Hey guys,
How have you all been? Spring has sprung, although it may not feel like it up north. Some people are still wandering the streets swathed in scarves (including yours truly), making us feel like prize pillocks when the sun eventually does make a delayed appearance. Now, it’s been a busy few weeks but I just wanted to fill you in on what I’ve been up to. I was thrilled to have my work performed at The Octagon Theatre as part of the Best of Bolton Gig last week. It’s a wonderful initiative championing local talent organised by The Octagon’s Associate Director and superlative Elizabeth Newman. The writers attended a table read the weekend before the show, and were given a chance to see their work being performed and provide input and feedback on the actors’ delivery.
To see what was previously in the mental mixing bowl of my mind, be performed on stage is always a buzz for me. My chosen piece was a dramatic reading of the Prologue of the Screaming Snowflakes Sequel. Writing is only one part of the creative process; direction and delivery are key components too. A special hat tip to Mark Conway and Isabel Ford, whose understanding of the writers’ work and perfect delivery was a talent that took my breath away. I loved their interactive style of acting, which really involved the audience and made the evening such a resounding success.
Bolton has a fantastic writers’ community and The Octagon’s Best of Bolton Gig is going from strength to strength. The evening was expertly covered by the always fabulous Mel Wallwork (you can click on the link here to her write up at This Is Lancashire). And yes, that is me in the picture above (I’m in the process of acquiring a larger image and will update asap). It was an absolute pleasure to connect with fellow writers and enjoy a literary evening in a town that has a big heart and a wealth of writing talent. And a special thank you to Elizabeth Newman, who made all this possible; you’re my guru.
RAxx