Tuesday 18 November 2008
P-P Elsewhere
Two pieces of news. Jonathan Hansler, who was so good in "Wrong Move" last night, is currently appearing live on stage in "Chav Scum Kills God", and Lynne O'Sullivan has just published a memoir of her childhood.
Still to come
There are four weeks remaining of the AUTUMN PROGRAMME.
And remember the new start time of 7.45 p.m.
Next Monday on 24 Nov we have the stage version of VON RIBBENTROP'S WATCH by our fabled Presidents messrs Marks and Gran, clocking in at at a round 90 minutes. An hour long version was broadcast on the World Service two weekend's ago. Here's the BBC page about it.
01 Dec is Competition Night with the theme, JUBILEE.
08 Dec is the last performance of the year, Gary Davis's FIVE-A-SIDE, a ninety minute TV comedy about a group of old school friends who go to an "Activity Village" for the weekend. Three are divorced, one is married, one has it all ahead of him.
Finally, we wrap things up with the CHRISTMAS PARTY on 15th December, which contains the usual assortment of singing, awards, panto, and - this is a first - some healthy eating.
And remember the new start time of 7.45 p.m.
Next Monday on 24 Nov we have the stage version of VON RIBBENTROP'S WATCH by our fabled Presidents messrs Marks and Gran, clocking in at at a round 90 minutes. An hour long version was broadcast on the World Service two weekend's ago. Here's the BBC page about it.
01 Dec is Competition Night with the theme, JUBILEE.
08 Dec is the last performance of the year, Gary Davis's FIVE-A-SIDE, a ninety minute TV comedy about a group of old school friends who go to an "Activity Village" for the weekend. Three are divorced, one is married, one has it all ahead of him.
Finally, we wrap things up with the CHRISTMAS PARTY on 15th December, which contains the usual assortment of singing, awards, panto, and - this is a first - some healthy eating.
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Wrong Move
Our next show, on Monday 17th at 7.45, after a three week gap, is a play called "Wrong Move". And it's written by me, Peter Briffa. It's my first full length play for P-P for over two years, so I thought I'd flag it up.
It's a two hander, starring Clive Greenwood and Johnny Hansler. We're rehearsing on Sunday.
I wrote the first draft back in the 1990s. It was never quite right, and although I took it out of the bottom of its drawer every two or three years, tampered with the structure and changed the dialogue, I never really got it right. I think now, under the helpful mentoring of John Morrison, that I may be there or thereabouts.
What I was aiming for a was Sleuth-type script. You know, runs for years, made into two movies, that kind of thing. It's a bit different, though. Darker, and more claustrophobic.
It's about a British thriller writer who comes to L.A. to sign the film rights for his latest novel, which has become an unexpected hit.
Unfortunately, there's someone else living in L.A. who isn't quite so impressed. He's Steve Temple, a former World Chess champion.
I based Temple on Bobby Fischer, who died this year. When I wrote the first draft Fischer was at his most reclusive, and had become quite a legend, not just for his chess-playing, but for his political paranoia.
Anyway, do come along. I've now set it in the summer and autumn of 2001, and the updates include mobile phones and all sorts of unpleasantness. When asked what the play was like last night I replied to Phil Philmar that it was a thriller. He then asked if it contained a gun.
It does! A bit like this one.
It's a two hander, starring Clive Greenwood and Johnny Hansler. We're rehearsing on Sunday.
I wrote the first draft back in the 1990s. It was never quite right, and although I took it out of the bottom of its drawer every two or three years, tampered with the structure and changed the dialogue, I never really got it right. I think now, under the helpful mentoring of John Morrison, that I may be there or thereabouts.
What I was aiming for a was Sleuth-type script. You know, runs for years, made into two movies, that kind of thing. It's a bit different, though. Darker, and more claustrophobic.
It's about a British thriller writer who comes to L.A. to sign the film rights for his latest novel, which has become an unexpected hit.
Unfortunately, there's someone else living in L.A. who isn't quite so impressed. He's Steve Temple, a former World Chess champion.
I based Temple on Bobby Fischer, who died this year. When I wrote the first draft Fischer was at his most reclusive, and had become quite a legend, not just for his chess-playing, but for his political paranoia.
Anyway, do come along. I've now set it in the summer and autumn of 2001, and the updates include mobile phones and all sorts of unpleasantness. When asked what the play was like last night I replied to Phil Philmar that it was a thriller. He then asked if it contained a gun.
It does! A bit like this one.
Wednesday 5 November 2008
Welcome
Hello and welcome to Player Playwrights.
Set up in 1948 as a writers' co-operative, P-P is run by an elected Executive Committee who give their services free (all offices are honorary). We are truly honoured to have Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran as joint presidents!
Writers particularly of plays and scripts, from anywhere in the world can connect with each other via this site. It will be possible to upload CVs, promote publications, either as documents or as messages, let people know about performances, readings, auditions, successes, and share information about other interesting or relevant opportunities and events. Hopefully, this group will attract people looking for plays, scripts or sketches, so that it builds on P-P's long standing success to become a beneficial resource for every one involved.
Writers
Up to 150 actual or aspiring writers are regular paid-up members. Whilst most joined in the last ten years - our longest-serving member joined in 1949! Experience ranges from those who are new to writing and others who are already well-established, not least our Presidents, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, whose many much loved successes include. Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, The New Statesman (Alan B'stard speaks!), Shine on Harvey Moon, and many more.
Actors
P-P is fortunate to have some well known professional actors as well as many gifted amateurs as members. They breathe life into the scripts that P-P members present on Monday evenings - and other occasions.
The actors' agents can be contacted through the P-P Email address P-P@dial.pipex.com.
Voices of Experience
Fellow members offering support and guidance
Reasons
Why join P-P? Lots of support and encouragement, expert and detailed feedback of potential benefit to any serious writer. Some members, having taken the criticism on board, have reworked their material and gone on to have it published or produced.
Members can give and get advice and information about events and opportunities e.g. special offers on workshops, links to, for example, radio interviews with playwrights. The camaraderie of the evenings is highly enjoyable and there's a Christmas party and panto!
Analysing other people's work teaches you how to give and to get criticism, which can improve your competence and increase your confidence as a writer.
Venue
Meetings take place downstairs in the Porter's Bar, the Green Man, 383 Euston Road, London NW1 3AU, which is a literal stone's throw from Great Portland tube station. The congestion charge operates until 6:30; it's easy to park thereafter.
Please note: if you provide no details of who you are, or give no indication that what you do is related to plays and playwrights AND post messages that are totally unrelated to the the group's focus, you will be banished to the cyber-wilderness!