Director's Note

Having spent what seems like most of my life writing the play you are about to watch, writing this Director’s note was the last thing I felt like doing. Over the course of the last eight weeks I have written and rewritten each scene probably at least four times and changed the ending twice and you can take from that what you will. The version you will see tonight is I hope the best it has been and that whilst it deals with incredibly sensitive issues, it doesn’t try to hit you over the head with personal comments on these matters. They always say write about what you know, and this play is far from close to my life but I hope to have drawn on my often obsessive curiosity with people and their motivations. That said, I was inspired by my love of photography and the real value and purpose of photography and the apparent veracity of the images that photographers capture. The cause and effect of abuses of power formed the basis of the plot and I was influenced in particular by the testimonies of victims including Billy Connolly who proffered a different light to the one we are prescribed by the media. It’s to these people and those that have real life experience of abuse that I extend an explanation of my intention to create a debate and not in any way sensationalize these delicate themes, I hope as a company we achieve that today.

This has been infinitely harder than I anticipated and I really honestly thought I was entering the process with my eyes open and fully aware of the magnitude of this project. And it was humbling to know I was wrong and to be constantly reminded of my own mortality when every decision becomes in some way linked to the decisions I have made in the imaginary world I have tried to create. The parallels and similarities with each character in this story in their own way and myself have been at times concerning whilst also enlightening. The truth is this play has taught me more than it could teach anyone else or anyone in the cast, which seems strange. I am reluctant to call myself a writer having written one play after all one swallow does not a summer make, but I thought you wrote in a sort of way to affirm your own belief systems and in part a comment or attribute a new voice to the world. I am now keenly aware that this, has seemed to me to not be the case. I think the themes of the play of loss and confusion have been closely intertwined with my view on the world and that rather than be depressing has been oddly up-lifting.

This is not the end for this play. Whether I decide to rewrite great swathes again or edit just part of it is a decision that I suppose is in your hands. I have learned more in the last eight weeks about people and myself and how not to write a play that I am sure going forward this will just be the start, hopefully a good start but a start nevertheless. I remain fascinated in people and the motivations of people especially when they conflict or erode and exploit the core beliefs we all hold dear. This is the overriding theme of the play, the capacity for good and evil often simultaneously in everyone and its this that I wish to explore in everything I ever create.

Directing has brought me the most joy, watching what I have written grow into human voices and hearing those voice gain meaning where the script failed is the most satisfying aspect of this journey. Really getting to grips with the motivations of

the cast members and the characters whilst understanding practical ways to encourage performance based on the personal journeys of each individual to create a believable aesthetic is a valuable and rewarding skill; one that if I am ever fortunate enough to direct again will be invaluable. The cast have shown levels of faith, joy and support (despite not having a script for most of the process) that I truly did not deserve or expect. I hope the story engages with you before you feel the need to engage with it and that the themes although apparent don’t seem heavy handed hopefully leaving you questioning our perceptions of reality, especially the reality of the images we consume and the reality and scope of emotions within us all.