Tag: Blackfriars

16
Sep

Introducing: playwright John Hamilton May

In the run up to ANOTHER DAY, we’ve been introducing the playwrights involved, and we are thrilled to welcome John Hamilton May back to the team.

John, we first met last year at Tiny Dog’s new writing festival, and it was a rather odd introduction as we recall…

I had written a monologue to be performed at Theatre Breaks JHMay Headshot Blackfriars Another Day(alongside fellow Another Day playwright Lucy Beacon’s fantastic piece, Rostov) and met Sooz and Patrick backstage. They approached me and asked if they could speak to the writer of my piece, as a last minute illness meant I had to perform the monologue myself. I told them it was me, and well – we’ve been talking ever since! They’re such a supportive and nurturing team, who care a lot about the work they produce. You could sense that from first meeting them.

You’re making us blush! The moment that you owned up to be the playwright as well as the star, we knew straight away that we wanted to work with you. So what have you been up to since then?
Since… well, it’s all been a bit mental since. I’ve been signed, been commissioned by BBC Radio 3, and had work performed at the Roundhouse, Ovalhouse and any other shaped house you like, Contact Manchester, West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Tron Theatre. I’ve also had my play Love in the Past Participle translated into Spanish, and hope to visit for the premiere (and a significant amount of churros) in March 2015.

And those who attended THE INSTALLATION, in November 2013 will have seen the play that you wrote for our site specific production at Hide Gallery; Seventeen Thousand, Five Hundred and Then Some. Now you’re back and writing another commissioned play for ANOTHER DAY!

I have something to admit though – I’m not a Southwark resident. I’ve never worked there or have family there. I’m not even going to pretend my bus goes through there because in fact I am an infiltrator. I live in the North, however, have made numerous rekkies to the area in an attempt to get a feel for its personality. I was immediately drawn to Chirst Church. Half a garage, half a house of God. I knew straight away that’s what I had to write a play about.

We’ve read your drafts, and it’s clear that you’ve taken the time to get to know the concerns of people in the area.

Whilst my knowledge of Blackfriars at the moment is limited to the great recommendations of others (e.g. the bars under the floral canopy of Isabella Street, or the Thai food stall outside The Windmill pub on The Cut), I’m looking forward to spending more time there during the run and speaking to residents and audience members.

So tell us a bit more about you as a playwright.

I’ve been writing, on and off, for seven years now. I haven’t always wanted to be a writer, and honestly, sometimes I question whether I want to be one now. Wouldn’t life be so much easier as an accountant? Or an estate agent perhaps? Something that didn’t include gutting out your soul onto a Macbook (because we’re too pretentious to use pen and paper) and bare it before critics. And by critics I mean my mother. Who “quite liked it just wishes you wouldn’t swear so much”.

Ha! Families are always the worst critics! But assuming that you don’t take up accountancy in the near future…?

I mainly write plays, but have a penchant for mogologues and poetic writing. I like to look at small, tiny heartbreaking situations and characters. The normal life. That’s what’s most interesting to me. I’m doing some work for the radio at the moment and also edging into spoken word too. The BBC commission, The Jumble Male, is my next big project, and is a ‘multidisciplinary piece’ that aims to ‘explore the current crisis in masculinity’. In reality, it’s me talking about being a 23-year old boy. Not a man, a boy.

And what is it that inspires you to open your Macbook and start typing?

I’m a magpie when it comes to writing. I pick bits up everywhere – from people on the street, the newspapers, accidentally from other writers sometimes… and keep them all on sticky notes on the computer. It takes a lot to get me to actually start writing (as Patrick and Sooz know now!) as my ‘proper job’ is pretty hectic too. Stuff normally comes out how I want it, just in need of some cinching and polishing, and this is where having Patrick as dramaturg has been particularly useful. I don’t have any writing rituals, although I can’t deal with mess when I’m working, and it helps to have a cup of tea to hand.

Any other tips?

I’ve trained both as part of my degree and on various playwriting groups (at the Soho most recently) and to be honest, the most prevelant piece of advice is JUST WRITE. Do not worry about quality or quantity or anything it all. “Don’t get it right, get it written” – James Thurber.

 

John Hamilton May has written ‘Beautiful, Beating’ as part of ANOTHER DAY.
Keep up to date with John’s work on Twitter: @jhm91
Or on his website: www.johnhamiltonmay.com

15
Sep

Introducing: playwright Aysha Scott

As October approaches, and we prepare for the start of ANOTHER DAY, we continue to introduce the playwrights involved. Today it’s the turn of London South Bank University BA (Hons) Creative Writing graduate, Aysha Scott.

Aysha, you have just recently completed your undergraduate degree in Creative Writing – did you always want to be a playwright?

Aysha Scott Another Day Blackfriars headshot playwrightEver since a young age I had the desire to be a writer. In my early writing practice I discovered a love for poetry and later went on to pen two poetry collections Life and Words from a Woman’s Heart. In my early twenties I expanded on my passion for writing and went on to pursue a career in acting; I trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School and was lucky enough to secure varied acting roles in TV/Film and Theatre. Some of the productions included a feature role in Breach webseries, ITV Daybreak Promo, Actimel Danone Campaign, DAARSAT commercial and Oliver Twist theatre production to name a few.

So what was the deciding factor in choosing between writing and performing?

After having my son a few years later and being tired of the typecast and limited roles for black actors I diverted back to my writing career. This time using my knowledge and skills obtained in the industry to become a scriptwriter specialising in hard hitting urban, message-based dramas in TV, Film and Theatre productions.

I met Friend of a Friend during my final year at university. Patrick and Susanna came along to one of our lectures to chat to us about the opportunity to be a part of Another Day and I was delighted when the team welcomed me on board.

ANOTHER DAY is deeply rooted in people’s experiences of SE1 and the area surrounding the Blackfriars Road, tell us about your experiences.

Studying at London South Bank University for three years I regularly commuted to Elephant and Castle. I would often explore the surrounding areas such as South Bank, Blackfriars and Waterloo and visited tourist attractions such as The Shard and London Eye. I found them both to be invigorating experiences and I was able to view the London from a panoramic view. It gave me a new perspective of the vibrant city that we often miss when on our daily travels.

And so what’s next for you?

I have co-wrote and currently producing a short film called RESIDENTIAL, based on the tragic consequences of gangland street life and crime. On completion of Residential I am seeking to produce my feature screenplay ABSENT, based on the psychological effects of absent and single parenting. I am also hoping to secure a working title as a Development Executive to further expand on my professional experience and writing career. Since graduating from university with a 2.1 Honours in Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, I have been awarded the Course Directors’ prize for Creative Writing.

Congratulations, Aysha! That’s a fantastic achievement, and we’re delighted to have you on board.

To keep in touch with Aysha’s work, you can follow her on Twitter: @ayshascott
Or check out her short films on Youtube: www.youtube.con/user/Aysha123

10
Sep

Auditions and Recalls for Another Day

On 24 and 25th September we will continue with the second round of auditions for Another Day. We saw some fantastic actors last month, but due to some difficulties with the Casting Call Pro messaging service, we weren’t able to see everytone that we wanted to. So now there is another opportunity for actors to attend our casting sessions.

 

You can apply and book your audition slot via the CCP listing: http://www.castingcallpro.com/uk/job_view.php?uid=234539

 

 
In the meantime, check out this video of some of the greatest actors’ auditions. We love this reminder that everyone starts somewhere. And for performers, that somewhere is usually in the audition room…

14
Jul

Introducing: playwright Lucy Beacon

As part of our BLACKFRIARS STORIES project, we’re working with a hot team of emerging playwrights who will be writing the short plays that will form our Autumn production ANOTHER DAY. We’re keen to introduce the playwrights to you, so we’re kicking off with the delightful Lucy Beacon.

So, Lucy, how did you end up becoming a part of ANOTHER DAY?

I wrote a short play called ‘Rostov’ which was chosen for last Lucy Beacon playwright headshotyear’s Theatre Breaks festival in Camden, and AFOAF was involved in that festival too. I’m interested in the use of pre-recorded spoken word in theatre, and Ice Cream (by Mark Abbey) used some in a particularly inventive way. I got chatting backstage to the director, Patrick, about the audio and how he’d used it to get round a difficult staging issue. He introduced me to the rest of AFOAF, and they were all so lovely that when an opportunity arose for me to work with them, I jumped at the chance!

What have you been up to since then?

Since the Theatre Breaks festival I’ve had a couple of short plays produced. The first was for Lost Theatre’s ‘Five Minute Festival’ in which I had a comedy called ‘The Pudding Club’. It was set in a maternity clinic and featured one man, two women and a whole lot of trouble! I was delighted when it won the judges’ vote for best piece of the evening. I also had a play, ‘Trap Doors’, on at the Bush Theatre’s ‘Ambush’ evening earlier this year. It was a real honour to have my play performed on that stage as it’s the theatre that inspired me to start writing drama.

You’re a busy bee! What is it that inspired you to write in the first place?

I always wanted to write but it took hitting 40 and a mini midlife-crisis to actually get me to sit down and do it. I love theatre and so writing drama was the natural choice for me. I’ve worked in the music industry most of my life and so that’s a passion for me too. Perhaps I could put both of those elements together and write a musical one day!

So what’s your process when you’re working on a new play?

As I’m quite busy, I find it useful to ‘write’ in my head before I put it down on paper. It’s a good way to work as I usually know at least sections of the play before I start. I try to write both the beginning and end of the play before I sit down to type – the middle sections usually happen at the computer. My favourite place to write is on the bus. I love listening to snippets of conversations as people step on and off public transport. There’s something about getting only part of a story that fires the imagination much more than hearing it all.

As you know, ANOTHER DAY is all about life in Blackfriars. We’d love to hear some of your own experiences….

Although I’m not a Southwark resident, I worked in the area briefly and my sister is still based here. I’ve spent a good deal of time in Southwark over the last twenty years and it has always felt like a creative area. As well as going to the more established creative hubs of theatres and galleries, I’ve stumbled across impromptu drama on the streets, and been to innovative music venues. It’s a great place.

I’ve always loved it down by the river in this part of London. The view both upstream and downstream is stunning – especially at night. I love people watchingand the riverside is a perfect place to take a seat and watch the world go by. I’ve really enjoyed researching the historical details of the area as part of Another Day – both the recent history and that of previous centuries.

 

Lucy has written ‘Ribbons’ as part of ANOTHER DAY.

You can follow Lucy on Twitter: @lucybeacon