© Barkway Players 2024
Mr Pickwick’s Blog
Mr Pickwick, aka Prince Wensleydale, finds himself unexpectedly recruited to the writing team For the first time in my life, I have been part of a writers’ room - one of the team writing the script for the Barkway Pantomime for February 2024. Fortunately for Barkway, we were immune from the Hollywood Screenwriters’ strike. Immune, too, from the pressure cooker of professional writers’ rooms. In contrast with the heady mix of stimulants and creative tension in such environments, we have been fuelled by tea and hobnobs. Wine was attempted at one meeting, which led to my creative spirit nodding off behind the sofa. There has been healthy disagreement, but this was resolved satisfactorily. In the case of a dramatic device I sought to introduce which did not receive support from the creative team, it was agreed that if my daughters found it funny, they would re-consider. The idea fell at the first hurdle following my receipt of a curt and incredulous response to my request for a second opinion. The Panto is, I admit, the better for it. It has been a time of new characters, lives and backstories. Particularly exciting for me was to witness the birth of a pantomime cow called Buttercup. I felt like a new parent when the arrival of Buttercup was agreed upon. And Buttercup evolved into a De Niro-esque part (imagine “You talkin to me” in moos). It is perhaps ironic for a pantomime with the title “The Four Mousketeers”, that the costume for a previous Barkway Pantomine cow had been eaten by mice. Buttercup is rising from the leftovers to kick bottom. Even after many rehearsals the script still makes me laugh. It has been a learning process hearing other people perform my words. Writing is only the first stage, although a very important stage. The actors have to make the words sing. And the Barkway Players certainly do that. The script is complete and it is now up to the village to bring “The Four Mousketeers” to life. It is a tale of a magical cheese: Barkway Blue. I hope you enjoy the cheesy magic we have created.
The Barkway Players
© Barkway Players 2022
Mr
Pickwick’s
Blog
Mr Pickwick, aka Prince Wensleydale, finds himself unexpectedly recruited to the writing team For the first time in my life, I have been part of a writers’ room - one of the team writing the script for the Barkway Pantomime for February 2024. Fortunately for Barkway, we were immune from the Hollywood Screenwriters’ strike. Immune, too, from the pressure cooker of professional writers’ rooms. In contrast with the heady mix of stimulants and creative tension in such environments, we have been fuelled by tea and hobnobs. Wine was attempted at one meeting, which led to my creative spirit nodding off behind the sofa. There has been healthy disagreement, but this was resolved satisfactorily. In the case of a dramatic device I sought to introduce which did not receive support from the creative team, it was agreed that if my daughters found it funny, they would re-consider. The idea fell at the first hurdle following my receipt of a curt and incredulous response to my request for a second opinion. The Panto is, I admit, the better for it. It has been a time of new characters, lives and backstories. Particularly exciting for me was to witness the birth of a pantomime cow called Buttercup. I felt like a new parent when the arrival of Buttercup was agreed upon. And Buttercup evolved into a De Niro-esque part (imagine “You talkin to me” in moos). It is perhaps ironic for a pantomime with the title “The Four Mousketeers”, that the costume for a previous Barkway Pantomine cow had been eaten by mice. Buttercup is rising from the leftovers to kick bottom. Even after many rehearsals the script still makes me laugh. It has been a learning process hearing other people perform my words. Writing is only the first stage, although a very important stage. The actors have to make the words sing. And the Barkway Players certainly do that. The script is complete and it is now up to the village to bring “The Four Mousketeers” to life. It is a tale of a magical cheese: Barkway Blue. I hope you enjoy the cheesy magic we have created.
