Jim Bywater

I settled down to write the children's story I keep bangin' on about - let's call it 'Shoo Digger'. Me and my co-author have been drawing on names from our childhood, one of which I Googled today. In the book he's a villain - but in real life, I discovered, he's a local councillor in the town of my birth. Me and my gang, well, not actually MINE since Billy Mills was the agreed gang leader, but, our gang was somewhat intimidated by the Slingsbys - George and Albert. I mean they were about ten foot taller than any of us - and fifteen foot taller than 'Thorney'.

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FEATHER IN THE CAP TIME: The education department at the Queen's Theatre decided to deal with ANIMAL FARM for the English and drama department syllabuses. Because of the economic restraints it was quickly realised that we could not use any extant scripts, two in number, which involved a cast of at least eight. So, I said I would do an adaptation for three actors and a speaking technician (oov). We had to acquire permission from the George Orwell Trust. Eventually, after examining my CVs and history of work at the Queen's, they gave permission. Thus, I am one of the chosen few who have been given permission to adapt ANIMAL FARM. RESULT!
The script is available, for any one who is interested, from the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch.
More recently, Beth Flatley, the new head of education at the Queen's Theatre, expressed a desire to.....

Continue reading "Orwell, Dickens, Jamie and Me." »

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