matthewturner.info

The last few years have felt pretty tough but, given that this is a day for taking stock, I can look back on some writing milestones this decade.

• The Interview at the Arcola in 2010
• The Inside Man/The Interview double bill at the Brighton Fringe
• Shortlisted for the Windsor Fringe prize (Inside My Head)
• Four Rapid Write Response plays for Theatre503
• Two Bruntwood Prize final 40 plays (Closed and Dead Yard)
• A Certain Kind of Girl for The Miniaturists
• Development of Dead Yard at the Arcola Lab in 2017
• The Arcola PlayWROUGHT festival, again with Dead Yard

Along the way I’ve worked with many talented and generous actors, directors and writers, inspiring me to make my own way as a playwright.

Eclipsing all the above are my two proudest achievements: marrying Fabia in 2012 and Adam’s arrival in 2014. Maybe the 2010s have been a rather special decade after all!

I’ve been quiet but busy in 2019. Stay tuned for the lowdown on my brand new full-length play in 2020.

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.