My first introduction to The School of Life was via a catering tent in the middle of Henham Park, Beccles. We were gathered to listen to the Sunday Sermon on switching off in the digital age led by Wired UK’s editor-at-large, Ben Hammersley. Our hymn was Ground Control to Major Tom. Mr. Hammersley played guitar. Despite the large amounts of whiskey still percolating through my system it was an enlightening way to spend a Sunday morning.
I’m the one with what looks like an early version of Seth MacFarlane’s Ted in a kilt, on my dress.
After a long week of feeling miserable with a cold, I have the pleasure to announce my play, ‘This Mess We’re In’ has been included on the longlist of the British Theatre Challenge. To celebrate, let’s take a moment to revel in the musical genius of PJ Harvey’s track of the same name and the inspiration point for my play.
‘Welcome to the grid,’ said Kevin Flynn in Tron: Legacy, ‘A digital frontier. I tried to picture clusters of information as they moved through the computer. What did they look like? […] I kept dreaming of a world I thought I’d never see. Then, one day, I got in.’
Never did I think the opening lines of a science fiction blockbuster would have such resonance with the process of creating a play.
Most of the time I question why I’m part of so many Facebook groups. The endless postings about topics I was once interested in. But every now and then, a gem turns up. Enter stage left, Hemingway App.
This is one of my most cherished books. It was my father’s book before me and I might, if the future allows, get to pass this onto a tiny human myself. Rather than try and tell you about the insane, chaotic genius of Spike Milligan’s Milliganimals, I’m going to do one better. I’m going to show you.
