As with almost all my ideas for scripts I lifted it, stole it, grabbed it and bastardized it into my own. I was recently asked to write a few words about where Pub Quiz came from and how it all started on a night out in Whitley Bay:
‘On a night out in an unnamed North East Pub I ended up becoming involved in the weekly quiz and it proved quite the eye opener. I was intimidated and enthralled by the presiding quiz master who seemed to be in the throes of an aggressive nervous background. He chided, controlled, bullied and entertained as he pushed us through the range of tough rounds and spot prizes. References were made to the ‘University Challenge man’ who always played on his own, the ‘lady teachers with loose morals’ the sneaks and the cheats, the dedicated quiz players and the boisterous ‘out for a laugh’ losers. Warnings were issued about cheating and against reruns of brawls in the toilets, bonus points were given for all female ‘disadvantaged teams’, team boundaries were clearly defined and fiercely protected. Finally the unpopular winning team stormed ahead, their triumph greeted by muted jeering.
Sitting at my wonky table watching the drama unfold, develop, ebb and peak, I glanced round at this group of entertaining characters involved in their weekly power plays, triumphs and losses and thought, ‘all life is here’. I watched as newcomers were scrutinized, resentments and competitiveness surfaced, flirtatious glances were exchanged and sensed a hundred stories bubbling beneath the surface. I remember thinking about what would happen if one of the newcomers, an outsider, started to beat them at their own game? That night I went home with a reassuringly low score and an idea for a new play, Pub Quiz.’
1 Comment
February 6, 2008 at 2:25 pm
It sounds fantastic. Am very looking forward to it in April.
And very lovely as our Grand afternoon tea was, I can see from what you’ve just described so intriguingly, that more life is in a pub quiz night than the drawing room of the Grand on a Tuesday afternoon. Except for us of course.