As a part of ET’s ongoing intention to delve deeper into what goes into bringing all of the superb theatre we get to see to the stage, we reached out for creatives to jot down options for us in 2023. And one of many first to return again to us was Tom Derrington. We first got here throughout Tom final 12 months once we interviewed Kitty Cecil-Wright who was within the strategy of placing on his play, Sleeping Lions, for a touring manufacturing. We even discovered our option to Totton to overview the play, calling it “a family affair that is as wholesome as it is unsettling.”
We requested Tom if he wish to do an everyday characteristic to take us by what it’s like being a playwright, who like so many others, has to suit his writing into the areas round work and household. And remarkably, he mentioned sure! Here then is the primary installment.
This is the diary of an rising author…
I believe?
How emerged do it’s important to be, to be thought of rising? I haven’t emerged sufficient to pack in my day job, that’s for certain. I’ve not but had a play printed and I don’t have a literary agent. In truth, come to consider it, I don’t assume I’ve ever had an e mail again from a literary agent who I’ve emailed, asking if they may think about changing into my literary agent! I haven’t emerged from drama faculty or a younger writers’ group with a pocket book filled with recent concepts about learn how to shake up the world of theatre. The reality is, I’ll quickly be 40, my hairline is in full retreat and I’m a sleep disadvantaged father to 3 stunning, however typically feral, kids. I’m undoubtedly extra ‘emerging middle-aged man’.
But as someone who had by no means even thought of writing a play earlier than, I suppose over the past couple of years, I’ve been rising in some sense. I’ve emerged as someone who’s now actively attempting to jot down performs on daily basis (even when for simply ten minutes when the children are in mattress). I’ve managed to sneak my identify into just a few competitors shortlists/longlists and have been fortunate sufficient to have seen a few my performs produced over the previous eighteen months.
So yeah, fuck it. Why not? I’m gonna go together with ‘emerging writer’. For now, anyway.It sounds good.
Here goes then … the diary of an rising author, desperately attempting to interrupt into the theatre business! I hope these ramblings could be of some curiosity and help to fellow aspiring playwrights who, like me are busy juggling their day jobs, household life and different commitments to proceed dreaming up and creating new tales for our phases.
Let’s see how a lot rising may be achieved in 2023!
1 January
Right! I’ve set some objectives for the 12 months.
1) Stop smoking.
2) Write three brand-new performs this 12 months.
3) Have certainly one of these performs produced!
Feeling hopeful.
But I would like deadlines. I solely ever write in my spare time, so with out deadlines, I’d simply do what different regular individuals do and spend my evenings watching TV. But I don’t need to be regular, do I? I need to be a playwright. So I would like deadlines. For me, these are often competitors dates or submission call-outs and I’ve simply observed that The Bush Theatre have an open window for brand new performs. Closes on the 9 January… Shit! Just over every week away. Why didn’t I see that earlier than? I’ve managed to submit one thing to The Bush for the previous two years and each instances I had some superb suggestions from them. Shit! I do have a half-arsed, half-finished first draft of one thing. Maybe I can whip that into form and ship it in? Yeah, why not? Per week…Yeah. I ought to attempt…it might be a disgrace to overlook it. I’m going to attempt…
3 January
The new sequence of Happy Valley is sweet, isn’t it?
6 January
On the constructive, I’m nonetheless off work, so I’ve loads of additional time. The downside is, the children are nonetheless off faculty, so I’ve completely no time in any respect. It’s okay although as a result of I can keep up late, can’t I? I’ll write when everybody’s asleep. Nope! My one-year-old’s bought a chilly (egocentric) and since he doesn’t know learn how to blow his personal nostril (lazy), I’ve to maintain going up each twenty minutes to do it for him. I’ve precisely one week to complete this draft. Come on, I can do that.
9 January
Nah…couldn’t do it. No probability. Feeling a bit gutted. But however, I wouldn’t have wished to submit one thing that wasn’t prepared. I at all times actually love the work that goes on at The Bush, actually, it might in all probability be my dream venue for a debut play – sooner or later. But it undoubtedly received’t be this 12 months. Talking of Bush productions although, I simply learn Paradise Now by Margaret Perry, which is at present on, as a write this. I assumed it was unbelievable. Would’ve beloved to have seen it.
15 January
Christmas holidays formally over and I’m straight again into the standard groove…work, youngsters, cleansing, not writing, cooking, work, youngsters, cleaning-kids….
Got a brand new deadline although: The Papatango new writing prize closes for entries on the 5 February and I really like this prize. I reckon it’s the golden ticket for an aspiring playwright. The successful performs are at all times good, they’re produced, printed and never solely that, the author takes dwelling seven grand, plus royalties. The smartest thing although, in my view, is that Papatango present suggestions to each single entry, no matter how far within the competitors you’ve bought. Such a cool gesture. Often in these playwriting competitions, in case you don’t make at the very least a longlist, you get nothing again and it may well simply kill any confidence you had within the play within the first place. So, Sergeant Cawood, you’re happening pause, I’ve a play to complete.
24 January
Very tough first draft, full! Sort of excited by it/ Sort of assume it might be shite! I don’t know but. My course of now could be to place it away for at the very least three days, then print it out and browse it with recent eyes once more. Not very best for the setting however very useful to see it away from a display screen. I’ve additionally despatched it off to a couple individuals I belief and know will give me sincere and brutal suggestions. Waiting to see what they assume – thrilling or shite.
29 January
General notice: ‘I wouldn’t say horrible… however the ending undoubtedly wants some work!’
Okay, good to know. Yeah, I assumed the identical. Alright, I can kind that. Easy. Nooo problemo.
31 January
I actually fucking hate writing endings!
TBC.
Our because of Tom for taking the time to fill out his diary for us. He can be again in a month or so together with his subsequent entries. You can sustain with Tom by way of his Twitter account right here.
If you’re a inventive who wish to become involved with holding a diary for us, then do get in contact, we’d love to listen to from different creatives with what goes into their work as nicely.