My last blog post on here was in December 2023. I claimed I'd just finished the year with the completion of a play I'd written titled, Duncan's Art Room. Fast forward to today, July 2025, and the play has once again been completed.
Yes, it was not the end. Far from it. I have lost count of how many times I believed I'd completed it and laid it to rest. In the past, I've always had quite a natural sense of when a project has come to an end. That is with my comics, animations and short films. But writing a play was another monster altogether (or should I say IS another monster altogether.) Now I know what rewrites means.
I think it's unlikely that I'll be returning a few years from now saying the play still needs work, I may have finally reached that conclusion here in July, 2025.
To help push that feeling, a few theatre folk in Perth (Western Australia) have shown interest in bringing the story to life.
In total, Duncan's Art Room is 120 pages including title page and cast list. As I have little experience with theatre, that many pages of dialogue, stage direction and set design seems incredibly overwhelming. I know nothing about construction and in no universe would I be able to remember all of those lines, let alone perform them in front of an audience. So anyone ambitious and invested enough to give it a try has my greatest respect! It will be exciting to see if anything comes of these early discussions.
I wanted to put together a short collection of videos that have helped my on my journey. Aside from a few helpful words from friends and experts, I read play books and watched theatre and film to inspire my writing. Including them here is really just a part of re-stepping my journey. So here goes:
1. Page to Stage: Writing/ Formatting a Play (Chipmunk of Power)
While this video may seem basic, it delivers all of the key steps required to write (or begin) writing a play. As the parts continue, the creator also talks about communication with local theatres.
2. Lauren Gunderson: On Structure.
There's a lot here. It was one I had on in the background and would keep checking back in on as I heard important moments. It talks about story structure in WAY more detail and how it moves through a play. Her enthusiasm is infectious.
3. Before Sunrise and Before Sunset
Not plays, but the detail and pacing in the script was something I really wanted to capture. I could also imagine actors being as incredible as these two performers.
4. The Aliens - Annie Baker
This one is a gold mine really. A full play performed by aspiring actors during the pandemic. As I live remote, have kids and hardly any money, seeing a real play performed is close to impossible. For a time I was mainly reading play books to help me get a feel for it, until I found this great interpretation of an awesome script. I loved how the characters could keep their lines short, while still SAYING something. I must admit, I wasn't able to cut my dialogue quite as much, but it certainly helped the writing process.
5. National Theatre videos
This is one of many videos created to help out playwrights, offering perspectives from a variety of writers. They are excellent.
6. The Characters Start Talking (Working in the Theatre)
I love this one. It's so chill and at the same time so informative.
7. David Williamson
I began my journey by picking up some old David Williamson playbooks from a second-hand bookshop. I really enjoyed this interview and reading the plays.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having two kids now has made it very difficult to get creative and produce content. Which has been difficult at times. But with a few late-nighters and a whole heap of enthusiasm I did manage to complete an music album titled, Slow Stories.
Check it out here! https://narrowboatdreams.bandcamp.com/album/slow-stories
How did it happen?
Well, I began creating a bunch of demos for a unfinished album with my other band Duo, Artificial Colours. This album was going to have a bit of a carnival type sound. With a bit of Brian Wilson as inspiration, I wanted to experiment with instrumentation and sounds. Unfortunately, the Artificial Colours album fell apart and I was left with a collection of demos. Still inspired, I chose very carefully which songs most resonated with me as this time, and went to work on producing them. Once that sound came alive with melodica and strings, I created a few more songs to round off the album.
Personal favourites:
1. School Bell
2. Middlelife
3. Dollhouse
4. The Curtain Call
I'm very happy with how it came out!
See you next time.
~Nathan
