I said, hey, what's goin' on! - An update

It's been a busy start back for us at Act 2 Towers. We've run 3 Write Clubs so far and had a good turn out at each. We've heard about online dating, poisoned Russians, French conceptual artists, mysterious interrogations and a lamp from a Polish salt mine, in just 3 sessions. We've also selected a script and nearly completed casting for our first rehearsed reading, Bad Blood by the brilliant Hugh Dichmont, which will be held at AEDA Academy in Hockley, Nottingham in the new year. The reading will be performed by local actors, some of whom you may have seen before..., and directed by the wonderful Becci Hooper. Also, a big thanks to Stuart at AEDA for being so supportive of what we are doing.

We've also been able to think about the feedback that we and others at both readings and Write Club give. How it is important to look at a script on its terms and those of the writer, encouraging them to do what they want to do with the script whilst offering ideas, opinions and constructive criticisms. It reminded me of the poem An Introduction to Poetry by former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins that dramaturg David Lane had altered in a session I attended but I will reproduce what David did here:

I ask them to take a play
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a play
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the play’s room
and feel the walls for a light switch.
I want them to waterski
across the surface of a play
waving at the author’s name on the shore.
But all they want to do
is tie the play to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

It's our hope that Act 2 and the work that we do helps more plays waterski.

Dates for your Diary

The last 2 Write Clubs of "term" (we will be back in the new year)

28th November and 12th December (Christmas Jumpers night), 7pm at The Organ Grinder on Alfreton Road, Canning Circus.

Bad Blood Rehearsed Reading

Provisionally 7th February, 7:30 (doors at 7 - there will be coffee and cake!) at AEDA Academy (Old Dance4 building), Hockley. This is a free sharing event but please 'pay' us with feedback for Hugh, the writer. 

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