us are planning to go and see Shiona Morton’s play Baby Bank — which was first read in the group about a year ago — in The Other Space studio at the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham on Wednesday, 28 January.

 

Cold Feet scores at the Comedy Awards
Congratulations to ex-president Mike Bullen who won the award for Best Writer at the recent British Comedy Awards. The fifth series of Cold Feet also won the award for Best Comedy Drama. In his acceptance speech, Mike pulled off the commendable feat of putting the actors in their place and simultaneously getting the best laugh of the evening. His new series Life Begins, starring Caroline Quentin goes out in February, although even at this late stage ITV haven’t been able to give us a firm date yet.

 

London Book Fair events
Maria Edey is wondering if anyone would like to join her at any of the following events, part of the London Book Fair in Richmond, Surrey.

Saturday, 13 March, 2-5pm: Screenwriting for Cinema
A talk by Julian Fellowes who won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Gosford Park.

Sunday, 14 March, 10-1pm: Writing for Television
Given by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, writers of Birds of a Feather, The New Statesman, Love Hurts etc.

Sunday. 14 March, 2-5pm: Crime Writing
Given by Minette Walters who recently received her second Gold Dagger from the Crime Writers Association.

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