matthewturner.info

Many thanks to Steve Harper at Theatre 503 for setting up our recent reading of my new play, Closed, last month.

I had a fascinating day working with director Bobby Brook and our very generous group of actors. As well as breathing life into the characters, we managed to test out the dynamics of the whole play and see how well it would engage the audience.

I’ve certainly learnt a lot from the experience, which I’m now trying to put into practice with a new draft of the play. My main finding was that, as the play puts itself across as a political thriller, I really need to make it thrill from the first scene and involve the audience in the goals and drives of the main characters.

I’d previously worried that the plot might be too complex, or too firmly rooted in government legislation, but now I see that the plot’s fine. What I really need to do is to make the audience care. If you can do that the plot can be as complex as you like.

The reading has also tempted me to bring a major character onstage who was previously only seen in the shadows. Quite a radical change to the play but one I really want to try out.

Meanwhile check out the Songs area of the website as I’ve been adding a few new recordings there recently.

Thanks to Dominic, Michael and Suzanne for their hard-hitting rendition of Inside My Head last month.

I was delighted to be a part of The Platform and impressed by the imaginative, well-balanced programme that Bread & Roses put together. There’s a new Platform in May with five new plays. I’d advise you to catch it if you can.

This month I’ve been testing some work-in-progress at the Constellation Creatives CoLab, a night of short dramatic pieces at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden. It was good to get a scene from my new play, Closed, up and running in front of an audience. There’s no better way to find out what works and what still needs attention.

Meanwhile I’ve added a link to a recent profile piece in the Shoreham Herald, telling the story of my move to London and some of the sacrifices in the life of a writer.