Already four days into rehearsals, our Assistant Producer Charlotte Mountford asked two of our writers how they feel about doing Word:Play/NWxSW. Meet first timer Tom Wainwright and old-hand Becky Prestwich…
Tom Wainwright
How did you go about writing a piece with just the word ‘division’ as direction?
First I had to battle with the immediate picture in my head of two tracksuited Germans either side of the Berlin Wall shouting messages of frustrated love for each other. Further proof that the first idea isn’t always the best. Possibly as a reaction to that I tried to find the most banal thing I could think of – a road dividing in a 30 mile an hour zone. And as is so often the case the small idea triggered some bigger themes – fatherhood, (in)adequacy, self-belief, spirituality etc….
What personal inspirational triggers do you like to use as a writer?
I’d like to use the burning political issues of the day but increasingly I find I’m better off not toxifying my scripts with my half-baked ill informed opinions. Inevitably with me it comes down to my own life and experiences I’ve had. The writer Leo Butler says (I’m paraphrasing here) you’re always writing about yourself; even if you think you’re taking on social injustice, you’re not really – you’re taking on yourself. Of course – most of myself is far too dull for a play or sketch so I have to amp elements up within it and then I start to enjoy myself.
Word:Play will be performed in your home town – how do you feel about seeing your work produced at a local theatre?
Very good.
Your play is being presented alongside 5 other pieces about division by fellow emerging writers. Have you ever had your work performed with other’s before? How does it make you feel?
To the first question, yes I have. To the second…I think it’s good? Back to the first, I was part of the Bristol leg of Paines Plough ‘Come to Where I’m From’ project. Looking back I wish I’d taken it more seriously – all the other writers wrote something heavyweight and soulful and I wrote a piece called Custard and made some jokes about portaloos. I’m not being self-deprecating – I genuinely regret it. This time around, I’m not overstretching myself, but I’ve managed to convince myself the piece I’ve written has some sort of depth to it.
What’s your favourite word?
Tractor.
Pictionary or Articulate?
Cranium.
Becky Prestwich
How did you go about writing a piece with just the word ‘division’ as direction?
I started by playing a word association game with myself – giving myself 3 minutes to write down everything the word ‘division’ conjures for me. I looked back over the words I’d come up with and tried to decide which felt they were just an abstract idea and which inspired characters and stories.
What personal inspirational triggers do you like to use as a writer?
I find it hard to explain where ideas come from – I’m often really preoccupied with an idea or an image without realising it – so, I’ll look over my writing from a period of time and realise it all connects to something I’ve recently seen or read or to someone I’ve met.
Word:Play will be performed in your home town – how do you feel about seeing your work produced at a local theatre?
This is the closest to home a play I have written has ever been produced, I’m looking forward to my friends and family being able to see one of my plays without having to weigh up whether it was worth the train-fare!
Your play is being presented alongside 5 other pieces about division by fellow emerging writers. Have you ever had your work performed with other’s before? How does it make you feel?
This is the fourth Word:Play I’ve taken part in. It’s really exciting seeing your work produced alongside other writers – particularly when you’ve had the same starting point. I love seeing how differently each writer has interpreted the trigger word – someone always has an idea which makes you think, ‘Wow, I would never have thought of that!’.
What’s your favourite word?
I love the word ‘longing’ – I think there is something about the way it sounds which is completely loaded with loss and meaning. I also really enjoy words which you can use instead of swear-words – I have a one year old who is just learning to talk and so find myself saying flip me a lot.
Pictionary or Articulate?
Definitely, Articulate.
Watch this space for more interviews with our other fantastic four Word:Play writers!
Regional Tour :: NWxSW
March 2013
Octagon Theatre, Bolton
2nd & 4th March 7:30pm
www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Whitby Hall, Ellesmere Port
6th March 1pm
actiontransporttheatre.org
The Continental, Preston
7th March 8pm
www.newcontinental.net
Lantern Theatre, Liverpool
8th March 7:30pm
www.thelanterntheatre.co.uk
Bike Shed Theatre, Exeter
11th-16th March 7:30pm
www.bikeshedtheatre.co.uk
Lighthouse Centre, Poole
22nd March 8pm
www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Merlin Theatre, Frome
23rd March 7:45pm
www.merlintheatre.co.uk
Alma Tavern Theatre, Bristol
25th-26th March 8pm
www.almataverntheatre.co.uk
Salisbury Playhouse
27th March 7:45pm
www.salisburyplayhouse.com