Once This Was A Poet

by Brenda Read-Brown

Description

This is a largely autobiographical play described as a Play with Poetry. It tell the story about what happens when Angie a performance poet meets Pete another performance poet. and the one year they had together before he dies. Surprisingly perhaps, given the subject matter, this is a very amusing if ultimately poignant play.

Its form is similar to a musical where the dialogue tells the story but instead of a big song and dance number to express the characters' emotions they take you quietly to one side and express their thoughts in a poem.  A poem that was actually written by their character at about that time in the narrative.

GDA One Act Play Festival 2008

The play was performed at the GDA One Act Play Festival at the Kings Theatre, Gloucester on Thursday 5 June 2008.  

It won every award available to to be won!

Best Play		Once This Was A Poet
Best Original Play		Once This Was A Poet
Best Actress		Paula Fancini-Hooper
Best Actor		Ian Bishop
Best Performance in a Supporting Role		Pam Jell & Joe Durrant

It also won the GDA play writing competition. This is decided soley on the script,  before the play has been performed. 

Reports and Comments

Director's Report

Comment from Paul McKee (Cheltenham’s Arts Development Officer):
"Brenda, that was a stunningly wonderful theatrical experience last night!

Your  play was all the things drama should be - insightful, challenging, moving and very funny.  There was a rhythm and a pace, driven by your voice and the quality of your verse.  We loved it.

Pictures

Cheltenham Literarature Festival - October 2008

After the success at the GDA One Act Play Festival, TADS were invited to perform it again at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.  The cast and crew was the same as for the performance at Gloucester.

  Poster from the Cheltenham Literature Festival

As part of the Festival, BBC Radio Gloucestershire broadcast three 5 minute pieces about the background to the play.

WARNING These are very big at about 40MB each!

All England Theatre Festival
Western Area preliminary round - Mercia division - March 2009

The performance won the Best Play award and thus went through to the next round of the competition.  The awards won were:

Best Play		Once This Was A Poet
Best Gloucestershire Play		Once This Was A Poet
Best Actress		Paula Fancini-Hooper

It was also nominated for:

• Best Original Play
• Best Director
• Best Actor

All England Theatre Festival
Western Area Quarter Final - April 2009

The play was eliminated at this round.

Ledbury Poetry Festival - July 2009

This performance was at the Market Theatre, Ledbury. The cast was the same as for the All England Theatre Festival Entries