Six Plays, One Day- Lynda and John

As we’re getting ready for our festival of plays on Saturday 11th March 2023 at Derby Theatre, here’s a little bit about the two plays you can see at 7.30pm:

HOLIDAY IN THE PEAKS by Lynda Aylett-Green
Lynda Aylett-Green is a novelist and scriptwriter who lives in the Derbyshire Peak District with a calming view of the hills. Formerly a languages teacher she now loves writing and finds that writing dialogue is the most fun.
‘Holiday in the Peaks’ is a short version of a full-length play dealing with themes of bullying, blackmail and friendship. Among her other plays are ‘Dying to Act’, ‘Drama at Elvaston Castle’ and ‘Voltaire’s Garden’.

DSW Lynda

THE GENERATION GAP by John Briscoe
“I have been writing short play scripts for about six years following being involved with a creative writing group for some time before that. I have had three short stories published in various anthologies.

I had the idea for this short play after being amused by different generations attempting to understand why each do what they do, or did, and why- ’when I was young’…‘your Gran wouldn’t do that’…‘they know nothing about modern life’- I thought it would be amusing if a young woman was able, easily, to pull the wool over the eyes of those who talk about experience and wisdom coming with age.”

Click here to find out more about our 2.30 performance

Click here to find out more about our 5.30 performance

DSW John

Six Plays, One Day- Chrissie and Maria

As we’re getting ready for our festival of plays on Saturday 11th March 2023 at Derby Theatre, here’s a little bit about the two plays you can see at 2.30pm:

SCARFACE by Chrissie Hall
This One Act Play came out of Chrissie’s involvement in a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in partnership with the Universities of Staffordshire and Keele. In the aftermath of a hospital scandal members of the community came together in ‘creative meets medical’ workshops, to reflect on their experience of health, illness and medicine.
Chrissie’s always been a scribbler. She got serious about writing when she hit 40 and the Literature and Creative Writing Degree from the University of Derby was life changing. She’s a founder member, and Co-chair of Derbyshire Scriptwriters, and collaborating with the award winning Derby Theatre is making her heart sing!

ROY by Maria Dodson
Maria wrote ‘Roy’ named after her lovely late father, about the daily struggles of an older man with dementia- it covers family duty, guilt, laughter,  jealousy and disagreements. She is delighted to be working with award winning Derby Theatre to bring it to the stage.
Maria attended a workshop run by John Goodrum in collaboration with DSW ‘Start Your Play In a Day’ in 2016, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She has been a member of the group ever since.

Click here to find out more about our 2.30 performance
Click here to find out more about our 7.30 performance

DSW Maria

Six Plays, One Day- Hugh & Richard

As we’re getting ready for our festival of plays on Saturday 11th March 2023 at Derby Theatre, here’s a little bit about the two plays
 you can see at 5.30pm:

BELIEF by Hugh Jones
Belief is a two person play that looks at preconceived ideas concerning race and culture and going beyond those preconceptions to discover the commonalities cultures have and to focus on what we share rather than what is different.
When aged 50, Hugh found himself wondering what to do next. Why not a full-time BA degree in Film and Screenwriting at Sheffield Hallam University? Since then he has been exploring many different genres and writing for differing mediums. Being part of Derbyshire Scriptwriters has allowed him to develop scripts for the stage.

DSW Hugh

WHEN THE CAT’S AWAY by Richard Layton
When the Cat’s Away shows the downsides of working from home, when people are forever imposing on you and taking you for granted. Do you really know your neighbours and friends as well as you think you do?
Richard joined Derbyshire Scriptwriters in 2004 and after brief stints as Theatre Liaison Officer and Vice Chairman; he became the group’s secretary and has been ever since. His first script writing credit was a contribution to Chesterfield Tales for Tabs Productions and he has also written two full length plays for Rumpus Theatre Company – The Horrific Case of Mr. Valdemar and The Devil’s Bride adapted from Edgar Allan Poe and Joseph Sheridan LeFanu respectively. His work has also been showcased in the Pomegranate Playwrights Festival in Chesterfield and he has had work produced by Pintsized Plays in both the UK and New Zealand. Whilst he has sometimes appeared in short scripts he has written for Pomegranate Playwrights and Derby Movie Makers, he is happy today to leave the acting to the professionals.

Click here to find out more about our 5.30 performance

Click here to find out more about our 7.30 performance

Valdemar Poster

February Meeting- Derby Museum, Sun 5th Feb, 2-4pm

It’s happening! Our final six plays have been chosen for our performance event at Derby Theatre on the 11 March, so we’ll be discussing how to make the day as brilliant as possible for our audiences, alongside discussing DSW member Andrew’s current work in progress. If you’re already a member, the agenda is available in the DSW Members pages now, and if you’d like to Join Us, get in touch!

A Day of Six One-Act Plays – Derby Theatre

Wordsworth inspiration for DSW member wins prize

Lynda Aylett-Green’s not-too-serious piece, ‘Wordsworth in Derbyshire’ got second prize in this year’s NAWG competition and she’s really delighted to have been placed. The Duke of Devonshire is waiting impatiently at Chatsworth as he’s told the poet to write a flattering sonnet about his stately home, though surely fourteen lines isn’t enough to describe the splendours of Chatsworth! The Duke waits with mounting irritation for ‘Mr Wordsmith’ and hears that the poet has been distracted by the legend of a hillside in Darley Dale. When finally ‘Mr Wordless’ prefers to visit Haddon Hall he threatens to ruin the poet’s reputation. ‘Too late’ the Duchess tells him, Wordsworth’s fame is already greater than the Duke’s.

Interior of Chatsworth house
eHeritage at Pexels