Tom Stoppard and current projects

It’s been a while since I updated this page with what I’m personally doing in this whole writing malarkey, so I’ve decided to update you all now.

I had an idea the other day.  I wanted to take something to a festival somewhere.  Whether its the Edinburgh fringe or another fringe or even just a lovely little play put on somewhere, I wanted something nice and impressive that I could point to and say ‘I made this.’

As I am wont to do, I managed to find a copy of Tom Stoppard’s play ‘Every Good Boy Deserves Favour‘ a fantastic piece about a Soviet dissadent in the bad old days of the USSR.  Imprisioned in a mental institution for having opinions that go against the states, the play revolves around his quest to get himself freed.  In doing so he exposes the weaknesses of the system and causes both himself and his captors lots of grief.  It’s a funny play, its an interesting play, and its social commentary was interesting to me.

The prisoner’s cell mate is a particularly strange breed, as he sees an orchestra.  This orchestra follows him around and comments on his life, lending music to the play in a particular way that I hadn’t seen before.

I decided to adapt it.

I’ve got a first draft now.  I’ve moved it to the modern day, I’ve replaced the orchestra with a band, and the dissadent with a banker.  The whole thing has been turned upside down, and my play follows the plight of the doctors and system trying to get the man out of the asylum.  Unfortunately he has a paranioa that every outside has a problem with him and wants to kill him.  I’ve also renamed it.  Expect to see a lot of this on my blog over the next few months.

EVERY GREEDY BANKER DESERVES FREEDOM

I’m going to leave now to do some character work.  The play is going to be good, it just needs a good re-write or seven.  Stay tuned guys, because I’m getting really excited about this one.

The only problem is the recent National Theatre revival of the original play.  It might prove difficult to get performance rights to it, so I’m going to have to consult various people in the know about whether my play is sufficently different to the orginal to allow its performance.  I think it is, it just depends whether Mr. Stoppard’s people do.

Phil

PS – if anyone wants to lend a hand with an idea for venue or some of the above legal help let me know!

Semper Station 3 – Energy

Semper Station presents:

Energy

As the festive season approaches and then vanishes you might start to feel that your energy has been drained.  That the year ahead is lacking a little… sparkle?  Well Semper Station returns in the New Year to reinvigorate you!

To do this we need (preferably Midlands-based) writers to submit short scripts that will be performed script in hand on Tuesday January 19^th 2010 at the Station Pub, Sutton Coldfield.

Scripts should:

• Be no longer than ten minutes long
• Be suitable to perform in a confined area
• Use no more than 3 actors
• Be linked to the nights theme – ‘Energy’

Please include your postcode in the e-mail.  Entries from outside of the Midlands will be considered but preference will be given to writers living in the area.

The closing date for entries is midnight on 10^th January 2010

 Details for actors will follow later!  Semper needs actors!

See www.sempergroup.wordpress.com for more details!

 All entries should be sent to semperinfo@googlemail.com

Semper Station Tonight!

Come down to the old Station Pub tonight for a evening of lightheartnedness and seriousness and down right fun! There are six pieces being performed by a variety of actors and actresses with lots of chances to top up your glasses and chat in between. The flyer below explains more than I can, clicking on it will take you through to the Semper Website where you can find lots of information! Looking for the Station? The address is on there too!

Semper Station 2: Anticipation

Wow.  Semper Station 2 is exactly a week away today.  Yes, this time next week we’ll be laughing, crying and feeling just that little bit uncomfortable as the fantastic writers show what they’re made of!  To celebrate the fact, feast your eyes on the flyer that I’ve created that will be soon plastered all over the Station Pub…

Click on the website for more information – www.sempergroup.wordpress.com

What have I been doing?

Sorry.

I’ve been all over the place for the last couple of weeks.  I think that my exciting half-term compleatly wore me out and to pay for it I had to endure a week-long miserable mood for the first week of November.

I’ve now broken out of it and fallen into my usual happy self I’ve kick started the old blog again and I’m about to give myself a headache of a writing project!

As well as all this Semper Station returns in just under 2 weeks, so now I begin again the panicked running around trying to recruit actors and writers who feel that they can make the night a success.  If anyone reading this feels they have what it takes to participate in Sutton Coldfield’s newest theatre night then have a mosey on over to www.sempergroup.wordpress.com for more information.

Other than that, there’s precious little to report!  I’m just about to potter over to the other blog and update that, so fingers crossed!

For now, here’s the first picture that came up when I put Station theatre wicked fun into a Google

Its Brian Ray! Obviously

Loves

Phil

Exciting half term – Days 4, 5 and 6 !

So here we go again, with the last three days of my fun week.  Admitedly there are some less than exciting days hidden amongst it, but I’ve tried to write it in an exciting way.

Day 4

So the fourth day started in a different way to the others.  For a start, I woke up in my own bed (enough shouts of wooooo, I was staying at Frankies – don’t any of you read the previous entries?).   When Emma and I woke up we noticed that our fish Slash was floating upside down.  He was still breathing though so we went to Pets at Home for help.  Unfortuately the conversation went something like this.

“We have an ill fish.”  Said Emma.

Nice rabbit, crap with fish

“We need a water sample.”  Said the woman.

“But all the other fish are fine.”  Emma argued.

“We need a water sample.”  Said the woman.

“But surely if the other fish would be ill if it was the water.”  I reasoned.

“We need a water sample.  Or else we’d be guessing.”  The robot replied.

So (after a bit of tesco related food shopping) Emma went back to Pets at home with a small water sample.

“Well this water doesn’t tell us anything.”  Said the woman.

“Didn’t think it would.”  Muttered Emma.

“Well it could be a lot of things, but if I was to guess, I’d say your fish sounds constipated (!?!)”

So five pounds later Emma emerged with the knowledge that if we changed the water and fed them some of these bloodworm things and added this stuff to the water Slash might be alright.  And so for the rest of the day we watched and waited for a miracle to happen.  Would Slash, a fish with an incredibly cool name and look, pull through?

No.  I put it in the bin.

Day 5

Again, given the tradegy that occured the day before I was understandably mournful when Emma got up to go to work and left me in bed with absolutely no plans and (as it was payday) lots of money to spend.  What would I do?  I wondered?  How would I cope with not having any plans and a pocketful of money?

Taking a leaf out of Emma’s book I did the first thing that I thought of and went shopping!  Yay!  Although I didn’t really buy anything of note, and the only free stuff I got was a canvas bag with something about working abroad on it.

Notice how I've left bits around the edge to give an impression of incompetence

And some mints that looked a lot like ecstacy tablets – not that I’d know what those particular tablets look like as that is extremely illegal and even if someone had offered one to me in a club in Leicester once I’d politely decline and tell them (somewhat hilarilously) that I didn’t have a headache but thank them for their concern because, yes, the music is very loud in here and why have you fallen to the floor and everyone is getting an ambulance for you I don’t hink those headache tablets did what they were meant to did they?  Did they?  Hello? – But I digress.

One thing I did buy of note (although my mind can’t really recall whether it was Day 5 or 4 that I bought them) was some paints and some little canvas.  I proceeded for the rest of the day to have a play with paints just like I did when I was at school and eventually came up with the painting you’vre probably already discounted as a joke.  I really like the juxtapostion of the colours when compared to each other within the layout of the shapes concerned on the wall…  whatever.  If anyone wants to buy the painting that looks like it’s been done by a eight year old girl with severe learning disabilites let me know and I’ll charge you £150 for it.

It does look pretty though.

Day 6

By far the most exciting day so far, on Thursday I actually got to meet Bob Fossil!  You know, the man from the Mighty Boosh whose real name is Rich Fulcher (Hi Rich, thanks for checking out the blog).  He entered the room in a bookshop in Birmingham to rapturous applause which was a little early and finished before he arrived and read a little from his book (which I’d bought two copies of for myself and Emma).

His book is all about small acts of rebellion so when he asked if there were any questions I decided to rebel by not asking him any.  Luckily, a small child had more balls than me and asked – in this order – “Can you do a song about fish?”  And “Do you ever crap in your house?”

The song about fish went something like this (you have to read it out in an American accent to fully appreciate it)

Me with a celebrity who's ruining the moment by pulling a funny face

I’m a little fish,

I’m a little fish,

Here I go underwater,

Bubble blob blubble bubble.

(I did say apprecaite.  Losers.)  And the answer to the other question?  He does.  Sometimes two or three.  I’m sure that three implies some kind of digestional problem but who am I to argue with or diagnose celebrities?  No ONE!  That’s who.  So I won’t.  Where was I?  Oh right, gossip.  The question came up about whether there will be another series of MB (think about it) soon.  Rich (I can call you Rich can’t I?  Thanks) mentioned that whilst there is some stuff in place for the next series the current feeling around the MB camp (giggle) was that a movie would be the best move.

S

P

A

C

E

I lef t some space there to let it sink in.  What a sexy feeling that gives you.  Well whatever you’re feeling is nothing compared to the sexy feeling that I got when I met him and talked to him and he allowed me to have a photo taken with him.  And that was my excitement for Thursday.

(Oh and I scored 2 goals in the regular football game on the night, but mentioning that would just be boasting)

Phil

Just for the hosting…

Apologies for this, feel free to ignore it if you want, I just needed somewhere to host my entry to the second round of a screenwriting competition.  Of course, you can always have a read, but I don’t want to bore you.

14_Consequences

Phil’s Exciting Half Term – Days one, two and three

I know day one was a long time ago (Saturday actually) but I’ve just been soooo busy that this is the first time I’ve had chance to actually sit down and write anything.  So as I sit here on my couch on day four (and I’m not even going to tell you what today’s plan is yet) and I actually get time to breathe and re-cap the past three days of fun and excellentness.

Day One

So Saturday started out like any other day.  I lay in bed with something that felt a little bit like a hangover but wasn’t quite and Emma hustled and bustled around like an irritated badger (NOTE: come up with a cuter animal).  Emma wandered off to the YMCA to do her volunteer work and I managed to get to my mother’s house in an attempt to watch the Villa game.  Villa, as usual, missed out on a good chance to push up the table and before too long I was in the car again flying down the motorway (with Emma driving) towards Exeter.

So you’re thinking that that’s it aren’t you?  That the exciting thing on day one was going to Exeter to visit our good friend Frankie.  Well you are right, but you are sooo wrong!  On the way down I got a text from said friend, who wondered whether we would like to go to a Hip hop night.  Those of you who know me well will know that this isn’t really my scene, but in the spirit of the week I went along anyway.

Me and Akil after the gig. Despite my expression I was impressed

Wow!  I had a great time!  The hip-hop night turned out to be Akil from Jurrasic 5 MCing.  Not sure who that is?  Well feast your eyes on the picture of me and him or have a look at the wikipedia page.   The night was really good and Phil’s Exciting Half-Term got off to a suprising and awesome start.  I couldn’t wait for Day two, but had no idea what exciting thing to do!

Day Two

Day two hit me like a sack of well ripened potatoes.  I wasn’t sure whether it was the extra hour in bed or the fact that I was still over-excited from last night, but I was a little happier than I usually am on a Sunday morning.  I jumped out of bed and almost tripped over a hamster, before getting dressed and (eventually) leaving the house with Emma and Frankie.

We went for a ‘lovely’ meal at the local Harvester and had a good look around the Exeter Quay and the city itself.  It is nice to get out of Birmingham every now and again, especially when your new surroundings are as impressive as Exeter.  Lovely cathedrel and lovely sunshine everywhere.  It was whilst looking around the city that I heard of Oxjam.  Did you hear about Oxjam?  Its for Oxfam, a lovely little music thing that had events going on around the city (and indeed the country).

I looked like an extra from braveheart all afternoon

Quite by accident we ended up with blue faces (part of an online petition against climate change, click here for info) and dancing around to a jazz musicians.  After a quick trip back to Frankie’s Emma and I ventured out again and saw a Beatles tribute act and some crazt 80’s electro-pop thing called Marble Fairy who Emma really liked and I marginally enjoyed.  All in all, a great day and I had brought my live music quota up to 4 bands in 2 days.  Awesomeness!!!

Day Three

You’d have thought that by now I’d be ready for bed and wouldn’t want to do anything else even mildly exciting.  Well you’d be wrong!  As had been planned for almost six months (since we last drove past the sign in fact) we went to see the magnificent Cheddar Gorge.  The last time I’d been there was probably when I was about 10, so I was unashamably excited to see it again.

When we go there I was unashamably annoyed at having to pay sixteen pounds each for entry!  Definately a low point, but we had travelled for a long time (an hour) to get there and it was something that definately had to be done!  Life is too short and payday is too close!

We got on a bus and saw some quite incredible goats – and I’m aware that seems like an oxymoron, but bear with me – that were climbing all over the sides of the gorge, then dived into the caves to listen to a rather annoying Somerset accent talk about nineteenth century cave exploration.  It was fun.

Pondering the meaning of life in a flint age hut

By far the best bit for myself was the fantastically un-PC (there was a warning sign) museum of pre-history.  With a huge spinning skull and lovely descriptions of cannabalism the building was a scientific triumph!  The only mention of God (and this suprised me given the amount of American visitors the place must get) was in a board that likened the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to the human sacrifices practiced in pre-history!  I’m sure some people would be offended by that, but I found it fascinating!

 

Forever forwards!

So now I’m back in Birmingham and planning my fourth day of fun.  I’ll try and update this tomorrow with lots of more information for you lovely people!

Exciting isn’t it?

Phil

Phil’s Half-Term of Fun

So I was sitting in the pub today (I know, alcoholic etc etc) and decided that this half term I will do something fun each day and post the evidence of it on my blog.  Partly to amuse myself, and partly to amuse YOU!  Yes, YOU!  And maybe the person reading over your shoulder.

As today (and I’m counting today as Friday) doesn’t really count as part of half term you might think that I wouldn’t bother doing anything exciting today.  You’re wrong!  Although I have no pictoral evidence at the moment, you’ll be pleased to know that to start of my exciting week I sang a little bit of ‘The House of the Rising Sun’ in a bar in Birmingham where nobody knows me and knowbody cares.

Interestingly Emma was not the only one cheering, although the kaeroke man was a litte annoyed that I was holding the microphone the wrong way.

As I said, no pictures of this event, but stay tuned for more exciting adventures throughout the week!

Loves,

Phil

A big bucket of thanks.

I know I’m lazy but I’ve copied this from the Semper blog.  The most important bit is how SEMPER STATION WILL RETURN (cue lots of happy noises from everyone concerned – even from you.  Becuase this time you will turn up!  Evil face.  Evil face.  Happy face).

Semper Station took its long awaited bow last night. It went superbly and really showed that in Birmingham we do indeed have some amazing writing talent. For me personally it was a priceless chance to meet fellow writers and talk to like minded people – even if the majority of my conversation desended into nervous ramblings. Of course the night wouldn’t have gone ahead without the support of so many people, so before I start collating and uploading videos I’d like to thank (in no particular order)…

• Everyone who submitted their work for the night. Trying to decide which pieces to include was a really difficult job, made all the harder by the calibre of the submissions
• Everyone who performed some of the scripts. Almost everyone had absolutely no idea what they would be doing when they arrived and everyone was really helpful and eager to get stuck in. It really helped the night run smoothly! (A special mention to Louise Stokes and Gary Longdon for adding an air of proffesionalism to the proceedings, and to Jon Deeming who had no idea what was going on when he arrived, yet took to the stage bravely)
• To Dan Simpson for turning up and somehow managing to work lighting cues into scripts that had none, and washes into scenes that hadn’t even considered them.
• Layla and everyone at The Station Pub! Without whom there would have been no plays, no readings and no night. The gratis provision of the room meant that the night was possible to supply without charge.
• Catherine and everyone at Script West Midlands for promoting the night and putting scattered people in touch with one another.
• And finally (and some might say, most importantly) to everyone who came to watch the night, and sat diligently through. I hope that the night was enjoyable!

The rumours are true, Semper Station will return near the end of November, so stay tuned (is that the right word?) to the blog for more information, plus some pictures and videos of last night. Till next time, Phil