Old Haunts, New Tricks
Rehearsals are back underway for the ghost play...
From the South of France to Wigan. A lesser man would be horrified by the transition. Me? Zero fear. Fromage? Non. Pie? Yes.
But the fear is kicking off in other ways, because I’m back in these climes for our remount rehearsals for IT WALKS AROUND THE HOUSE AT NIGHT. And it is wonderful to remember that this is, in my opinion, a pretty scary show. It’s going to be even scarier this time around - just this morning we’re honing a whole new jump-scare for you. You’re welcome.
And the cover for the play text(s) is now live! Feast your eyes on this beauty…
The horror, the horror! (The two plays will be available separately digitally as well.)
Talking of play texts…
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (to France)
I made a fun discovery recently!
The script in question was an edition of J.B. Priestly’s DANGEROUS CORNER for a 2001 production at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, now Leeds Playhouse. (And I giddily realised that IT WALKS will be playing on the exact same stage!) How it ended up in a French bookshop is anybody’s guess.
It’s signed by the whole cast (including Dervla Kirwan and Rupert Penry-Jones, oooh) but I was most excited to see Jacqueline Pearce. The legendary JP, for those of you who don’t know (but how can you not know) was a fabulous actress who played Servalan in TV’s gritty-yet-camp sci-fi drama, BLAKES 7. This is Servalan:
I would’ve loved to see her on stage. I know from my Big Finish work that thesps like her were from a generation of rep and raucous anecdotes.
Recently, THE STAGE reported that Nick Hern, the man behind my publisher, spoke out about new writing and the importance of their output:
Getting plays in print – that’s what we should do to ensure other generations understand our time… I think they’re great time capsules.
That’s exactly what this feels like - a time capsule. The programme at the front, the cast credits, the autographs… It’s a little piece of stage history. And it’s nice to think that my own published play texts might be adding teeny tiny stitches to the vast dramatic tapestry otherwise known as Stuff Wot Was On Stage.
The Award-Nominated MURDER ON MARS
A lovely nugget of news recently - MURDER ON MARS is up for ‘Best Fiction Podcast’ at the Ambies, which is very exciting. I do not think I’ll make the ceremony in Brooklyn… I remain loyal to Wigan… but I’ll have a NY-style pizza to celebrate.
And hey, if you’re yet to listen to it… I don’t hold it against you. Put it on now! Maybe YOU can have a pizza too!
And finally…
For all you Mancunian playwrights - we’re hosting another MEOW social this Friday, 30 Jan. Full details here!
