Triggered

The run is over and the reviews are in. A few self-indulgent reflections on my latest adventure into theatre. And a call for help!

The second run of my play Triggered sold out its second run even faster than it sold out its first one. We added a Saturday matinee - and that sold out too. It was packed to the rafters.

We also got superb reviews. Four stars from The Morning Star, Everything Theatre , Theatre Arts and Film Reviews and a lovely additional review from Theatre Vibe.

We had an incredibly receptive and supportive audience including Polly Toynbee

You can read my pre-run interview here. And the cast and I did a fantastic Q and QA with the wonderful Terri Paddock which you can see here

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I am incredibly proud of everything that I have done and achieved. My cast were incredible. We developed something together that can and should have a life beyond.

Will it though? I just don’t know. Lots of the reviews have said that they think it should go on, but in truth, I haven’t made a single penny (buy me a coffee!?) in putting on this play (even adding an additional performance) because I believe that my actors and technicians should be paid for helping me to deliver my vision. That comes first before my profit and that was a choice I went into with my eyes open. I wanted to get this to a point where it got both staged and reviewed. I craved external feedback and have been delighted with what we’ve had.

But, I don’t know how to take it to the next level that so many reviewers and audience members were kind enough to say it deserves. I think there is scope for a - revised and lengthened - version of this to go to a SoHo Theatre or Stratford East or Camden People’s Theatre - a slightly bigger theatre with someone else to act as at least producer if not also someone else to direct it and bring it a new vision and a new life. I have a Twitter following who would love to see it tour. It would be great to put it on at Labour Party conference. All good ideas - all of which need money and skills and experience I don’t have.

So if you’re a producer who thinks this sounds interesting. Get in touch. I can offer you very good evidence that there is an appetite out there for it!

There are huge issues with access to theatre-making - especially from non-traditional backgrounds. I’m not rich and couldn’t have done this in the ethical way I needed to in order to sleep at night without crowdfunding and making no money myself. I am working extra hard to get through December and the cost of living isn’t helping. But I am far from the most struggling. If I am doing this on the bones of my arse - I can’t imagine how others are managing. We need a real conversation about how to make theatre accessible to people who are - like me - changing career later in life. People who don’t have a lot of money or are less able to live precariously. How do we widen participation - behind the scenes as well as on the stage?

Anyway on that note…

Buy a playwright a coffee!