What's Next With My Play
Read on to find out how I'm taking my play People Wipe Me to the next level.
People Wipe Me is the play that just won't quit. I know it's time to start thinking of what to write next, and I'm doing that, but there's still life in People Wipe Me yet.
I've challenged myself to give three performances of People Wipe Me in theatres in January and February. Performing in theatres will take me to a whole new level. I'll have to deal with lights, big stages and empty seats.
A New Partnership
It will be hard to make that big leap alone. After finishing my rehearsals with Lynda Gough and Angela Keogh, I hit a wall. How could I possibly work with anyone else after such a fabulous run with those two fine women.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man. The man in this case is James Power, who runs a theatre company called Stagemad, a man with huge experience in all aspects of stagecraft and directing.
Photo Description: This is the logo for Stagemad, James Power's theatre company. It's red and black, in the shape of a heart. You can see a black face on the right, and the words Stage Mad in white block capitals. Sparkly yellow stars come out of the letters.
James has agreed to come with me to all my theatre performances. Even though he's a busy man, he's going above and beyond to help me make my great leap onto the stage.
I've booked rehearsal space at the Coastguard Cultural Centre in Tramore, scene of one of my most successful performances, to perform the show for James. I'll be delivering it for him next month.
Lighting My Show
And someone else will be there with him – a lighting person. I've bored all my patient friends silly about my struggle to find a lighting person to light my play for the stage. It's been the only fly in the magical People Wipe Me ointment.
But it looks like my struggle may be at an end. All kinds of lighting puns are crowding my brain: light at the end of the tunnel, shining a light on the subject, lightbulb moment. I'll be happier when I have the lighting plan in my hot little hand. But still…
Unusual Rehearsal Technique
Meanwhile, I'm rehearsing lines of the play while walking the dog. Luckily Tramore is full of eccentric people, so the sight of me appearing to talk to myself while walking the dog doesn't raise an eyebrow.
When I hear myself say the words, I remember why I'm subjecting myself to this madness – for the thrill of hearing my words go out into the world, and hearing them land with an audience.
If you'd like to find out more about my writerly adventures, you can email derbhile@writewordseditorial.ie or call 0876959799. Or subscribe to this newsletter now.