workshopping scripts

Over the last four decades, almost without exception, every successful TV comedy series has been written by two writers. They have used each other as bouncing boards to workshop scripts. Recently I have seen several plays, where the writers have just missed the mark, mainly by being far too verbose. Comedy dialogue, especially, needs to be pruned to a minimum.

The playwrights should keep in their minds, a firm picture of who their intended audience is likely to be, and then keep the jokes and language appropriate.

Ensure that the poster lets the audience know in advance the genre of the show. If it is a comedy, a bloody thriller or an ‘adults only’ show, then state this clearly on the advertising or at the ticket point of sales. It is sad to see so much work going into productions, which are presented to, and antagonising, an audience expecting something completely different.

Even obvious talent such as Johnny Grim and Martin Lindsay, have recently presented very clever, well-researched shows with original storylines; however, both works desperately needed a good friend to act as a mentor or script editor.

Great things are so often just around the corner, for so many directors and writers who either take on too much, are too shy or too proud to seek opinions before the rehearsal stage.