EVENING OF IRONY IN DOCKLAND Review by Penny Simpson A Blow to Bute Street, currently showing at the Sherman Theatre, is very funny, very ironic and rooted in the public arena with its backdrop the redevelopment of Cardiff’s dockland. The play will probably become a talking point locally for months to come – the least […]
Read More...Angels Don’t Need Wings
venue Sherman Theatre, Cardiff June 27, 2002 Families, South Walian rivalry, popular music and the ghosts of the past are usually to be found in Laurence Allan’s plays and his latest, specially written to celebrate the 21st birthday of Hijinx Theatre, is no exception. Here skeletons in the cupboard, secrets and lies and the opposing worlds […]
Read More...Published Plays
Three Plays by Laurence Allan On The Road Again The Best Years of Our Lives Cradle to the Grave Published by Seren Books – Edited by Brian Mitchell On The Road Again Two hapless buddies, Rich and Beefy, fight, swop stories, recall good times and bad, trade lies, insults and meagre possessions. Will their friendship […]
Read More...Doc Brown – Balls
Just to fill in some time, I’d been working on an idea for a film where I play an old, washed up boxer who ‘s planning a comeback. I’d managed to hustle a crew together and we were shooting some early scenes on Aberavon Beach, with some young black kid as an extra I felt […]
Read More...Lovectomy
This is a short film made by Newport students who went on to form the production company LIKE AN EGG headed by Keiran McGaughey. I only play a small part and it’s here mainly because it includes performances by Dorien Thomas and Brian Hibbard who died far too young last year. I’ve worked with them both […]
Read More...Dream it – Build it
‘Dream it Build it’ was dreamt up by Valleys Kids as a way to acknowledge the generous support of Knox & Wells construction company who helped them to upgrade their Residential Centre on the Gower, whilst they were transforming Soar Centre in Penygraig. Valleys Kids demanded a poetic rap for the music video..so, of course, […]
Read More...Love Letters from Torchbearers
Torchbearers began with letters, written but never sent by the two protagonists: Gerwyn – an aspiring Welsh actor who lands a dream part in the iconic film Zulu (starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine) and Thembesile – a young Zulu dancer who is also in the film. Both in their late teens, they meet on […]
Read More...The Magic Box
I was asked to write the script for a film about the magic of play. Hutchings HQ donated Valleys Kids a van to be used for outreach play and with the support from Arts & Business Cymru, Valleys Kids Friends and supporters grew the Magic Box. The inimitable Boyd Clack voiced it and played a […]
Read More...Writing on a Bicycle
The Heron and Rosanna “Teach me how to cycle And I’ll teach you how to glide,” Said the heron to Rosanna By the sunny waterside. Impossible, impossible, But wait, look over there: The heron on the saddle And Rosanna in the air By Richard Edward from Moon Frog (with thanks to: http://library.thinkquest.org/J002670/poems.htm)
Read More...Review of On the Road Again
On the Road Again inhabits territory which has already been busily colonised by Ed Thomas. Two poetic drifters; a derelict caravan; dreams of leaving for an American pastoral. Allan gives his two chancers – Beefy and Rich – a lyrical depth. Their memories are wistful and whiskery: they argue over a dancing dog in Doncaster […]
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