Once I got back from Sydney, actually the very night I landed I started a writing course at The National Theatre Studio curated and hosted by Tonic Theatre Company. They wanted to equip actors with the basic tools to start writing as they believe actors' instinctive sense of drama would potentially, if developed, make them good writers.
I really enjoyed the course, it was 8 weeks, once a week and there was so much to be inspired by. They brought in writers of all different genres to tutor us and for once I was incredibly enthusiastic about homework which we had weekly in time for the next class.
In the meantime, a friend of mine recently set up a new writing theatre in Hackney and they have been introducing themselves to the theatre community with a series of scratch nights and cabaret evenings. A few weeks ago he sent me the details of their next wedding themed scratch night and asked me to pass it on to any writers I knew who would consider submitting a short piece for consideration. I was about to forward the email to some writing mates when The Big One pointed out that I should have a go. What was the harm he said, why not try and write something and see what happens.
So I did.
I then decided, after encouragement from TBO to send it to the panel under a pseudonym from a fake email address. I didn't want my friend to feel in any way obliged to give me censored feedback. I wanted it to be considered objectively and hoped for some feedback.
On Sunday my fake email inbox had a message addressed to my fake persona from one of the producers. They liked it and wanted to perform it as a rehearsed reading for an audience on their upcoming scratch night!! I was bouncing off the walls I was so excited! I could not believe it!!
I decided that I had to own up as I didn't want to have to make up a fake biog for my fake persona...it was all going to get rather deceitful.
I called my friend and confessed. He found it hilarious and told me that the panel had loved it and were really excited about the piece.
So...today I had an email from the director who will be working on it and we arranged for me to sit in on one of the rehearsals before it's performed (as a rehearsed reading with basic staging) next week.
I am so excited and nervous, I can't wait to hear it being read and performed! I hope the actors like it! Wish me luck!
"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia."
~E.L. Doctorow
