A table reading from A Smuggler’s Song, Charlie Sharp’s work in progress on the Hawkhurst south coast smuggling gang, with group discussion and feedback.

Paul Levy on Rational Madness Theatre, Fringe Review – and the Kansas Missouri arts festival, where he, Robert, Jenny and Ross took their solo shows.

Philippa and John Dutton read Unfriend Me, You Fiend, a comedy of modern manners by Callum Murray, followed by discussion with Callum on his full length and short plays plus the business of applying for funding, paying Equity rates and approaching venues.

Amanda discussed how finding Sussex Playwrights and the First Five Pages help her progress her film script, The Shadows We Cast – we read and discussed the first ten pages.

Louise with latest news of her BBC radio sitcom.

Thomas discussed the use and effect of diagetic music in film / theatre (ie music that is actually present within the scene such as a guitarist on stage, v mood music played over the action etc).

And conversation about the Inciting Incident as a tool for writers.

With no January meeting, we eased into 2024 with general members’ and visitors’ discussion on projects, news and current activity, with writing plans for spring.

Conversation included:

Louise Taylor’s news of her ‘awkward sex coach’ sitcom in development for BBC radio

Discussion round AI in music, drama, art etc – is it a worry or is it intriguing? A valuable tool / opportunity, or will it take opportunity away from creators?

Brighton Fringe applications and early bird deadline, Brighton Actors Networking Group meetup and actor friend Ross Gurney Randall’s appearance in Doctor Who

Thomas presented The Shakespeare Quiz

Amanda’s monologue Scrooge read by Simon Jenner, a 21st century take on A Christmas Carol and the spirit of Boxing Day.

The award-winning screenwriter and Brighton & Hove resident James Payne was our special guest for a set of two First Five Pages events over the autumn meetings.

Members and visitors were invited to bring the first five pages of their scripts for a round table reading, group discussion then industry insights and guidance from James on their scripts’ impact and possible development.

Scripts included:

Love’s Poison by Elyse, adapted from the book chronicling Wayne Liversedge’s personal experience.

Steven’s Art of Revenge, an animated tale of a Maine Coon Cat.

Phil Tong’s Nails and Me.

Amanda Horlington’s The Shadows We Cast.

Discussing character, plot, dialogue, flow, whether the script captures and keeps attention – and crucially, whether the reader will be sparked into reading on.

Because if you haven’t captured them by then, they’re unlikely to continue reading … and will move on to the next one on the pile.

Discussion around the BBC Writers’ Room.

Our thanks to James for being our guest, making space for new, developing and established writers and sharing valuable insights, support and encouragement.

Members’ and visitors’ news included:

Nick and Phil discussed the Page to Stage group in Eastbourne, with development news of their play Sheep Love to Die set for January 2024 performance.

Steven discussed the business of writing and creating short film, which led to discussion on the use of AI in film – an ongoing conversation.

Jenny Rowe discussed her plans for taking her solo show on James Tiptree Jr to WorldCon SF convention.

Amanda Horlington discussed her experience writing a film script in lockdown.

Discussion round the Three Act Structure as a writing tool.

Challenge issued for the October meeting – the First Five Pages, with special guest screenwriter James Payne.

Members’ and visitors’ news included:

Hove Writers upcoming events.

Louise Taylor on her playwriting, performance poetry and the business of developing a radio situation comedy.

Dave Patchett on Brighton Theatre of the Air latest audio drama works in progress.

News of the Brighton Theatre Promoter Group.

Thomas led a discussion around how to run a Patreon as a way for writers/artistes to support themselves.