I have started a new job in my home town of Guildford. So far, the job is ace and the people are fab.
One obvious benefit is that I am no longer travelling in and out of London every day. This lack of commuting time means I can start a new group for local playwrights and actually be there. I ran one for three years, but I had to leave it because the pressures of work were insane and I no longer had the time to make meetings. Or do pretty much anything else.
This time I'm building a group with Guildford Fringe Theatre Company who are ace people I've worked with in the past. The battleplan is we create a supportive group full of writers who'll offer feedback on whatever we happen to be writing at that present moment.
This is good because it will give me a monthly structure to deliver 20 pages of work to whatever else I may be doing. I'll also get to meet lots of cool people.
And I may even explore my latest idea. This is Bucks Fizz: The Jukebox Musical.
It's a story about the trials, tribulations, break-ups, bust-ups and post-bus-crash return of the Brit Eurovision supergroup. It will feature Bucks Fizz, Dollar and Brexit party hopeful Jay Aston. It will offer lead-in lines to the music of the group, but then not play any. It's ultimate post-modern irony.
Tag line: Buckle up... it's no land of make believe.
I may also do things that are not quite as lunatic, such as the play on Brexit/dementia I am researching. Or the TV series involving pool league chairman and carpet mogul Malcolm Drudge.
I only hope some pandemic doesn't scupper my new job or any of my writing plans...
