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The Croak

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The Croak

Supported by The Granada Foundation

Action Transport’s latest new writing project The Croak attracted over 125 writers - eleven have now been chosen and are well underway with writing their 20 minute plays - inspired by the question ‘what play would you write if you only had six months to live’?

Over the next six months the eleven writers, highlighted below, will have the chance to work with professional new-writing company, Action Transport, and see their play performed, script-in-hand by professional actors, in Action Transport’s studio theatre in November and December 2007.

Some feedback from the launch event that took place in June:

“Thank you for a truly inspirational, well organised day! My brain is buzzing with ideas…..”

“Unthreatening and conducive to creativity.”

“Beautiful. Insightful. Inspiring and internal. Thank you.

“Took the pen from my hands and put it back again.”

The Croak brings together experienced writers, aspiring writers, and new writers, in a learning experience supported by one of the UK ’s leading companies for young people.

Here the eleven writers talk about their plays and what they are looking forward to on this project.

The Croak performances will take place on 28th & 30th November 2007 at Whitby Hall Studio Theatre. For more information or to book tickets please call the box office on 0151 357 2120.

Jessica Anderson

Family Values revolves around how the arrival of a large supermarket changes the lives of two sisters and their Dad who owns a deli in a small town.

A play about the battle for a parent’s love, choosing a side, a family being pulled apart and Tesco Value paperclips.

Harri Chambers

That’s Rich is a play about two friends who decide, illegally, to make themselves rich. But, as with every big money making scheme, things don’t quite go according to plan. This is a fast-moving, action comedy. It’s not a play with a message, and is definitely not serious. It’s a sit back and laugh-out-loud play.

Katie Hale

The Dream Space is a play about rejection and friendship, and the very real needs of imaginary friends. I am most looking forward to writing a play with somebody else - it's a totally new experience and hopefully won't lead to too many arguments!

Dave Hodgson

A Current Past is about a modern-day Britain with no electricity – under attack from murderous beings who live off electrical power. A play about the future – and about today. With The Croak, I’m really looking forward to working with other creative-driven people – sharing ideas (a polite way for saying ‘stealing’) and seeing my work develop through a collaborative process that goes beyond me, my computer and my desk. I want to write something that strikes a chord with a younger audience. A play that really drives them to watch rather than being forced. Something that involves them but never preaches. And hopefully scare the holy life out of them along the way!

Sean Kavanagh

Jumping to Conclusions is about freerunning, friendship, overcoming fear and obstacles, and striving to be free. I'm most looking forward to learning the craft of theatre writing from the team at Action Transport and to seeing my play develop from an idea to a production. I can't wait to work with the theatre's staff and actors of all ages on this exciting journey of discovery.

Chantal Loiseau

The Egg follows the story of two friends who discover a nest. Inside the nest is an egg. A square egg. And it is crying…

I am most looking forward to working alongside other writers. Sitting alone in front of a computer is very intimidating. To have the support and input from others is comforting and inspires confidence. I am also excited to have the experience of the Action Transport team to draw from. Previously I have written on instinct. I am keen to improve my technique as a writer within the structure of the project.

Sean Mason

Flaming Guitars is about a struggling father and son relationship, getting the girl and playing some tasty riffs on guitar. Rock on. I’m looking forward to creating a (hopefully) very funny personal drama and working with a very talented group of theatre makers.

Sarah McDonald Hughes

The Tree is about a little girl, May, who is 8 and worried about what will happen when her brother Joel comes home from hospital and everyone finds out what a bad little girl she really is. So she runs to the safest place she can think of…up a tree. The Tree is a hopeful play about love, and whether there is enough to go around. It is about little people having to deal with very big things and how safe places are not always where you think they are.

Adelle Parish

Our play The Dream Space is about imaginary friends and what happens when they aren’t being imagined. I really like the idea of getting a chance to develop a new play for kids. I’m enjoying working with Katie on The Dream Space, and the thing I’m looking forward to seeing the most? Seeing our play on stage of course!

Darren Simon

Strangely Inclusive sees James removed from mainstream education and put in a pupil referral unit. He meets Mr. Kelly and they find themselves on a 5 day whirlwind of confrontation and compromise. Strangely Inclusive is about identity, friendship, hope, and discovering humour in the most unlikely of places. I’m most looking forward to working with a diverse range of talented writers and a theatre company that produces fantastic plays for young people.

Jill Stephenson

Dressing Up is fun and Elly has the best dressing up box ever. But where was the other pink ballerina shoe? To lose a shoe is one thing, but why did it have to happen today when her friends had come around to play? Dressing Up is a simple story about escapism but, it has consequences. Full of fun and humour, with a serious undertone, the four characters are taken over by the personas of their guises.

June 2007

The Croak
The latest new-writing project from Action Transport Theatre

Imagine… what if you were going to die in six months time? What play would you leave behind? Your final mark? Your legacy? Your last dramatic kick? Imagine you only have time to write one short play, a play for kids, children, young people, whatever you call ‘em.

Interested?

Over the next six months 10 people will have the chance to work with a professional new-writing company and then see their script performed in Action Transport’s studio theatre.

Here’s how it works:

We all meet on Sunday June 24 th 2007 . We’ll have ideas, get to grips with what plays are, what’s special about theatre for young people. We’ll have a laugh and some biscuits. We’ll sow a seed that might become a play.

Then you go away, think, make scratchings on paper, and pitch an idea (one side of A4 max) to Action Transport. The 10 writers of the 10 most promising ideas will then be invited to continue the process with us – to write the play you’ve just got to write before you CROAK .

There will be other sessions; supporting your writing; reading your drafts; giving you new ideas; meeting the director and other theatre professionals. And there’ll be writing to be done at home.

Action Transport will help you take your idea through several drafts - and professional actors will put it on in a script-in hand performance.

THE CROAK will bring together experienced writers, aspiring writers, and new writers. It is a learning experience, the chance to write your own play supported by one of the UK ’s leading companies for young people. Experience is not required; wanting to write is the only qualification.

Please contact writing@actiontransporttheatre.co.uk for more details and to express your interest in taking part.

	Jessica Anderson *Family Values* revolves around how the arrival of a large supermarket changes the lives of two sisters and their Dad who owns a deli in a small town. A play about the battle for a parent’s love, choosing a side, a family being pulled apart and Tesco Value paperclips.
	Harri Chambers *That’s Rich* is a play about two friends who decide, illegally, to make themselves rich. But, as with every big money making scheme, things don’t quite go according to plan. This is a fast-moving, action comedy. It’s not a play with a message, and is definitely not serious. It’s a sit back and laugh-out-loud play.
	Katie Hale *The Dream Space* is a play about rejection and friendship, and the very real needs of imaginary friends. I am most looking forward to writing a play with somebody else - it's a totally new experience and hopefully won't lead to too many arguments!
	Dave Hodgson *A Current Past* is about a modern-day Britain with no electricity – under attack from murderous beings who live off electrical power. A play about the future – and about today. With The Croak, I’m really looking forward to working with other creative-driven people – sharing ideas (a polite way for saying ‘stealing’) and seeing my work develop through a collaborative process that goes beyond me, my computer and my desk. I want to write something that strikes a chord with a younger audience. A play that really drives them to watch rather than being forced. Something that involves them but never preaches. And hopefully scare the holy life out of them along the way!
	Sean Kavanagh *Jumping to Conclusions* is about freerunning, friendship, overcoming fear and obstacles, and striving to be free. I'm most looking forward to learning the craft of theatre writing from the team at Action Transport and to seeing my play develop from an idea to a production. I can't wait to work with the theatre's staff and actors of all ages on this exciting journey of discovery.
	Chantal Loiseau *The Egg* follows the story of two friends who discover a nest. Inside the nest is an egg. A square egg. And it is crying… I am most looking forward to working alongside other writers. Sitting alone in front of a computer is very intimidating. To have the support and input from others is comforting and inspires confidence. I am also excited to have the experience of the Action Transport team to draw from. Previously I have written on instinct. I am keen to improve my technique as a writer within the structure of the project.
	Sean Mason *Flaming Guitars* is about a struggling father and son relationship, getting the girl and playing some tasty riffs on guitar. Rock on. I’m looking forward to creating a (hopefully) very funny personal drama and working with a very talented group of theatre makers.
	Sarah McDonald Hughes *The Tree* is about a little girl, May, who is 8 and worried about what will happen when her brother Joel comes home from hospital and everyone finds out what a bad little girl she really is. So she runs to the safest place she can think of…up a tree. The Tree is a hopeful play about love, and whether there is enough to go around. It is about little people having to deal with very big things and how safe places are not always where you think they are.
	Adelle Parish Our play The Dream Space is about imaginary friends and what happens when they aren’t being imagined. I really like the idea of getting a chance to develop a new play for kids. I’m enjoying working with Katie on The Dream Space, and the thing I’m looking forward to seeing the most? Seeing our play on stage of course!
	Darren Simon *Strangely Inclusive* sees James removed from mainstream education and put in a pupil referral unit. He meets Mr. Kelly and they find themselves on a 5 day whirlwind of confrontation and compromise. Strangely Inclusive is about identity, friendship, hope, and discovering humour in the most unlikely of places. I’m most looking forward to working with a diverse range of talented writers and a theatre company that produces fantastic plays for young people.
	Jill Stephenson *Dressing Up* is fun and Elly has the best dressing up box ever. But where was the other pink ballerina shoe? To lose a shoe is one thing, but why did it have to happen today when her friends had come around to play? Dressing Up is a simple story about escapism but, it has consequences. Full of fun and humour, with a serious undertone, the four characters are taken over by the personas of their guises.