Training Day

Today I am filming a training video for Center Parcs.

Yep.

I am really curious about what will happen today.

Stewart Lee's Comedy Passenger

Clunk clip, every trip.

The Things We Do For Love

The Things We Do for Love was a documentary made by George Blackstone and Alex Gollner on Vimeo. Interviewing over fifty people aged between 17 and 87.

I should warn you that there is one example of swearing. I know, it's appalling isn't it? I was enormously proud to discover it was me. What are the odds? Well, 1 in more than 50, I suppose.

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle

I was in last night's episode of Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle. I am that Vain Arrogant Man.

Buckle up.


The show is available on the BBC iPlayer for the next seven days.

Four Doors Down

I was sent the top image on the left as a stimulus for the show that became In The Frame. The photograph was taken by Louisa Chadderton. I've never written anything with a specific stimulus in mind, much less one which will serve as a backdrop to the piece itself. Add to that the fact that the photographer will be present during the show and you've got a lot of reasons getting in the way of doing it justice.

And that's another thing, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Whoever the 'they' are. Well this photo already tells a story, it doesn't need a narrative imposed on it by some outside influence.

I really struggled writing this piece. My first attempt with a different photo was less than impressive. So I went back to the drawing board and tried to ignore the inspiration. That's right, in spite of the reasons above, I tried to put it out of my mind completely and start from scratch.

I decided on the style of an interview with no questions. Inspired by/a homage to/stolen from The Six Wives Of Timothy Leary, a play of mostly monologues, delivered as if answers to questions unheard. The idea was to come up with a list of questions and then write the answers of a group of characters. Then take away the questions and hope the answers alone hold some sort of interest, but I didn't do that.

I just made it up.

I started at the top and worked down. Sometimes I had specific questions in mind, sometimes not. Then I sent it off thinking it probably needed another re-write but as always there was no time. For there to be time enough for rehearsals, time enough for line learning and as it turned out time enough for the writer to forget most of contents.

I sat with the audience not entirely sure what was happening. The girls took their places on stage armed with cigarettes, pringles and dressing gowns that I wish I'd thought of.

They did me proud. It was much better than I could ever have imagined. Better than I thought the script would have allowed.

The cast from left to right: Nicola Young, Catherine Kirk, Louisa Chadderton and Amy Palmer.

These last two photos were taken by Clare Breheny who also submitted some really great photos for In The Frame.

Desperation Dog

I nearly posted this yesterday, but I assumed someone would think it was a dull April Fool's joke.

So safe in the knowledge that it isn't, I took this photograph. I like photography. I don't really know what I'm doing, it's guesswork.

This photo was the In The Frame inspiration for the Desperation Dog scene written by Gi Lewis.

Nobody will have noticed it, however because it was like justifiably upstaged by the best cardboard puppetry I have ever seen.

In The Frame Today

In The Frame, the latest Behind The Bike Shed show is today at the Hoxton square bar & kitchen


Doors Open at 2pm
Performance starts at 3pm
£3 entry