A Stupid Love Song

January 27th brings us an exciting new play by Chloe Austin.

"After having a hit no. 1 record about her heart break, soulful singer Frankie bumps into her ex. (and inspiration for the song) rock star Jay - at a charity recording. To make matters worse, they have to record a love duet together. Despite both singers' fiancees turning up at the studio, old passions are stirred by the music. Emotions are high and arguments fly but is it love? Or just memories brought back by a stupid love song".

7.30 at the Three Stags.

Competition Play-off

WILL YOU MARRY ME? - GUILTY SECRET - RE-WRITING HISTORY

No, not scenes from The Rake's Progress, but the titles of our 3 internal competitions of 2013. The top two plays from each, none of them more than 10 minutes long, will be played again at the Three Stags, on Monday night 20 January, and voted on. And the winner will be recorded on the prestigious Guy McKay Shield [and may be kissed by Miss Making-Whoopee, who will be compering the show!] The annual play-off is always a fun evening, so come along.

Clarion

Our first play of the new term is Clarion, by Mark Jagasia.

Monday 13th at 7.30 at the Three Stags.

Winter Programme 2014

Happy New Year, everyone! Here is the new programme, meeting at the usual place, Mondays at 7.00 for 7.30 pm at the Three Stags, 67/69 Kennington Road, London SE1 7PZ.

Sorry about the formatting, and for the fact that it isn't in its usual spot as a pdf. Blame my dead computer.

Date Title Author Genre Time Chair

13/01 CLARION Mark Jagasia Stage 75 m Fiona McGee

20/01 COMPETITION PLAY OFF Bill Mary Debbie Peter Michael Cheryl Rob Various Scripts 65 m Fiona McKinnon

27/01 STUPID LOVE SONG Chloe Austin Stage 60 m Kevin Mandry

03/02 THE GROCER Mark Brown TV sit 70 m Eamon McDonnell

10/02 THE ROOK & THE CROW SIMPLE TALE OF LOVE Angela Higson Sasha Brooman Stage Stage 10 m 30 m Peter Thompson

17/02 COMEDY WRITING THE ROYAL TAPES Tony Kirwood Carmen Harris Talk Sketch 30 m 10 m Peter Vincent

24/02 TAM’S PEEPS Edward Sayeed Stage 75 m Mary Conway

03/03 LIVING LEGEND Rob Fearn and Cheryl Freedman Film script 90 m Tony Diggle

10/03 SUFFRAGETTES IN LOVE Janice Day and Catherine King Radio 45 m Francis Beckett

17/03 THE PRODUCERS Peter Huntley Talk 45 m Natasha Staples

24/03 PICK ‘N MIX Roger Mayhew Stage 75 m Debbie Maya

31/03 THE CELLAR Carrie Eden Stage 80 m Ninaz Khodaiji

07/04 WOULD YOU ADAM AND EVE IT? Competition 10 plays 90 m Jethro Dykes

14/04 LOVE ME DO Marks n Gran Stage 70m Suzanne Kendall

Note from the Treasurer: Hey, guys, the annual subscription of £8 must be paid before the start of term, or, at the very latest, 13 January 2014. Membership and the right to participate depend on it. So make sure it reaches Jethro Dykes at 42 Thurso House, Randolph Gardens NW6 5EL no later than opening night.

SPRING COMPETITION on 7 APRIL 2014 WOULD YOU ADAM AND EVE IT?

It is time we had another “In the Style of” competition. Please take the story of the Fall of Man [Genesis chapters 2 and 3] and turn it into a short play in the style of a well-known dramatist. The reading time must not exceed ten minutes or fall short of five, on pain of disqualification; and it should include all Stage Directions and introductions. Scripts should include a list of characters (with ages) and speaking parts for at least one male and one female actor. They must be emailed to Natasha Staples at natashastaples@gmail.com by Monday 24 March 2014 and hard copy scripts (one for each reader) must be sent to Peter Thompson at 9 Hillfield Park N10 3QT by the same date. The scripts are not to be rehearsed but the cast may discuss the script with each other on the night and raise any questions with Natasha (but not the author who must remain anonymous). Author’s name should be disclosed to Natasha, but not included on the scripts. Only the first ten entries to be received will be accepted for the competition but we may be able to arrange readings of surplus scripts on another occasion. Casting and distribution of scripts will take place on Monday 31 April 2014.

OTHER CONTACTS: Chair: JohnMorrison: [07881 784652] JohnMMorrison7@aol.com ] Secretary: Peter Thompson [0208883 0371 secretary@playerplaywrights.co.uk] Treasurer: Jethro Dykes [078766111833 dykjeth@gmail.com] at 42 Thurso House, Randolph Gardens, London NW6 5EL Casting Secretary: Suzanne Kendall: [07738436068: pp.castingsecretaries@gmail.com] Competitions Secretary: Natasha Staples: [07864986522: natashastaples@gmail.com].

Party Time

It comes around so quickly, doesn't it? Yes, next Monday everyone who is anyone will be having a simply wonderful Christmas Time at the P-P Party. Cabaret songs, sketches, Intergalactic Dating, Natasha making Whoopee and Return to the McBates Motel -- plus awards and another pantomime from the much-missed Tim Gambrell. There are also tasty snacks coming to us all from the Three Stags eaterie. Be there at 7.30, Monday 9th, with your £5. Drinks will as usual be from the bar downstairs.

The Garden Part Two

December 2nd and it's time to get ourselves back to the Garden, after last week's electrifying Part One.

The play is set in a walled garden, somewhere in North London, where our genial Chorus leads us on a journey through time. In our imagination we are invited to picture the garden as a place of present beauty and life as time passes, seasons change, year follows year and people flower and fade and fight for survival. With the Chorus as guide, we are invited to share the dramas faced by some of the vibrant individuals who have inhabited this garden over the years, locked as they are into the vagaries of their times. Part 1 - shown last week – took us from 1805 to 1921 and received outstanding feedback. Part 2, this week, gives us four short plays: 1940 – THEY WON’T BOMB THE DORCHESTER; 1963 – LOVE CHILD; 1981 – WHATEVER LOVE MEANS; 2013 – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

7.30 at the Three Stags.

The Garden

For the next two Mondays we have a series of playlets that have come to fruition via the Collaborative group, entitled the Garden.

The play is set in a walled garden, somewhere in North London, where our genial chorus lead us on a journey through time. In our imagination we are invited to picture the garden as a place of present beauty, as time passes, seasons change, year follows year, and people flower and fade and fight for survival. Moving from 1805 to 1921 over five short scenes in Part One, and from 1940 to the present day in Part Two, we join nine different sets of characters as they battle with the challenges set before them and make their mark on the progress of history.

The Garden is written by Mary Conway, Anthea Courtenay, Victoria Johnston, Caroline Langston, Debbie Mayer, and Peter Vincent. Part One, Monday 25th November, 7.30 at the Three Stags.