Our new season marks the run-up to our series of readings in the New Vic on 19, 20 and 21 April. More details of those below. Meanwhile, please put all the following dates in your diary. All meetings (except the first one) take place in the Cooper’s Loft at the Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol 1. Ask at the bar on the first floor for directions. Everyone attending pays £1.
Tuesday, 16 March at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
(NB Tonight’s meeting will take place in the Rehearsal Room.)
Tuesday, 23 March at 7.30pm: Meet Gareth Machin
Gareth runs the Bristol Old Vic’s Basement programme. He’ll talk to us about how to get a play on in the Basement and such other topics as the writer/director relationship. This will be followed by a Q&A session. If time permits, any pieces left over from last week’s Open Workshop will be read.
Tuesday, 30 March at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Tuesday, 6 April at 7.30pm: Ola! Rochdale by Michael Balfour
A reading of Michael Balfour’s screenplay about what happens when a Spanish flamenco dancer comes to Lancashire. A cross-cultural comedy with lots of characters.
Tuesday, 13 April at 7.30pm: Meet Tanya Nash
Tanya is a BBC Wales Radio Producer who will be talking to us about how to write the kind of script radio producers are looking for. This is a unique opportunity to hear the views of someone on the inside. Tanya was once a member of Southwest Scriptwriters’ predecessor, Bristol Playwrights Company.
New Writing: Script-in-hand Performances
We’re moving into the New Vic Studio on 19, 20 and 21 April for our second series of readings, presenting script-in-hand performances of four plays and two monologues by five writers in three days:
Monday, 19 April 1999
Orgasm Addict by Andrew Graham
The first night of an outrageous new exhibition by a young artist with success on his mind. The show is beset by leaky and rebellious exhibits, and results in a televised confrontation between the artist and his art teacher father who has career problems of his own.
Tuesday, 20 April 1999
Cork & Spark by Jeremy Risdon
Step into the bizarre and ultraviolent world of Mr Cork and Mr Spark, a duo of mind-rotted eighties admen slaying their way to insanity.
Losing Weight Disgracefully by Will Grealish
A chubby gigolo employs his versatile talents in shedding a few pounds by ensuring that his clients are pleasured.
Wednesday, 21 April 1999
Between the Lines and Knocking by William House
Elderly Isabelle looks back at her life between the railway lines, and cremator operator Jim is troubled by an insistent knocking in this pair of monologues.
Talk About the Danube Being Blue! by Melanie Lawman
Jilted Debbie returns from a solo holiday in Budapest with a saucy video and a fresh outlook on love and life. [A moment from Talk About the Danube Being Blue! is pictured above.]
All performances commence at 7.30pm. A short discussion with the writer follows each performance.
Please support this event on at least one night and preferably all three. You won’t have heard any of these plays before and if we get a good audience we should be able to hold a similar event next year. Please book your seats as soon as possible.
Starry Eyes on Radio 4
Lucy Catherine’s play Starry Eyes which was performed in the Bristol Old Vic Basement last year is to be broadcast on Radio 4 at 2.15pm on Thursday, 6 May. Don’t miss it!
Lucy has also been commissioned to write the alternative Christmas show for the New Vic this year. More details later.
Arts Council launches Year of the Individual Artist
The Arts Council is about to publish details of its major new Year of the Individual Artist programme, part of the Arts 2000 initiative. Their idea is to fund ‘1000 artists in 1000 places in the year 2000’ to create new work within a particular community, context or location. Writers are eligible, so if you think you have a project that deserves funding, contact South West Arts for further details.
Hurricane Films seeks screenplays
Having failed as yet to find a suitable screenplay for production, Hurricane Films of Manchester have asked us if we can help. They would prefer a comedy or a thriller, but will now consider any genre.
Mamma Mia! tickets still available
There are still one or two tickets left to see Catherine Johnson’s Abba musical Mamma Mia! in the West End on Saturday, 27 March. Tickets are just £26 including travel by minibus. Be one of the first to see this great new show!
15-minute scripts for London New Play Festival
The London New Play Festival is looking for 15-minute thrillers, comedies and dramas for a West End season.