Writers' Retreat

Off to one tomorrow. It's an Arvon course, in Shropshire.

Hardly anyone's gonna be there. Just me and a few strangers.

At the time I booked it, it seemed perfect but now I'm really looking forward to it. Actually a little bit frightened. Dunno why. I think it's the fact that there's going to be no internet and limited mobile phone access. Feels weird. Like I'm withdrawing already.

There'll be nothing to do. Except think and write...

I guess that's the point really... Actually, deep down I'm glad I'm going as I haven't written anything for a few weeks as I've been in a bit of a funk, wondering why my life is nothing like Frieda Kahlo's (not the accident bit and the polio, just the exciting parts. Just chatted to my friend and she says this is possible. it's all about a state of mind)

Anyway, I'm hoping this'll be the kick start I need to propel me towards finishing all my writing goals by the end of the year.

Oh, they say to bring waterproof footwear and a torch. What for? The nearest I have to outdoor wear are Ugg boots and they ain't exactly versatile. I'm hoping I'll be able to skip that activity...

Seriously, I really don't own any waterproof footwear. I asked my brother and he doesn't either. I'll have to nip down the highstreet tomorrow and get a pair of fashion wellies.

Anyway, I've decided to keep a diary about the week and will upload when I'm back.

Alls well that ends well

Well, I got back to the young producers and proposed that I work on something small with them. They really liked my short, Bella's Bathtime, so we're gonna work on that together. How exciting! I really like these girls and when we met up there was lots of really good energy flowing between us. I think I'll be able to really get involved in other aspects of the production as well. This will be for next year, though. So I'll be researching shorts and trying to get this short to work properly as a script and deliver the punch that is missing. So, it seems "the book" is working.... still there's a long way to go but I'll be blogging about this process and I wonder if it'll actually happen. I hope so.



How good is District 9? Won't give anything away, but it's a pretty basic plot/story arc but told really, really well - with conviction. Loved it!



Eastenders: I love watching Stacey and Jean act together. Again, loads of tears for me! Didn't know where they came from!


Enron: It's definitely a great production. It's a great acting ensemble but I was really bored in it. 2 hours is a long time. The singing and movement were great but without all of the razzmatazz, it was quite a dull story and there was no emotional connection with the characters. In all honesty, I would have preferred to watch a documentary about Enron. It felt like a documentary, actually. But that's me. It's transferring to the west end and the audience loved it. In fact, as soon as it started, I thought this should be on at the west end. Then my mate told me it was having a transfer.

Social life is picking up a bit and it took over most of my weekend and I found it hard to write but I now have it in check. Phew!

Plays, Plays and a dilemma

I saw Egusi Soup on Thursday and Saturday.

Two different performances, two different audiences, two different me's.

Firstly, I have to applaud the actors, who only had three days rehearsal to get up and running with it. It was a really difficult thing to ask.

It was really hard for me to enjoy the opening night because I was really stressed: there was someone I really wanted to impress sitting a few rows down, the actors were a bit nervous, some still very much tied to their scripts (the play is performed script in hand) it was a very mature audience and not at all mixed. Saying that, the audience responded incredibly well but somehow I felt like something had been lost since the performance at Hotbed.

The Luton audience was mad on Saturday. Although it was a smaller, it was kindof who this play was written for. When some of them could stop chatting to each other about their daily lives they were incredibly responsive! There were gasps of shock! Yay! Giggles of embarrassment, even a hiss at one point. I loved it!

The actors were on fire during this performance and they told me they were even better on Friday!

It was amazing to see how much they had grown in such a short time and how much faster the play was. It was brilliant. Still feel I need to change the ending, though. There's a really important speech in it and it seems to have lost it's importance in this version. I actually wrote this play because of this speech, so I have to fix that.

Looking back, I think script-in-hand performances are rather like open book exams. Very deceptive. You think it's a godsend having the books there with all the answers but it kind of holds you back if you rely heavily on them because you waste time trying to find the answers instead of simply referring to the book to confirm what's already in your head.

Anyway, moving on...

Dunno if it's still running but there's a great show on at the Southwark Playhouse, Terror 2009 - it's got writing by Neil Labute, Anthony Neilson, Mark Ravenhill and Lucy Kirkwood. Won't give anything away but the final play by Labute has the most amazing ending. Even I just sat there and stared. Some people couldn't even applaud. For me, I love a writer who can dare to go where people are afraid to. Found him and Neilson really inspiring.

Also met with the young film people. Feel they are a bit inexperienced e.g no track record of quality festival short films but I love their energy and really like them and their feature idea but it's a bit of a risk writing for them on the basis of "if we get funding" ... Dunno what to do.

Part of me - and my sister and friends - suggest I concentrate on the theatre as I am making a bit of headway. Try to write a brilliant next play. I do have the problem of spreading myself too thin..

But I hate letting people down. And I have been visualising about getting into film like the book says and if you visualise you subconsciously make opportunities. This is an opportunity that seemed to come out of the blue but is it the right one?

Orphans

If you haven't seen it. It's a play on at the Soho. It's sooo good. It's like a 101 on how to write a great play. I wanna have a great plot like that! And it's a three hander as well...

Went to Ipswich today for the start of the rehearsals for Egusi. The actors are great. Although, one is ill and didn't turn up so we didn't know what was happening for most of the day. Hope he's okay. But the highlight was the lunch. Local Nigerian restaurant brought in Egusi Soup, pounded yams and chicken. The Egusi Soup was better than my mum's. Sorry, mum! But mum always put other bits and pieces in it. This was, like, just Egusi. Wanted to pour it down my throat!

As soon as I got home, went to a writers workshop thing at the Albany Theatre, led by Bola Agbaje, award winning playwright. She's such a nice person!!! And, get this, she still has a full-time job on top of all the writing and awards! And there's me thinking i don't have enough time with a part time job.... shame on me!

I'll get over it. I always do

Had a massive theatre rejection today. Massive. And the thing is, I was pleased with my interview performance and felt so loved by them and was really visualising getting it like the book said. (Finished reading this book about how to achieve your goals and be really rich and everything). The book also says that you'll get loads of rejection and not to give up because just when you can't go on, it'll all come good. (The book definitely covers it's own back).

On the plus side, I've got more time to concentrate on the Radio Play, Dusseldorf and the Critical Mass play before the year is out and am really looking forward to finishing off all these projects so I can be fresh for the new year. There's also this film thing on the horizon - no money - but could be interesting. I'm meeting with them next week. I'll let you know how that goes.

Actually, re: radio play got some good research the other day. Once we got my subjects talking - they don't trust me so kindof clam up - they wouldn't stop. I have to get a tape recorder or something as I can't write fast enough. One subject is happy to have a one on one interview. AND just tonight, discovered there's a crown prosecutor in my new impro class who is happy to be interviewed for the Radio Play. How great it that? Research handed to me on a plate!!! So it's not all bad...

The book says, in any disappointment there's always something good.

Meetings and Interviews

So met up with Menagerie yesterday to discuss the play. Egusi has been recast - some old, some new actors. Very excited to see what this version will look like. Will be going to rehearsals in Ipswich - expenses paid. Yay! Whilst I'm there, I will also be giving a couple of radio interviews to chat about the tour... moi?? Mais oui!

Acting is much better. But need to give more energy to my scenes. It's hard. Someone suggested taking lucozade tablets beforehand but won't I flag later on? I'm hoping the adrenalin will get me going... as I'm rubbish at faking it.

Busy, busy, busy

I really like being busy.

Acting is getting a bit better. I have just got to block out the audience. I keep stepping out of myself and thinking, "what must they be thinking?" instead of being in it. It's very difficult!

Managed to see Troilus and Cressida at the Globe - very enjoyable but way too long. Found myself sending a text in it in the second act. But I thought the casting was brilliant. Ajax and Achilles were hilariously cast, as was Helen of Troy, who is cast as a bawdy s&m freak! All very enjoyable.

Nothing else going on. Will have a recap at the end of the month! Hope to have Dusseldorf finished by then!

Off to rehearsals!