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December 2002

I thought I would add some extracts from feedback I have had from a couple of workshops I have undertaken to support GCSE students studying my plays for GCSE. I spent a whole day running practical workshops with GCSE classes studying Hard To Swallow/Legal Weapon. These particular classes were related to the new Edexcel Spec (Paper 1 Unit 2) but I have also undertaken workshops looking at different parts of the GCSE. 

"The students produced work which was of a good standard and they stayed focused for the whole day. You can't ask much more than that! And what a luxury for me to be able to stand back and assess. A thoroughly worthwhile project." Clive Hulme Aldersley High School in Wolverhampton.

"Your day with us was excellent all of the pupils ( without exception) told me that they enjoyed the practical work you did with them...they said it was hard so it made them think... that they understood the characters a lot more and liked the work on making the lines sound like their own. One girl felt that the characters became much more real for her after that day. The day was gauged just right and that it enabled me to mark them with an objective eye ... I will definitely invite you back next time ...." Jo Gater: The Grange School Aylesbury.

I have undertaken a fair bit of consultancy work (to School Drama Departments) in the last year and am really enjoying it. I am pretty much booked up until the middle of May but if anyone is interested in dates after that I would be very interested to hear from them. Please contact me if you are interested.

I am also delighted to report that there are two pieces in this months Amateur Stage about DAN NOLAN - MISSING. Another fantastic (and very long) review and also something in the news page. 

Please see Dan's web site for updates. Some people have asked me if there is anything they can do to help (other than put on the play) ... well yes there is.. if you are able to display one of the posters somewhere (which can be downloaded from Dan's site)... it will heighten the profile of Dan's disappearance... so please do that if you are able to do so.

Finally KING ARTHUR (ALL SHOOK UP) a short cantata for KS 2/3 is now at proofs stage ... so hopefully that will be out early in 2003. 

I hope you all have a good Xmas ... 

November 2002

DAN NOLAN - MISSING was premiered in Southampton by the Oaklands Youth Theatre. It has been met with much approval and this review from The Southern Evening Echo. We plan to perform the play again at the Oaklands Theatre on the 24th & 25th January. Tickets are available from Oaklands Reception 02380 739797.

"I CAN'T remember the last time I saw a grown man, a stranger, cry in front of me. Or, for that matter, sat in a room of people gripped by mutual sorrow and unspeakable heartache. This play about the tragic evening that the 15-year-old Hamble boy went missing after a fishing trip with friends will haunt everyone who witnesses it. It's a gripping human drama that will appeal to - and appal - anyone with a heart.

As the tale of a family in freefall unfolded, slowly and silently loved ones sought out each others' hands and clasped them tightly in the darkness to a chorus of staccato sniffs and muffled sobs. A row of young lads were trying desperately to hide their embarrassed tears in front of their mates - who wouldn't have noticed anyway because they too were sobbing.

The performance is based on real conversations with the family and instead of a script there has been an editing process where their statements have been fused into a coherent and powerful dialogue."
Ben Clerkin (Southern Evening Echo)

October 2002

A brief but important update.

DAN NOLAN - MISSING... is due to be premiered by the Oaklands Youth Theatre on November 23rd of November (with a preview on the 22nd.) I have copied the details on the publicity flier below.

"When our Dan went missing on the 1st January 2002 we assumed that Daniel's face would be absolutely everywhere, appeals on national TV, and everyone would be aware... it wasn't like that for us." Pauline Nolan. 

The National Missing Persons Helpline receives more than 100,000 calls every year!!! It helps to resolve 70% of the cases it works on... but 30% remain tragically unresolved.

These shocking statistics confronted me when I approached a stand surrounded by Dan Nolan MISSING Posters outside Tesco in March 2002. The people behind the stall wanted greater media coverage relating to Dan's disappearance. 

Pauline, Dan's Mum was the first person that I interviewed. As I approached the Nolan's family home in Hamble, I saw posters plastered to every one of the thirty or forty trees and lamp-posts... the blow-ups of the posters constantly getting bigger and bigger. It conveyed all too clearly the impression of a very loving family on a very determined and desperate search for a much-loved son.

As I went into the Nolan's house I saw that School photo of Dan... the way it was meant to be seen. In its original setting, it took on an added poignancy. 

This play uses the words of Daniel's family, friends (some of whom were with him that night) and the Detective in charge of the ongoing investigation, to try and get as close to the truth as memory will allow. On interviewing the friends who shared that fateful evening with Dan, I was struck by their youth. They were, like Dan, normal 14-year-old boys.

This tragic story is performed by a small group from the Oaklands Youth Theatre who are of a similar age to Daniel Nolan. 

I do hope someone somewhere may have some information to help solve the mystery of Dan's disappearance.
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Tickets for this production are available from Oaklands Community School Reception 02380 739797 £4:00 (£2:50 concessions on 22nd only)

Proceeds from this production are going to assist Oaklands Youth Theatre perform this play in other venues... and ultimately to take the production to the Edinburgh Fringe 2003.

Dbda are planning to release this Playscript in book form very early in 2003 so that other groups can use the script. It is a dramatic re-construction of the evening and an exploration of how Dan's family have dealt with the immense problem of a missing child based on hours of interviews with his family, friends (who were with him on the evening he went missing) and the Police who are investigating his disappearance. It would make an ideal and worthwhile choice for any group to perform (adult or youth) and would be eminently suitable for One Act play festivals. 

Mark

The above picture was designed by Danny Sturrock.

September Supplement... 

There was a small article in this weeks (27/9/02) TES about Dan Nolan and the play I have written. It is due to be presented in Southampton on 22/23 November for the first time.

Also... for the first time in a while TESTO are planning a twelve date tour of Norway with TOO MUCH PUNCH. It is also touring 120 dates in UK along with LEGAL WEAPON (170 dates, both of these plays performed in England by Ape Theatre Company I am not sure of the company who are doing it in Scotland... can anyone out there help?) and CHICKEN (110 dates toured by StopWatch theatre Company). 

There are plans for THE GATE ESCAPE being written at the moment to be toured throughout Hampshire in the early part of next year... I will announce what is happening once the details are sorted.

I have completed a scheme of work for the new Edexcel paper 1 Unit 2 based on LEGAL WEAPON. If you are interested I am more than happy to send copies of this to you by attachment free of charge. I have also put it on the Drama UK Files section for those of you who visit that site. Contact me if you are interested.

Thanks to those who have booked workshops... I look forward to meeting you all. there is also a strong possibility that I am doing some courses for Keynote Educational in the early part of next year... so watch out for them.

Bye...

Mark

News Sept 2002

The play written about the teenager who vanished in Hamble is now pretty much complete. A company working with Mateminders under my direction are presenting this in the South of England from mid-October. We are hoping to take it to the Edinburgh Festival (Fringe) next summer. I will post dates as soon as they are firmed up. The play, entitled DAN NOLAN (ONE LAUGH) MISSING (a quote from one of his friends) will, hopefully be published (by dbda … yet to be confirmed) for other Drama groups to present as soon as possible. Obviously for Dan's parents the more groups who are able to present this the better as it will help them gain generate some much-needed publicity. 

The play is stylistically similar to TOO MUCH PUNCH FOR JUDY in that it uses the words of those closest to Dan and the situation he found himself in that night. It is a harrowing story… every parents nightmare and has been a real challenge to work on.

I am starting work with the Haymarket Theatre on a commission for TIE touring of a production called THE GATE ESCAPE about truancy. I will post more details of this as and when.

I have simplified the chart this quarter so that readers can, at a glance see which are my more popular plays/musicals. I hope this will be useful, particularly for new readers. This isn't to say that those at the lower end of the chart are not any good… just for some reason not as popular. It is very strange… I never imagined TOO MUCH PUNCH to be as popular as it is… and wrote NO PLACE FOR A GIRL/SWEET FA to be my big hit… who knows why people pick up on certain plays and not others. To this end I was delighted to see BLACKOUT jump up the charts due to some recent performances. 

The publication of KING ARTHUR - ALL SHOOK UP by SchoolPLay Productions is close!!! The arrangement has been completed (by Andrew Hall (thanks Andrew) & sounds fantastic. It should prove to be a popular choice for School Choirs/Drama groups.

Hope everyone is well… and hope that you will chose to present a Wheellerplay this season.

A number of schools have contacted me regarding the workshops I offer to support the study of my plays… notably TOO MUCH PUNCH, LEGAL WEAPON & HARD TO SWALLOW. I am available on Tuesdays and Thursdays… but only have dates after November. Please get in touch with me if you would like further details…. And do book in advance… dates get taken very quickly.

News June 2002

Hello to all my readers...

One major development to report this month that I wish to report. I have been "inspired" by a local tragedy to start work on a new play. It tells a harrowing story... & if performed around the country... could... could do some good! 

On one of my weekly shopping trips to Tesco's I noticed a stand outside with some people trying to get signatures to do with a local missing person. I have seen photos of 14 year old Dan Nolan (who went missing on the night of Jan 1st) but couldn't understand how anyone's signature could help to find him... so ... out of curiosity (& a desire to offer a small amount of help) I went over to the stall to discover that what Dan's friends & family were trying to do was to raise awareness of this seemingly inexplicable disappearance. 

I naively imagined that if someone went missing it was reported on the main news. I had no idea that the News has to select which missing persons to report on... apparently more than 200 people go missing each day!!! Of them approx 30% eventually turn up. After a few moments thought I offered to create a Crimewatch style short play to perform locally in an attempt to create some more media interest.

Dan's family & friends have been very supportive of the idea but really were after something bigger. Pauline, Dan's mum has set up an organisation called MATEMINDERS... based on the American BUDDY SYSTEM. This message of "stick together" applies to so many situations... and is a message they want to communicate as widely as possible. They hope to get a video out to schools telling Dan's story or a professional Theatre Company to tour this play to all schools in the UK. 

I am aiming to complete the play as soon as possible... so that it can begin to be helpful in both communicating this message... and moreover helping to find Dan. Dbda, who publish a lot of my plays are publishing the play... if anyone is interested in performing it please let me know... obviously the sooner it can be performed the better... please contact me if you would like your group to perform it... it will be an ideal length for One Act Play Festivals.

He went missing in Hamble on the night of January 1st. His family think that there could have been people staying there who went home on the morning of the 2nd who may have seen something. More information can be found at Dan's web site.

Today I completed interviews with Dan's family & will be transcribing them this week & then fashioning a play based on the events of that fateful night... and what has happened since.

News April 2002

Hello to you all ... isn't the weather amazing ... well it is here in Southampton!

The NSDF was fantastic!!! What made it even better was that one of the groups (Branch Out Youth Theatre with their play Goes Without Saying) won an award (for Humanity ... well done Di Mahoney & Ali Garner the writers & directors) and Martin Vaughn one of the two young actors won the only commendation for acting given at the Festival ... Well done to you all. A special work of praise for my own personal Fest favourite MRS BLACKWELL EATS HER CAKE ... one of the best productions I have ever seen! My workshops went down a treat as well ... so all was wonderful!

I was delighted to return home to the news that Misbourne School in Great Missenden Bucks are to perform my first published Musical BLACKOUT on 10th & 11th July ... good luck to them ... and I hope you enjoy the final song as much as everyone else does ... it is my favourite self penned song.

I have a number of irons in the fire at the moment ... and am busy seeing which will come to fruition ... more later ...

NEWS February 2002

Just one brief news item this month.

Not Only... But Also...

This years National Student Drama Festival is not only to be adorned with two of my workshops (see previous news item for more details of this) but
also with a fantastic production by a Youth Theatre who work closely with ours.

Branch Out Youth Theatre based at Cedar School for the Physically Disabled have produced a 25 minute play written by the two directors (Di Mahony & Ali Garner) called GOES WITHOUT SAYING. This play won awards and commendations in the local One Act Play Festivals last year. Acceptance into the NSDF is a fantastic accolade to directors & actors (Errol Matthews & Martin Vaughan) given that nearly always the selected shows in this Festival come from the Higher Education sector and very often from Drama Schools! Details of all the shows to be selected will appear on the NSDF web site early in March... it promises to be a very special Festival this year!

I am delighted that the Wacky Soap Musical is proving to be such a success with Drama Clubs with performances all over England... and last week an enquiry from Ontario!

NEWS January 2002

Happy New Year to everyone!

A few interesting updates.  I have had contact from Ken Boyden in New Zealand who (with his tours) made Too Much Punch For Judy the most performed play there two years in succession (with BOUNCERS coming second!!!).  He wants to set up a new National Tour of the play… sounds very hopeful!

Also… the publication of KING ARTHUR – ALL SHOOK UP by SchoolPLay Productions has been delayed… but should (I am assured) see the light of day in 2002… I can’t say a date… but I would hope that it will be in the first half of this year.

Also… some schools are studying my plays as part of their GCSE Drama courses.. some exam boards are actively recommending TOO MUCH PUNCH, LEGAL WEAPON & HARD TO SWALLOW.  I am very keen to offer workshops in schools to support study of these plays… please contact me if you are interested.  This academic Year I am available on Tuesdays and Thursdays… please get in touch with me if you would like further details.

Edexcel Examinations require schools to use plays (in Paper 1 Unit 2) that have been performed professionally.  It is sometimes difficult for Drama teachers to establish whether or not a play has had a professional production… I have therefore added an additional column to my chart… which gives points for professional productions/tours… those with no points in this column have never been performed professionally… all others have been performed at least once… (in fact at least five times!!!)

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