tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.comments2021-06-06T10:16:01.656+01:00Peter John CooperPeter John Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15285783156550263536noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-9899379962204168372016-11-04T10:01:02.726+00:002016-11-04T10:01:02.726+00:00Thank you. I very much enjoyed reading this. The c...Thank you. I very much enjoyed reading this. The cup of tea dialogue particularly is one I hear repeated over and over again. But may I ask why you regard a status assertion as tantamount to a status reduction. To me, often, this avoidance of declaration reeks of lack of confidence - which is quintessentially uncool. When Andrew asked Barry if he wanted a cup of tea, had Barry replied "Christ, yes, I'm dying for a cup of builder's, thanks." without any care as to whether people look upon Typhoo or Earl Grey as having the greater cachet then, he would immediately have increased his own status. In my eyes, at least. Anna Girolamihttp://www.goodredherring.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-78062259486921184212014-11-03T22:57:54.185+00:002014-11-03T22:57:54.185+00:00The Archers has always had a cult following in Uni...The Archers has always had a cult following in Universities. My son listened as a student, and now works in a University, and tells me that this is still the case. Lots of young listeners, methinks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-31166542425834546522014-11-03T08:31:01.539+00:002014-11-03T08:31:01.539+00:00Agreed. Another (adult) life-long Archers listener...Agreed. Another (adult) life-long Archers listener - I've been listening, off and on, since before Pat and Tony married. What I always liked was its integrity - the characters changed over time and scriptwriters, but remained psychologically credible. And whilst there were highs and dramas, most programmes were about as dramatic as my local paper. But that was fine, because it was about people, and the scandals and disasters, as in life, mattered in relation to how people responded and reacted. Generations of scriptwriters have understood this, and did their homework so that the long shadows of events played out in lives, as they do in life. Real people don't conveniently forget about will conditions and family feuds. They don't just up and sell the family farm their parents and grandparents spent their lives to bequeath them. But then, neither do planning committees meet in secret and disclose their decisions to random corporate staffers. If the characters lose their credibility the series will lose its long-term listeners - and I currently see little that is likely to engage and sustain an alternative audience. Scriptwriters, you are not just cutting off noses to spite faces, you are disfiguring and fatally maiming. This is not going to look pretty on your CV.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17087581875390933181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-60461278400914769962014-11-03T01:33:58.729+00:002014-11-03T01:33:58.729+00:00Excellent, and well-written. I would only quibble ...Excellent, and well-written. I would only quibble with one thing. I am fifty-nine and still spend my money on getting pissed every night. Steve Ruddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08939442902428549403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-84780035243567770782014-11-02T23:54:01.555+00:002014-11-02T23:54:01.555+00:00Yes. Nothing more. Except, perhaps, the offer of ...Yes. Nothing more. Except, perhaps, the offer of a gargantuan amount of glue?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-52511462289355032132014-04-03T16:23:49.639+01:002014-04-03T16:23:49.639+01:00I, too, have felt this for a long while. Seems alm...I, too, have felt this for a long while. Seems almost as morally abhorrent as paying for sex! I also question the validity of competitions which may be free but in the end offer no more than a rehearsed reading, ticking a funding box for the organiser, but getting the writer no nearer to getting the work sold.poormouthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-50891106894555401122014-03-27T22:20:50.433+00:002014-03-27T22:20:50.433+00:00Writers are so often treated as if they should be ...Writers are so often treated as if they should be honoured that anyone wants to give them a hearing. <br /><br />Because writing is a very natural and human craft there is no clear distinction between amateur and professional and that's very healthy. If you're good you're good, one of the few professions where you can't hide behind professional status. But so often this means writers work for nothing or pay for the privilege. <br /><br />I will enter local competitions where a small fee helps to make it possible.<br /><br />I will not pay £20 to a funded theatre company. <br /><br />I am not in the business of subsidising theatre. They should be subsidising me!Mark the playwrightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-65962969069673429252014-03-27T14:20:24.931+00:002014-03-27T14:20:24.931+00:00Thank you Peter for raising this. I am new to the ...Thank you Peter for raising this. I am new to the play scene and like most people are running on a budget. I limit myself financially as to enter all these competitions would cost me a mortgage. So I look for the free competitions and other sites that are asking for new material. I believe I can get my work out there without it losing the roof over my head. So as writers we must be wise also. It is experienced others like you who express an opinion that allows the likes of me learn and not feel alone. I thank you Sir.Mary T Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03265429691200918119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-5856610461521309992014-03-27T12:33:40.834+00:002014-03-27T12:33:40.834+00:00Young playwrights only write young plays with youn...Young playwrights only write young plays with young characters. Young theatre companies support them in this endeavour with misguided 'development'. Discuss.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-37266994301759114562014-03-27T09:43:25.560+00:002014-03-27T09:43:25.560+00:00Thanks for saying this, Peter. I totally agree. I ...Thanks for saying this, Peter. I totally agree. I have weeks when I literally don't have money for food, and can't afford competition fees. I have had one play which has toured schools in the Hull area (and was described as 'going down a storm'), but the challenge of reaching theatres when everything now seems to be done by competition with entry fee, is almost too much.I write stories,and poetry as well, but usually find myself excluded from competitions - not only by entry fee, but because I have been too successful already! There is plenty to help absolute beginners, but not for people who have proved themselves, but don't have an agent, or funds to help themselves.Philippa777https://www.blogger.com/profile/15563870561424149136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-54010934597361853942014-03-26T12:29:35.588+00:002014-03-26T12:29:35.588+00:00I recently argues with an extremely inept would-be...I recently argues with an extremely inept would-be theatre producer who has a venue (of sorts - it's a long story) that his facilities needed to be better to meet a basic standard for rehearsing. He countered with the notion that what he was doing was 'humble' (getting people to work for free in truly crap conditions, to put on shows in his space, for his benefit!). My argument to him is the same as my argument against this competition: if you can't afford the marching band, get a kazoo. If you want a competition, pay for it yourself, don't ask the entrants to donate the prize fund. On the other hand, it is positive that they have created a platform for writers, it's always welcome - let's not forget that at least is a good thing. I hope they pay you some heed, Peter.Mhairi Grealishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15723466886901755970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-72281351286766043872014-03-25T15:31:36.052+00:002014-03-25T15:31:36.052+00:00well said. With any form of writing or art I do ...well said. With any form of writing or art I do not believe in being competitive and enter competitions and especially where judges are biased against certain structures and each individual has their own opinion on what is a winner when there is a huge audience out there. Why sell yourself by having to pay for showing your work and feel pressurised by a small minority of a group of judges. Also where does the fees come into it? where does it go? some for the grand winner but not all. Write or being artistic for the love of it and loving to share to a large audience to appreciate and not be blocked before reaching the people who count out there.<br /> Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10615574912281770426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-88062978989835327892014-03-25T14:11:57.879+00:002014-03-25T14:11:57.879+00:00Also, at £20, they only need 500 entrants to raise...Also, at £20, they only need 500 entrants to raise the £10,000, which they will surely get. They have to cover their costs of course, but then they have other revenue streams; this feels like a decidedly low-risk venture on their part. More significantly, it's a negative-sum venture on the part of the playwrights who enter, whose chances of winning (all other things being equal) are going to be less than 1 in 500.<br /><br />There's no guarantee of a production at the end of it either. The theatre can opt in or out if it wants to, just as it could in any case, with any play.<br /><br />A person, so inclined, could make make a decent bit of money running a competition like this.<br /><br />I'd rather see a theatre (like the Old Vic does) giving free rehearsal space to companies producing new or experimental work, than giving 10 grand to just one playwright.Dave Hallhttp://www.davidwalterhall.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-55817525408066622822014-03-25T13:09:27.160+00:002014-03-25T13:09:27.160+00:00I agree totally Peter. I feel the same about thos...I agree totally Peter. I feel the same about those organisers of those so called Webinars, paying for the thoughts and ideas of so called actors/writers/directors, who want fees to show you the way, there isn't any way!! Show you how to get the audition, nail this, nail that. It's criminal, all one can do practice your craft, The only way is to follow your life's path and your own journey. Many people and organisations try and take money of vulnerable people who have dreams. <br />I respect your thoughts Peter,<br />Marcus.Marcus brutushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238369451062253972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-1147426749194288582014-02-04T12:35:26.159+00:002014-02-04T12:35:26.159+00:00Well said!Well said!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-33206432564701013182014-01-24T07:18:35.070+00:002014-01-24T07:18:35.070+00:00What a fantastic read. Thank you so much for sha...What a fantastic read. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Loved the doubled headed horse. Paul and JulieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09471675944631289259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-70929322303802761452014-01-24T07:17:13.990+00:002014-01-24T07:17:13.990+00:00What a fantastic read. Thank you for sharing your...What a fantastic read. Thank you for sharing your wonderful thoughts with us. Love the double headed horse. Regards Paul and JulieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09471675944631289259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-71682648070798710762013-10-13T21:57:58.867+01:002013-10-13T21:57:58.867+01:00I know you posted this in August, but I just now f...I know you posted this in August, but I just now found it and read it. Wanted to let you know that I really identified with this and it touched me as profound truth. Keep up the good work! I hope you're enjoying your poetry weekend.<br />PamAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00525511969778620259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-79004810526301858812013-09-11T22:02:29.244+01:002013-09-11T22:02:29.244+01:00Absolutely, Anonymous. That's how dialogue wo...Absolutely, Anonymous. That's how dialogue works. I put a point of view, you answer it. What is your objection to what I've said? Peter John Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285783156550263536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-64480637689244851702013-09-11T21:03:31.894+01:002013-09-11T21:03:31.894+01:00what an incredibly narrow view on many topics -- w...what an incredibly narrow view on many topics -- what a disappointment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-46701989573814779512012-06-14T17:59:56.563+01:002012-06-14T17:59:56.563+01:00I agree with you wholeheartedly, Tim. But I would...I agree with you wholeheartedly, Tim. But I would go further: There does need to be a detailed intellectual examination of the text in order to lead on to the physical engagement. The actor must understand why he or she is delivering those particular words. The text must be internalised by the actor so that it becomes spoken instinctively as a result of this deep understanding.Peter John Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15285783156550263536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-71734741920170584622012-06-13T11:19:56.070+01:002012-06-13T11:19:56.070+01:00I wholeheartedly agree that theatre is in a dire n...I wholeheartedly agree that theatre is in a dire need with a re-connection with it's roots.<br /><br />The origins of theatre are in simplicity and the "poverty" of the artistic process. By this I mean that a true theatrical experience often has little to do with theatre in the modern usage of the word. Theatre is not high culture, it is democratic and should speak of the people for the people; and to that end it should be created and performed by the people. There is a rich history of this in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Play" rel="nofollow">mumming</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minstrel" rel="nofollow">minstrels</a>.<br /><br />This is the simplicity and visceral experience of theatre, not an intellectual examination of text, but a real physical engagement with the text, which an audience can derive their own meaning from.Tim Saundersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-53781682272856190772012-03-04T23:38:40.825+00:002012-03-04T23:38:40.825+00:00yesyesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-75439661618558699892011-07-23T16:21:00.956+01:002011-07-23T16:21:00.956+01:00Reminding me of Hundertwasser's theory that st...Reminding me of Hundertwasser's theory that straight lines are 'godless and immoral'Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00738607558293792452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11781656.post-72425674504343226512011-07-20T16:16:10.310+01:002011-07-20T16:16:10.310+01:00Language is an innate ability enabled by neurotran...Language is an innate ability enabled by neurotransmitters transferred from mother to infant during the process of birth via Oxytocin bath.@HomeAutismTutor, Twitterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538784266225982479noreply@blogger.com