Introducing the March meeting and reporting on the February meeting
Sunday Feb 5th 2017 7:00 – 9.00 pm
Special guest – Brighton screenwriter James Payne
News, networking for writers, producers, actors and those who love new drama – and good conversation
Special Guest Speaker Brighton based screenwriter James Payne was in conversation
with Philippa, followed by a lively Q and A session.
James discussed his early days as a drama student in Brighton writing and performing
comedy at the Zincbar cabaret night, and his move into writing sketch comedy for Ant and
Dec. We heard about his experiences as a key scriptwriter on East Enders, winning the
2015 British Soap Awards Best Single Episode for the East Enders 30th Anniversary live
episode.
James also talked about his work as a scriptwriter on Hooten and The Lady [which he co-created], Mr Selfridge, Death in Paradise, Hustle, Ashes to Ashes, The Musketeers and many more.
James is also a trustee of Brighton Open Air Theatre – he talked about Adrian Bunting,
whose dream of a permanent open air theatre was realised by his friends following his
untimely death.
Thank you to James for a terrific evening, great insights and advice to aspiring TV writers.
Read more about James and his work here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1600439/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm
Website news
The Sussex Playwrights website has relaunched following a major overhaul, with a new
address, new look and user-friendly mobile responsive format.
Our new address is www.sussexplaywrights.co.uk
We’re currently migrating the content over from the original site and it’s growing every
week.
Meanwhile, do let us know if there is anything you’d like featured on the new site.
Thank you to Ian Black for all your work creating and maintaining the original website – much appreciated! The Committee and Members.
Members’ and Friends’ news
Christine Foster Cliffhanger Productions presented the return of their hugely successful
Pub Theatre event Mixed Doubles in Rottingdean this month. They’ll be producing more
short play evenings this year – news as it comes. Follow them on Facebook facebook.com/thecliffhangercompany
Robert Cohen presents Men Without Friends, his trio of solo shows. High Vis, Something Rotten and The Trials of Harvey Matusow can all be seen in March at the Hove Grown Festival. Details at http://www.hovegrown.org.uk/events/theatre/
Rose Collis’ latest work, The Trials of Colonel Barker, her Arts Council-supported
adaptation of her own book Col Barker’s Monstrous Regiment, will receive a rehearsed
reading at the Purple Playhouse as part of the Hove Grown festival on Sunday March 26th 8pm. Thomas Everchild will direct and the cast will include Rose Collis, Philippa
Hammond, Guy Wah and Keith Drinkel. Details at http://www.hovegrown.org.uk/events/theatre/
Rose is also giving a talk on Colonel Barker Sunday 5 March, 2pm. Jubilee Library,
Conference Room 3, Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE (fully accessible). Tickets £5, advance – booking recommended: www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/165580
Tony Briginshaw’s play Anaphylactic Shock, read at the January meeting, is performed
during Hove Grown on March 25th. Details at http://sw.tickets.red61.com/performances.php?eventId=18:1098
Philippa Hammond and Thomas Everchild are collaborating with Simon Moorhead on
the new stage production Protect and Survive at the Brighton Fringe in May.. Details at https://sw.tickets.red61.com/performances.php?eventId=18:978
Next meeting: Sunday March 5th 2017
An evening of rehearsed readings and discussions of members’ short plays