Happy Birthday, Chuck

This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens.

Now I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Charles. As well as being an absolutely brilliant writer, he helped me to get my start in the business.

The first theatre play I wrote that was professionally performed was an adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the Lion & Unicorn theatre in Kentish Town, directed by the wonderful Mr Ray Shell.

It did well. Lots of lovely reviews, including a four-star in Time Out. So. Not too shabby then.

The year after, I adapted Oliver Twist, which Ray also directed. (And while I’m on the subject of Oliver Twist: Nancy is not a prostitute.) Again, great reviews, an extended run.

And one or the other of them has been performed in London every year since I started writing professionally.

So anyhow, I got to thinking. And what I thought was this:

It’s the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth this year. A centenary, no less. Some of you out there might want to do something to celebrate that and not have the wherewithal to pay for a script, or know anyone local who wants to write one.

Mr Dickens has done well for me over the last few years. I’d like to return the favour. So firstly, here are the scripts.

Oliver Twist
A Christmas Carol

Have a read.

If you like them, and you’d like to put them on in the centenary year, then I’ll waive my fees. So any performances in 2012 will be completely free, no matter how large or small the production. (Well, apart from the cost of putting on the show. But that’s your own problem, and one that I’m certain that you’ll be able to cope with magnificently.)

You’ll still need to obtain a licence to perform the play (email me for more details about this) but if you put one of these two plays on in 2012 there’ll be no writer’s fee.

And I’d love the chance to see it if I can.

A Dickens of a Christmas

I’m pleased to be able to say that my adaptation of A Christmas Carol will be on again this year, this time in a production by the City Lit Rep Company.

This is the third production of A Christmas Carol in four years, so I must’ve done something right. Oh, and you can buy the script from the sidebar to the right, should you be so inclined.

There are four performances – three evening shows on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd December 2011 at 7:30pm, together with a 2:30pm matinee on December 3rd – and tickets cost £8, a pound of which goes towards the student scholarship fund.

Book tickets here.

Can’t stop.

Updates have been a bit slim recently due to work on The Just So Stories. Who know that producering was such bloody hard work?

I’m having an assistant next time. Definitely.

Anyway, I’ve just found out that there are a whole bunch of reviews for my adaptation of A Christmas Carol up at the Giant Olive website. Check ’em out here, should you be so inclined.

Sorry, got to run. Hopefully will have a chance to drop a proper bloggy update before the New Year.

Happy Christmas!

Three (that’s the magic number)

My. I have been busy.

This Christmas, I have no less than three plays on in London.

I’m producing The Just So Stories at The King’s Head Theatre.

I wrote the adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the Lion & Unicorn.

And on top of that, my new play The Strange Mésalliance of Arthur Munby and Hannah Cullwick is having a rehearsed reading next Thursday.

So it’s all been a bit hectic recently.

Buy tickets for The Just So Stories
Buy tickets for A Christmas Carol

Revivalism

My stage version of A Christmas Carol is being revived this year by Giant Olive at The Lion and Unicorn Theatre.

It opens on the 7th December 2010 and runs through to the 15th January 2011.

They’re already taking advance bookings, and you can get your tickets here. You might want to book sooner rather than later, as the show sold out on several occasions last time.

The script is also available for your reading pleasure – you can order it via the button on the right of the blog.

More theatre news to come shortly!

(Oh, I’m such a tease…)