April 6, 2008...10:36 am
second night, miniature fame, positive reviews
Went to second night at Hexham and was thrilled to see the place practically sold out. I’ve been told second nights can seem a little flat and I did notice it took a while for the pace to pick up during the play but the audiences once again were really supportive and responsive and the second half was on cracking form.
The play has been published by New Writing North and is for sale at the shows as well as from their website so I now have a copy. It’s a wonderful feeling having a ‘book’ with your name on the cover. The thing about theatre, unlike novel or poetry writing, films or radio, is that once it is over and off the stage it doesn’t really exist. But now I have tangible proof that it did, though reading a play never does it justice. There is so much more that a cast and director, set designer and production crew bring to the story to make it live. But I have a book and that is something I will always have.
There was another very positive review in The Journal but I haven’t found it online to post and it is too long to copy! There have been articles about the play in lots of local magazines and newspapers thanks to Anna Disley at New Writing North who has lead the marketing push. I like reading articles about the play and the actors and of course good reviews but I really don’t like doing interviews or having my photo taken. I get tongue tied and take an awful picture, especially awful when stood awkwardly next to two such beautiful people! I just shut my eyes and skim past it. I really don’t think writers should ever have to be photographed; we should be kept in dimly lit rooms like moldering artifacts of limited interest.
In an ideal world and imagined dream future I would like to be known for my work but not known. I think a lot of writers are painfully shy, creating imaginary worlds and people and putting these forward while hiding behind them. I know that I am happier invisible. Even on such a small scale (and I have no illusions about the scale of my presence) I find any public/press ‘outing’ uncomfortable and yet I got such a huge kick about sitting behind a teenager at the play who had bought a copy of the script and was excitedly thumbing through it. I wanted to lean forward and say, ‘I wrote that, me, right here, let’s discuss why you like it so much, go on…’. But my husband would have died of embarrassment.
This all brings me back to a much earlier post about the strange balancing act that writers do between monstrous egotism and floundering self belief - your conviction that your take on an imagined world is of value and has to be shared - and that invasive insecurity that makes you question every line and scrutinize every review for affirmation of your failings as well as strengths.
I have promised myself that I won’t read anything negative if the play gets a dud review which fingers crossed and judging by responses and performances so far, it won’t and I hope I can keep to that. But for now I am looking forward to seeing a show at a new venue and hugely grateful for the positive response and support it has been given so far. There is a great deal to be grateful for in a generous and warm audience. Hexham - thank you.
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