CloudNine

  Overall, I had a busy 2020. Despite having no shows on (two productions of Belfast Girls and a production of the female version of Leopoldville were all cancelled this year), breaking the pattern for the past five years  of at least two play productions a year , I wrote fairly consistently and read every day. Once again however, as with last year, my reading of contemporary works mostly consisted of books I was asked to review - otherwise I read either classics or not-so-recent contemporary fiction. This is not as a snub to the plethora of brilliant new novels and novelists out there but simply because I have a very long catch-up list and I just happen to be a slow (though careful) reader. I also watched a lot of TV drama and far fewer films than I usually do (mainly due to Covid restrictions impacting the film industry and cinemas). I also reread The Theatre and its Double by Antonin Artaud and the plays of Sarah Kane. I wrote about this for Samuel French during the year ...

In 2019 there were two magnificent productions of BELFAST GIRLS - and a reading of the play in Washington DC. BELFAST GIRLS premiered in August in Australia, at the Q Theatre in Queanbeyan, New SouthWales. Produced by Echo Theatre and directed by Jordan Best, this production did fantastically well and received a number of glowing reviews. I was so sorry to miss it and really hope that Jordan and the cast get to do it again. Here are some shots from this beautiful show: The next production was by the Swedish company, Batalj Scenkonst and this took place in Stockholm in November. This production marks the first production of the play in translation and luckily I was able to attend the opening night. Malin Erikson directed an absolutely stunning cast and I thought this was an incredibly beautiful show. Very physical and visual, with brilliant use of lighting and music. Even though I don't speak or understand Swedish I was completely moved by this show and really ho...