Playing About
Went to Glasgow at the weekend, to see a director about a play. It's an idea I've been mulling over for a while - in those moments between trying to earn a living - thinking - as you do - 'I want to write about that, that person, that situation, that time and place, and those ideas' - but not quite sure how to find a way into it. The director is young, and that's good too: uncynical, full of imagination and enthusiasm. I love writing for theatre, but periodically become disillusioned, mostly because finding outlets for drama is quite hard, even with a track record. But there's a part of me that adores collaboration, that loves the process - you work away at something in the privacy of your room, in the privacy of your head, and then you take a deep breath and dive into the development/rehearsal process. What emerges is - often - somewhat different from your original intentions - but if you're lucky, it's better! I love that precarious sense of holding on, and then letting go - the sense that it could all go horribly wrong, but usually doesn't, the sense of something growing and changing which is what theatre is all about. But I couldn't work like that all the time - I confess. Which is why I spend a lot of time writing prose as well. And then I get sick of my room, the blank screen, the loneliness - and have a sudden hankering for plays and players, for looking at interesting spaces and faces, and listening to words - for the sheer excitement of working in theatre all over again.
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5 comments:
Wow! I have never written a play. But you make it sound so wonderful, intense, exciting, and frightening.
I used to work in the theatre as a costume designer, but have never attempted writing one. I am afraid of a new format.
Ah you should try it - particularly since you've already worked in theatre! It's scary, but I find it more exciting than any other form of writing. Everything makes a difference - director, cast, lighting, sound, costume - and the audience. I miss it when I don't do it, but don't think I could do it all the time!
I think I will someday. Right now I write novels, and I feel so free in that format. I would have to practice how to move around in a new format.
Did writing plays come naturally or was it uncomfortable at first?
I've gotten to know L.A. in the blogging world and she mentioned your site because I just posted something about the idea of writing screenplays. And--duh--plays can be even better! I acted a ton in high school so why didn't I think of that? I love to write, I love to act, what a perfect combination.
I'm currently working on my second novel. LOVE the realm of fiction.
Where did you gain your knowledge for writing for theater?
I started writing plays for radio, a long time ago - mainly, I suppose, because I listened to a lot of radio drama when I was a kid. Radio was a good medium for drama back then. I've done about 200 hours of BBC radio drama - a lot of plays, although I don't write for radio now - I've probably done enough! But that lead me into theatre although the two are very different. I wrote poetry and plays, then stories and plays - then novels and plays - but even though there are long gaps, I always come back to plays. And especially stage plays. Theatre is probably the least prescriptive medium in the world. I know a number of actors who also write for theatre - I think it helps, so you should go for it!
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