Writing
For me writing has always been a method of sharing; a way of presenting the colours, characters and quirks that I held inside, a gateway to a joint experience.
My work is built around rhythm.
It seeks to explore the intersection of what makes us vulnerable and what makes us strong.
I’ve written poetry and spoken word for performance.
I’ve written scripts for podcasts and plays.
Recently I’ve written a lot of songs and scenes for children’s theatre.
But, my real passion lies in the development of 'New Verse' Theatre
Categories
Previous Work
The Last Words
Staring into the face of oblivion, Earth's last human makes their thoughts known.
Thoughts Against Ice-Skating
(extract from Love is a Cynic )
Out of his depth and utterly incapable of expressing himself, Ali tells us about a first date he'll never forget.
Here's To The Man
An ode to my late grandfather. A man of myth, who made his mark on those who got to know him.
'New Verse'
As a writer, my passion project lies in the expansion of ‘New Verse’ Theatre, a form which I’ve come to define as:
'a series of original stories written for the 21st century, applying a traditional strand of wordplay and witticism to more contemporary adventures.’
One such example - Remedy - was created as part of Scottish Youth Theatre's 2020 Stories Project.
As his thoughts move from prose to verse, Gareth unravels all that he has experienced during lockdown – from fear to frustration, to the potential hope that things may one day improve, so long as we can all pull together.
(Directed by Sally Reid / Performed by Andrew Still / Additional Voices by Johnny McKnight)
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To date, I have two New Verse Plays in development:
Gathering Storm Clouds
The story of two children – Pepper and Aiden – as they navigate the foster care system.
The pair share a special gift – they believe that their emotions can manipulate the weather.
SCENE EXTRACT - As a way of recoiling an argument from the night before, the kids turn their mischief on their put-upon social worker, Elaine.
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The King’s Child
A tale of jealousy, regret, meddling servants, and far too many potential fathers.
SCENE EXTRACT - In the desperate search for his wife, King Torrance falls prey to the spiteful words of Nammi, the Fool.
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