Introducing #5: Steven Blackshaw

Hi Steven, thanks for joining us for this final blog-post in our mini-series introducing the local writers we’re collaborating with for the project up here in the North East. I’m hugely looking forward to performing in Newcastle for the first time this week, have you got any performance experiences in the area that particularly stand out?
One of my best performance experiences was when I performed as part of a student festival in my mid teens. The experience was fantastic because I performed on the Theatre Royal stage in Newcastle, which is something (growing up in Newcastle) that is amazing to actually do when you see real productions on there yourself. With it being part of the festival too, there was a great audience of excited participants, families etc., so the buzz of excitement was brilliant and I had a lot of fun performing.

Great stuff, can’t wait to see you do your thing at the events for this project on Saturday! Our plan with the blog is give people a little taster of what they might expect from you at the performance events, so maybe you could tell us the tagline for your piece, and even treat us to a little extract?
Ok, so the tagline is: “It all starts with the opening of the packet, and winning has never tasted so satisfying.”

and here’s a little quote from the piece:
“The day started like no other. The cool, brightness of the early morning sun washes the room with a haze of bright light. The soft, fluffy, dark green carpet nestled between my toes as I walk towards the phone.”

Intriguing! Sounds like a domestic setting then – maybe the family home? On that note, another thing we’re asking you guys is what’s the speciality dish when your family get together?
It would probably be a meat based dish of delight. Usually pork chops, with Sunday roast inspired vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. Perfect any day of the year.

Ha ha, nice one – a popular choice! Final question then, who was (or is) your childhood hero?
I was just like many young kids when it came to action heroes. With things like Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles particular favourites (and to which I’m sure is true with regard to teenage mutant ninja turtles!). But, my hero as a kid has to have been Spiderman. He was just fantastic, what he stood for, how he flew around the city but ultimately just because he is so cool.

Quality, thanks man – consider yourself introduced!

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Introducing #4: Reece David Connolly

Hi Reece, let’s get straight to it with the title and tagline for the piece you’re writing for the project – the performance events are kicking off a week tomorrow and we want to make sure people are suitably excited!
Right, well my piece is called ‘The ManHunt’ and the tagline is:
‘Someone is Missing…and the Mini-Fridge is Running Low’

Brilliant, enjoying the collision of high octane Hollywood action vibes and family-based banality! Even the first draft you wrote for this piece was absolutely quality, you’ve got such a natural spring in your words- what got you started writing to begin with?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write, or want to write. It’s always being something I’ve done, whether in crayon, pixels or ink, and I feel I always will. There’s something so special in words, and making stuff out of them for people to laugh at, cry at, remember and enjoy. I’d love to be a writer professionally one day, when I grow-up a bit, and have people reading my stories. Hopefully!

Growing up  is not always necessary for people to want to read or listen to your stories! I say listen as well because at the events for this project you’ll be reading your work to our guests live – when you have most enjoyed performing before?
My favourite experience so far of performing has being, without a doubt, up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. I went twice, with two different musicals, this year and last as part of a school theatre-troupe. It was just incredible, too much for words, to be there at the heart of something so exciting and vivid and alive. I’d love the future to take me back there, many times, one day.

Inspiring stuff man, keeping my fingers crossed for you! What else is important to you in this big wide world?
For me, above writing and performing, my family is my life, and whenever we get together its something to enjoy. It’s a chance for my Mam to roll out her famed Roast, which is already a staple of my week. Legions of Yorkshire Puddings smothered in gravy, a patchwork spread of allotment-vegetables and all crowned with great, generous helpings of beef, because it HAS to be beef. Delicious!

Quality mate, thanks for bringing it back to the food because that’s a big part of the events at Live Theatre too – those lucky folks who come along on the 3rd will get treated to a range of snacks and tasters as well as the performances, can’t say fairer than that really!

http://www.live.org.uk/whats-book/indiana-jones-extra-chair

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Introducing #3: Maria

Hi Maria, loving the photo – you always have great hats! Really excited to have you involved with the project – as with Ryan lets start at the start – what made you want to write initially?
I assume I started writing due to the realisation that real life is nothing compared to worlds where exciting things happen all the time, and it’s even better when YOU get to pick and choose ANYTHING that can happen. Maybe I was just power-hungry at a young age…

Any writers, poets or otherwise, that you particularly admire?
My favourite poet might be E. E. Cummings, though my opinion fluctuates between his work being quite profound and stimulating, to simply ridiculous so that it is just comical.

There’s definitely a liberal helping of comedy in your piece for the show, what’s the tagline?

“Grandma’s Soup: Where do the boundaries of politeness lie?”

Ha ha, nice! Finally, but perhaps most importantly, what is your family’s speciality dish/meal when it’s time for a get together?
My Mum’s classic Miscellaneous Cheese Bake will keep you on your feet with the endless surprises in store, if you dare to venture beneath the cheese…

Brilliant, thanks for that!

To find out more about the event that Maria, Ryan and the other local collaborators will be performing at, head to this page on the Live Theatre site:
http://www.live.org.uk/whats-book/indiana-jones-extra-chair

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Introducing #2: Ryan Watson

Welcome to our mini-series introducing the brilliant local writers we’re collaborating with on the project. First up, Ryan Watson…

Hi Ryan, first up, and crucially of course, what would you say is the ‘speciality dish’ for you family gatherings?
My Nan’s dinners. They usually involve Gravy and chicken/beef, the best mash potato EVER and Yorkshire puddings. Pickled Onions on the side too. Celery sometimes makes an appearance.

After our first workshops at the weekend it’s clear you’ve got a real talent for writing, what got you started?
I’ve always been really into my TV shows, since Thomas the Tank Engine and Power Rangers and I’ve always been half in my own little bubble world. Then I discovered Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and a writer called Neil Gaiman and they inspired me to try and write my bubble world down and see if anyone likes it.

Nice one, what elements of this ‘bubble world’ will you be shedding light on in your piece for this project? Actually don’t give too much away, just the title and the tagline you came up with in the session will do!
Well it’s called ‘The Wedding Present’ and the tagline is:
‘The family’s here. Mum’s getting Married. Growing up’s never smelt so bad.’

Good stuff – does what a tagline should, I want to know more! Maybe just a little excerpt?!
Here goes…
‘I’m the cool guy in the suit, I’m Don Draper.
It’s up to me to save the day.
I take off my jacket. I roll up my sleeves
just to show it I mean business, just to show it who’s boss.
And I walk in there. A peg on my nose and a bucket of water
are my only weapons, my only defence in this great battle.’

Great man, thanks, hopefully that will have whetted a few appetites to the point they want to hear the full piece at the event!Finally, then who’s your hero?

My Hero has to be Batman. Any Batman. Except George Clooney.

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Introducing #1: the blog!

Hiya, Simon here…

The idea for the blog is to introduce you to the brilliant local writers involved in the project (who I met for the first time at the weekend) and give you a taster of the type of stuff they’re working on with me. We’ll also be documenting our creative process more generally as we move towards the performance events – hopefully offering out some interesting insights and opportunities to get involved along the way…

As for me, you can find out plenty more than the average person would need to at my website, but as a starter I used this poem as part of my introduction to the group at the weekend, mainly because the incident it describes is one of the proudest moments in my life!

You can check out a video of me performing the scratch to the show on the ABOUT page, but most importantly keep tuned to this blog to watch the project develop!

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