Report - Playwrite 2007 Maya Productions in partnership with Hackney Library Services

Introduction Continuing a successful partnership with Hackney Library Services in 2005 and 2006, an application was made to the CIP fund via HCVS to run a second Playwrite course. Feedback from the previous courses had been very positive, particularly regarding the quality of teaching. Agreement was reached with the Libraries to provide in kind support via workshop, rehearsal and performance space in return for a public event held in Homerton Library.

A bid of £2,700 to CIP/Team Hackney was successful and the balance was provided by course fees from participants. The course plus rehearsed readings was offered to Hackney residents and concessions at £40 and other participants at £60.

The course began on 5 th May and continued every Saturday Morning for 10 weeks at CLR James Library in Dalston Lane. The 2005 & 6 courses had taken place during weekday evenings which allowed observant Jewish writers to attend but some participants found it difficult to travel through the rush hour and the workshop always ran out of time, clashing with Library closing times.

Course outline

Recruitment Leaflets were distributed to Hackney Libraries and articles appeared in the Hackney Gazette and Hackney Today. The course was advertised on the Maya Productions Web site and information also appeared in the Soho theatre Website. Information was emailed via the Maya Productions data base of writers and via the Hackney Community News Email.

Self Evaluation With a view to future accreditation of the course participants were asked on the first workshop to carry out a self evaluation of themselves and what they hoped to get out of the course.

Age ranges

Qualifications

Asked if they had done other creative writing courses, 6 had not and 4 had attended a range from short one day courses, writing groups to MA degrees.

Experience 3 had never written before, 1 had written but not taken it further, 2 had submitted work but not had it published or performed, 2 had been performed or published once, 4 had been performed or published more than once

Asked what skills they had already Letter writing;MA screen writing;Basic;Written a short novel; Write Poetry occasionally, freelance articles ( art reviews) regularly for publication; Writing Scripts; Write short stories & poems and started 2 novels; Good skills – looking to enhance when I carry out my degree at Central School; Journalism training & experience; Songs Poems & limericks.

Asked what skills they expected to gain from the course

I hope to gain the confidence to write and improve my writing skills

Form a stage play in order to submit to Verity Bargate competition

I expect to develop my creativity & writing skills

Playwriting skills

Been away from writing for the stage for a long time. Review, sharpen and to update existing knowledge & skills. Encouragement regarding re-drafting, getting from page to stage.

Hope to understand what makes up a drama/play & to learn hoe to attempt this area of writing myself.

More Ideas about structure + different strategies to get started and build material

I would like to learn how to write plays as this is something that I would like to put into practice in the future.

A good grounding and basis in writing skills for the theatre

Ability to write a play based on a real life issue

Formatting thoughts to ideas into performance matter

Attendance Extending the initial number to 12 proved a good move as some late bookers were local and stayed the course. Two of the participants developed health problems which prevented them continuing and one developed work commitments and had to withdraw.

Evaluation An evaluation of the course was carried out towards the end of the course in weeks 9 & 10. There were 9 respondents.

Postcodes included: N1, E8, E9, E5 E1, E14, SW18 & KT18 (Epsom)

Most of the participants found out about the course via local press or via the web/email.

Reasons for joining the class corresponded with the earlier self evaluation and respondents were able to give more than one reason.

8 cited a wish to extend their creativity. A large proportion were older women who had raised children and now wanted to do something for themselves or to return to work they had been doing before having children.

Related to this 7 wanted to improve their writing skills and extend their range of writing.

4 came to the class with a story to tell. One had a completed first draft of a full length play and another had a completed central scene for a major work.

Other reasons were: Use it as an encouragement to see a play through from start to finish. Wanted to learn differences between stage and t.v.

Scoring their experience:

Advance info: 3 Excellent 3 Good 3 Average

Admin/staff welcome & help: 5 Excellent 2 good 1 Average

Atmosphere & facilities: 4 Excellent 4 Good 1 Average

Quality of teaching: 6 Excellent 3 Good

Structure of the course: 5 Excellent 3 Good

Value for money: 8 Excellent 1 Good

All of the categories scored a majority of Excellent or Good.

Other comments:

A great opportunity for feedback & input to and from writers.

Easy to understand + helpful in learning what is involved in structuring a play.

The course has been very useful in taking me from knowing very little to knowing quite a lot, giving me the confidence to progress in my scriptwriting.

Room is not ideal as occasionally members of the public come through.

This course is helping me achieve exactly what I want – it is giving me confidence in my writing and ideas to help me push it further. Useful and always interesting to hear other people’s stories. I look forward to it every week.

Emphasis on issues at start was very helpful – Issue Tree. Also Approach to character.

Ethnic Background (from 12 participants)

Black Caribbean 4

Irish, 2

British white, 3

mixed white/African 1

Mixed white/ Caribbean 1

mixed white Mauritian, 1

Disability- one of the original 12 participants identified as disabled.

Summer break The writers had August to re-write their scripts before submitting them. A casting brief was put out to Webcast and two casting sessions were held at Homerton Library Hall which some of the writers attended. A company of 5 professional actors was hired for 2 days, 1 ½ days rehearsal and half a day performing.

Back row L to Rt Actors: T’Nia Miller, Jacqueline Wood, Neil Reidman, Stephenjohn Holgate & Robin Sneller

Seated L to Rt Writers: Andrea Lambert, Poppy Seed, Lizanne Davies, Tom Curran & Ellie Harris

Playwrite 2007 Generation was programmed to be part of Write to Ignite Hackney Word Festival at the Homerton Library Hall.

Audience feedback Approximately 35 people + the writers attended the 2 sessions of rehearsed readings. Nine audience feedback forms were returned.

Backgrounds

76% Black Caribbean

10% White British

10% White Irish

3% Mixed or other

Ages

33% over 65

33% 35-45

10% 25 – 34

10% 45-54

Comments included; a call for more publicity in neighbouring boroughs, praise for the acting.

“The readings were well cone with hardly any rehearsal. The standard of the writing was higher than expected.”

“A good workshop that brings people, writers & public, together.”

Feed back from the writers after the performance was entirely positive and Maya Productions is considering mounting a small local production of three of the Local writers in 2008.

Christopher Preston

Creative Producer

Maya Productions

October 2007

Thanks to Anita Kane Development Manager Hackney Library Services

www.writetoignite.co.uk

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