Northern Stage

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I am going to write about the play now the dust has settled and the experience of seeing it produced but I wanted to write about the experience of being at Northern Stage. I should have done this before but last week was a blur of visitors, performances and the bar. This was the home turf for many of the actors and it was good for them to have friends and family in (Northern Stage not the bar)

I was so excited to have my play on at Northern Stage in Newcastle. This was the icing on the cake for me and it lived up to expectations. Northern Stage is a wonderful venue with a great reputation. The staff looked after everyone really well, there were huge posters on display and best of all waiting lists for the sell out shows. Each performance was packed. The audiences were different as they are in every venue but still warm, vocal and appreciative. On Thursday we had pre and post show discussions and some interesting questions and comments. I was dreading it but once I was on stage you couldn’t shut me up, the poor actors couldn’t get a word in edgeways. I could have stayed there all day basking in the artificial light.

I didn’t go to the opening night in Newcastle but attended three performances. On Friday night there was a reception after the show, lots of food and wine. I was revoltingly pleased to be asked to sign autographs but forgot how to write my signature (remember, large quantities of wine) and clumsily wrote ‘Carina Rodney’ in full, messily, no witty comments to hand.

The only downside was a lack of national press coverage. The national press do review Northern Stage shows but not at the end of a run so I understand, would have been nice though.

You spend so long on your own as a writer, mostly you hear about what is wrong with your work, how it needs rewriting, why you are being rejected, that you have been rejected. Writing tends to be blind hope in the face of crushing disappointment so I am making no excuses for enjoying a rare success with Pub quiz and enjoying the experience so much.

Could I have done better ? Yes, in parts. I plan on another rewrite to tighten the script.

Was the ending the right one? Yes, absolutely. Anyone who didn’t get the ending, didn’t get the play.

The cast/set/director/design were great. I was privileged to have worked with that team.

I have enjoyed this week immensely. I have learnt a lot. I want to get better. I want to finish my next play ASAP. I want to see my work on stage again.

I owe a big thank you to many people.

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