Sgript Explosure 2

Jeni Williams reflects on the latest workshops by Sgript Cymru

The series of three day workshops being run by Sgript Cymru are invaluable for new writers in Wales, providing information (stressing context, understanding the market, how programming and funding decisions about new writing are made), discussion with directors, companies and programmers (both small-scale and main stage theatres) and practical help through playreadings and masterclass writing sessions. Because of work commitments I was unable to attend the whole of the latest Sgript Xplosure! at Chapter (25-27 January) but the open access workshop on the Saturday afternoon was brilliant and I tghought I’d write something about it because the Sgript Cymru report really gave an overview. For someone sitting in it was fascinating but for the writers it must have been incredibly useful - there was not only the common writing workshop experience with its constructive commentary but also the experience of hearing professional actors sight reading the scripts. Tim Massey, who runs script surgeries at Bristol’s Old Vic, ran the session as he did in the last Xplosure. Comments were offered by Massey, the members of Sgript Cymru and the actors - in this case Adrienne O’Sullivan, Gwyn Vaughan Jones, Russell Gomer and Sharon Morgan. Discussions ranged from the detail of individual performance to the different requirements of stage, radio or screen play.
There were three works in various levels of progress: Sue Morgan's ‘Shag' - in the process of being adapted from a short story, Jonathan Clode’s ‘Harmony Hills Institute for the Mentally and Criminally Insane’ (one vivacious scene but almost perfect in its wit and verbal dexterity) - and three scenes from a work in progress by Gwenno Dafyd which circled round a ‘Letter Home from Sir Galahad’. The title of Morgan’s piece belies its subtlety - the Shag is a bird (at least some of the time). Dafydd’s piece offered Welsh and English versions of a single scene. I’d urge anyone to go to them - there’s one coming up in Theatr Ardudwy on Feb 10th and another in the same place after the next Sgript Xplosure has finished in March.

author:Jeni Williams

original source:
01 January 2001