What Other People Have Had To Say

I was saying before that issue based theatre doesn't really date. Well I thought I would share some of the audience reactions from the show so far.

'An updated farce slickly performed!'

'The best comedy that Chickenshed has ever done! You have to see it!'

'Totally madcap!'

'Funny, energetic, clever and positive'

'Very entertaining, an excellent evening out'

I took them from the Chickenshed website. I think it proves there is a want and more so a need for this kind of production. This has furthered my drive to explore the lifespan of issue based plays even further.

My Direction

I think I'm going to change the direction i'm going in with the course. I was originally looking at how theatre can be a good tool for making the elderly feel like part of a community. This was a subject I took a lot of interest in and even put into practice with the short play 'There's No Tomorrow' I wrote that was performed as part of the emerging writers week. Using a member of Chickenshed's over 60's it was a great way to integrate a wider spectrum of performers. I do still truly believe theatre would be a great tool for making the older members of the community feel that the longevity of issues within plays themselves interests me more than anything. Issues that don't get old, issues that do, why certain things stay relevant, why others fade into obscurity. This is where I feel I'll have to start focusing. I have batted the idea around for awhile and even mentioned this is previous blogs like the questionnaire. I'll be looking into other issue based plays and coming to a conclusion in the week. I mentioned London Road before and that really was what started me off thinking like this. I just feel there are so many issues, how do you pick just one. So then the real question raised is 'what makes an issue and issue?'.

Can't Pay? Won't Pay!

An image from the show.

The last couple of weeks I have been in the middle of a show called 'Can't Pay? Won't Pay!' I play the part of John (originally called Giovanni in Dario Fo's script). It's been great and has really got me thinking more about the social relevance of the issues raised in the show.

The fact plays like this can stay so current. Constant references are made to the right laying waste and the people feeling betrayed by the left. This fits perfectly with the state of things at the moment. It's almost as if Mr. Fo had a crystal ball when he was putting pen to paper. The audience reaction has been great so far too. People have found something with such an underlying message of uncaring governments, gun happy police and a terrible economy reassuringly hopeful. It's message is given across with charm and wit rather than lashings of doom and gloom. When you consider the play was written in 1975 it really does speak volumes.

I do get strangely inspired by men like Dario Fo. It's their gift to see things not only as they are but as they will be. Some of the language may need updating but not one issue raised in this play could be interchanged for anything.