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Air Guitar wins top prize in annual theatre competition
Playwright strikes a chord with judges
by Katharine Barker
A PLAY that won a Clifton writer first place in an arts competition will be performed in the city this month.
Air Guitar by Peter Kesterton will be performed at the New Writing Festival being held at the Tobacco Factory in Southville from July 19 to 23.
Peter, aged 42, is a member of Southwest Scriptwriters – the group behind the festival – and a regular contributor of scripts to the group's weekly workshop meetings at the Bristol Old Vic.
He entered Air Guitar into the group's annual writing competition, winning first place.
In second place was Kevin Cattell with his radio drama, Resting, and in third place was Evening Post deputy chief sub-editor, Steve Lambert, who picked up third place with his play, Last Train.
Peter, who lives in Clifton Vale with his wife Camilla and their children Joe, nine, and Maddie, six, hoped having the play showcased at the festival could lead to a full production at the Bristol Old Vic.
He said: "The play is being performed at the Tobacco Factory for one night only, script-in-hand. But if we can get the funding, it could become a full production."
Peter's interest in scriptwriting began more than 15 years ago when he was working for the BBC in Bristol.
He joined the Southwest Scriptwriters eight years ago and has since had success with a screenplay for ITV West as well as a comedy for the Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham. He is currently studying for an MA in screen writing at the University of the West of England. .
His play, Air Guitar, follows the story of Mike and his eccentric brother, Edward. Mike visits his brother to try to heal a rift between them and discovers that Ed is up to something sinister.
Peter said: "Having the piece workshopped and commented on by members of Southwest Scriptwriters was invaluable to helping me to get the play into shape."
I hope I've got this script right
Southwest Scriptwriters member STEVE LAMBERT describes the prospect of having his work staged as part of the New Writing Festival
WRITING can be a lonely business. If, like me, you have ever wasted years crafting a novel, only to see it turned down by scores of publishers, you might ask yourself with a wry smile: "Why didn't I spend all that time on something more sociable, like synchronised swimming?"
That's where a group like Southwest Scriptwriters comes in.
Although a novel exists whether it's published or not, a script is nothing if not performed.
So when you bring your piece for radio, theatre, TV or films to be read at a meeting, it's remarkable to hear your words produce gales of laughter – especially when you thought you'd written a tragedy.
But we all make mistakes, and since I joined the group last autumn, I've benefited greatly from meeting talented writers who are generous in their praise and insightful in their criticism. And their feedback has improved my work.
Now I'm actually going to have something performed to the public, I find the prospect both exciting and daunting.
I'd describe my play as provocative and darkly-comic, and although it may not be for all tastes, I certainly wouldn't want anyone to find it bland.
But the eight plays to be staged during the festival will offer a variety of moods and styles and I do hope Post readers will come along to support them. |
