Underword

PBH's Free Fringe

You never know quite what you'll be in for with spoken word cabaret, but this show was simply delightful. A charismatic emcee leads the proceedings as various spoken word artists are invited onto the stage, and the short stories and contemporary poems that follow, showcased by talented readers, range from the poignant to the hysterical; this snappy and compelling material will ensure that even the most sceptical won't be caught looking at their watches. Really capturing the spirit of the fringe, 'Underword' is a relaxed and well-humoured free show through which the spoken word genre will undoubtedly find new fans. A different programme is on offer each night and just as well: this show will keep you coming back.

Fingers Piano Bar, 8 - 29 Aug, 7.50pm, free, fpp 236

tw rating: 5/5

David Wake’s plays are always a convention highlight. [...]  Lighting and sound effects created the often very tense, and scary mood of the piece, which depended on careful timing in the speech and pause patterns of delivery for the actors. This was a very Pinteresque play.

Central to the story was Molly (Dawn Abigail) a telepathic survivor from the first play, now trapped in the institution and forced to wear a straightjacket in her private cell.  Entrance for the nurses and hospital staff is through a door where warning signals tell them to wear earmuffs and take security measures, given Molly’s ability to kill with the right whispered memes. The balance between telepathy and the audio-hallucination effects of some forms of schizophrenia are well explored.

With other telepaths infiltrating the institution, with their own agenda for Molly, the security precautions break down, and the death toll rises. Much of the play is delivered by off-stage voices, (the actors projecting from the wings) and some performances were electrifying, especially those of Dawn in the lead role, and Caroline (Cal) Loveridge & Clare Goodall.  Given that last minute script changes and some cast members being unable to attend meant some roles and scenes needed extending. The cast and production crew made everything work seamlessly. A third play in the series seems very likely.  Not having seen part one was a little bit disadvantageous, but I was quickly able to work out what was going on.

Sound and Lighting Technician for "Lost Content" by Martin Drury performed by the New Classics at the Hexagon Theatre, Birmingham, and at Housman Hall, Bromsgrove.  The latter was the actual setting of the historical play about A. E. Housman himself.  Oct 2007.

Sound and Lighting Technician for "Choke Point" by Colm Byrne performed by the LA Writers Centre at the Edinburgh Fringe, August 2007.

The first thing I noticed about Colm Byrne's play, based on the 2003 scandal that surrounded New York Times journalist Jayson Blair, was the script, it was superbly crafted - both sincere and moving. Indeed, it was so close to real life that it almost felt as though we, the audience, were really witnessing this real life story. The cast delivered exceptional performances, the repertoire of talent outstanding and genuinely touching - and not just because a few of them are famous faces. The length of the play, however, brought it down. The last few scenes were a little long-winded and I felt myself shifting in my chair, anxious to know the end of the story. That said, 'Choke Point', despite its misgivings, is a play worthy of the stage - both engrossing and intelligent.

Three Weeks

Appeared as Hamlet in Stratford-upon-Avon organised by the Royal Shakespeare Company on the 17th July 2007.  (The RSC get local groups to show what they do, so the MDCC performed Robert Stanyard's "Shakespeare!", a humorous piece about the life of the Bard.)

Wrote "A Right Pair", which was directed by Mark Webster and performed at the Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham in June 2007.

HE’S SPARTACVS... presented "Inveigle" written and directed by David Wake, Easter 2007.

Appeared in "The Next Drink" by Kit Hageney as a policeman again, directed by Mark Webster, at the Door, Birmingham Rep, in September 2006.

Directed "The Bench" by David Hendon at the All England Theatre Festival in February 2006.

Stage managed and appeared as a policeman in "If Only The Dead Could Listen" by Gezim Alpion at the mac theatre, directed by Marcus Fernando, in February 2006.

Co-wrote the short film "Dead@ Dawn" in September 2005.

I directed "Trial by Jury" by Gilbert and Sullivan for Paradise Green Promotions.  It was performed at Augustine's at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2005.  I appeared in cameo as a policeman.

HE’S SPARTACVS... made their Edinburgh Fringe debut with two award-winning plays, “Groom” and “Stockholm”.

GROOM ‘She was asking for it!’	STOCKHOLM ‘Yes, I realise you've had a bad day.
Tom surfs the internet; Mandy dreams of Mr. Right, but the girl Tom meets is not the woman he was expecting. Strong adult themes in an award-winning dark romance for the Internet Age by David Wake.	A policeman lies dead or unconscious, and Dr. Beth Haslett is held hostage by a knife-wielding maniac. An award-winning psychological drama by David Wake.

"Captain Tartan Saves the World - Again!" was first performed at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, on 4 April 1999.

An extraordinary undertaking with 53 people on stage and behind the scenes performed at Reconvene, the 1999 Science Fiction Eastercon, in the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool.  It tells the story of the secret patterned division of Spectrum and how one man can overcome all the odds even though he's a puppet.  There's a video edited from three camera angles with extra CGI effects.  Performed by the Reconvene Rubber Tree Company.  Directed by David Wake.

"For this special undercover operation, we shall use code names.  If we enter the Secret Mysteron Base and start referring to each other as Captain Blue and Captain Tartan, we'll give ourselves away immediately.  So, I'll be Mr.  Blond, you can be Mr. Brown, you can be Mr. Green."

"Down the Hole" was first performed at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, on 25 February 1999. one-act play about a group of people trapped in a nuclear fallout shelter.  This play enjoyed a second run during the MCS Repertory Company's May Feast in 1999.  Performed by the MCS Repertory Company.  Directed by Sheila Palmer.

"The Hen and Fox" was performed at the Crescent Theatre, Birmingham, on 17 March 1998.  It was first performed in 1998 at the Birmingham Festival of Acting and Musical Entertainment in the (old) Crescent Theatre.  It won the Rose Bowl.  This was also part of the MCS Repertory Company's May Feast in 1999.  Directed by Sheila Palmer.

"I don't know.  At the time... I was stupid, how could I have been so stupid?  Just so stupid.  You can't trust anyone.  But at least, you think you can trust yourself.  I used to believe I was a good judge of character, but now I know."