BLOG: Script Space V… Footnotes 2

In the second of our Script Space blogs, playwright and performer Adrian Harris reflects on his developing involvement with the initiative over the last few years.

‘...the end.’ Hmm… A moment to reflect and then I’ll jot a few notes down.
That’s script number 5 finished, part of my reading duties for Script Space V. I’ve been involved in Script Space in many guises since Script Space II in 2009, when, as a reader with my playwright’s hat and Southwest Scriptwriters’ committee member’s pipe worn with pride (they were my own slippers), I lovingly thumbed my way through the weird and wonderful – a favourite discovery was a play about the Large Hadron Collider and burlesque dancers! Then in 2010 I was wearing my actor’s brogues in a script-in-hand performance of one of the winning plays – Dry Spell by Phil Booth. The team at Script Space and the TFT had found another gem, and I got to snog a man! Tom, you were very gentle.

Along rolled 2011 and this time the Tobacco Factory Theatre gave a full production to the fantastic Digits by Tamsin Walker and directed by the talented Emma Callander, and I was fortunate to be cast as the hapless Jimmy alongside the hilarious Malcolm Hamilton and the beautiful and talented Noni Lewis.This was a hell-for-leather, adrenaline rush of a schedule, but not one ounce of quality, time, love and devotion was spared. We only had just over a week to get the show on the road, to grind a cliché, so there was no room for passengers, and Berlin-based Tamsin was skyped to within an inch of her life by Emma and the three actors let loose on different drafts of a script, with everyone throwing in their twopenneth, opinions, ideas, suggestions and gags. To cut a long blog short, the magic happened, and anyone who managed to see the short run of Digits at the Tobacco Factory’s Brewery space I think will confirm that a good time was had by all.

So, what’s in store for Script Space V in 2012? One thing you can trust is that the people who tirelessly pull this event together will be making something special.

Now, if it’s okay with you, I’ve got a play to write.

Read more about Script Space here.