Life Writing at Anglesea

What a pleasure it is to be back at Anglesea Community House teaching not one but two Life Writing Courses this term! It is such a privilege to work with people so that they have the motivation to Just Do It. Make a start. Reflect, reminisce, laugh and cry. Don't just think about what to include, what to leave out. Make decisions. Find your voice, it's unique. Make a story out of it. Now make a different one. Start in a different place.... or refuse to. Share it. Or else write it just for your own eyes.

 It's your story. Tell it your way.

Six weeks of exploration....what a great adventure we will have.

Under The Influence of Words #3

Looking forward to hosting Under The Influence of Words #3. June 18, Aireys Pub. A great afternoon for all - writers come and share your work with our enthusiastic friendly audience. All info on the flyer. FREE event for Love Winter In Aireys.

‘Swimming In Circles’ My new script for Norway theatre

On Saturday 6 May at 3pm two of my favourite actors – Cherie Mills and Kate Hunter – will present a public reading of my script ‘Swimming In Circles’ at the Surf Coast Arts Space, Shop 2, 103 Great Ocean Rd Anglesea (near Noble St). Come along, have a listen, see what you think.  While you are there enjoy the Printmaker and Glassmaker exhibition. 

‘Swimming In Circles’ explores a connection between Green Turtles on the Great Barrier Reef and the Midnight Sun in Norway. It might be stranger than you think….

My talented Norwegian theatre friend, Charlotte Hukvari, asked me recently to write a short play for two women actors that may be suitable to perform in Oslo. How enticing. I thought I’d do what any playwright would do - say ‘Ja!’, do some research, hope for some inspiration floating around in the ether,  and attempt to set a story in a country where I have never been, during a phenomenon I have never experienced (the long summer nights of the midnight sun) between two Norwegian sisters, Karin and Astrid who have a difficult relationship.

There may or may not be: a drowning dog, a green coat, speaking in tongues, green turtles (who return to the same beach where they were hatched, maybe thousands of kilometres away, to breed and lay their eggs), some shagging, some lying, someone is pregnant, David Attenborough, a dead mother, a broken photo frame, a Polish neighbour and a wild duck (just for a nice little Ibsen reference).

We’d love to see you there at the reading – May 6 2017, 3pm Surf Coast Arts Space.

'Water, Water' now on Youtube

If you haven't  already viewed our international award -winning short film 'Water, Water' it is now up on Youtube. Check it out when you have 17 minutes to spare.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=aOKtXI2oQ2E

The Hope Song project

What did I say when asked to write a play for Mental Health Week in October  2017? The answer had to be "Yes". Next October Surfcoast Shire will celebrate Mental Health Week with the Arts of the Mind Festival. Several community arts events will take place during the week, and this project - The Hope Song - will be performed in Anglesea as an APA (Anglesea Performing Arts) production. My wonderful  talented friend Iris Walshe-Howling will direct the play, which will be in the style of Verbatim Theatre. This 'spoken-word' style of performance is one where the words that the actors speak come from real conversations with real people about their life experiences. I am humbled by the experiences people have shared with me about their mental health challenges. How generous they are to trust me with their stories. It gives me a great responsibility to tell their stories with as much sensitivity and thoughtfulness that I can bring to this important  project.

Under The Influence of Words #2

It was lovely to be invited back again to host the 'Love Winter in Aireys' writers reading event on June 19 at Aireys Pub. My special guest writer, poet Julie Maclean (pictured) shared her beautiful words and I enjoyed interviewing her and hearing about her inspirations and experiences. Best wishes Julie for your book launch at Convent Garden in London next month. Everyone enjoyed listening to the ten talented writers read their work  - everything from memoir to wonderful slam poetry.

Interview by Carol Romanello from Canada

Carol Romanello from Wasaga, Canada,  interviewed me for her blog at
http://ohmjam.com/2016/06/silver/
She asked me about my role as the script writer and producer, about my other writing projects, and gave me the opportunity to brag about my 'dream team' on this project.