I've been writing plays and screenplays on and off for the last twenty years. In 2002 after a doing a playwriting course I was put in touch with the producers at Brookside on the recommendation of my tutor. I sent them a sample of my work, which they liked and then went to meet one of the producers and was asked to do a sample script. I wasn't successful, but the whole thing was a great experience and it was good to get at least asked to do a script. So then in 2004 I did a Certificate in Screenwriting course at Liverpool John Moores University and had a script that reached the long list in a short screenplay competition. 

Then writing went on the back burner as I was concentrating on my career as a mental health nurse, a job that I love. However now I work less hours so for the last sixteen months I've been able to concentrate on my writing. To get me started again I did three short playwriting courses in Liverpool last year. I'm kind of now beginning to gradually transform and see myself as a writer. It's still a bit of a weird feeling and definitely a case of imposter syndrome, but I'm getting there!

So in this time I've written several short plays and monologues and been submitting them all over the place. I was due to have a play performed in a showcase of new writing in May but obviously Coronavirus put paid to that. This year however I've had some degree of success locally, as Grin Theatre in Liverpool produced two of my monologues in video format (can be seen on their You Tube channel). And nationally I was a runner up in the Kenneth Branagh New Drama Award at the Windsor Fringe Festival and also made the shortlist for the Sphinx Theatre Female Playwrights Programme. Both of these achievements were with the half hour version of my play Blood's Thicker.

Before the two previous successes with the play, I'd sent it to Likeminded Productions as a submission for their Theatre Addict event. I was thrilled when Chris got in touch with me to say they loved the play and wanted me to write a full length version. So I did......and I've just completed it! 

The play is inspired by the prevalence of knife crime in the UK. Seeing and reading these stories in the news made me think about the people who are not directly involved in the crime but who suffer life changing consequences as a result of a spontaneous mindless act of violence. 

It was a challenge to write, both because of the subject matter but also by trying to maintain an authenticity of the story and the characters. I wanted to write true to life characters and a dramatic and engaging story that was moving and though provoking throughout.

The play tells the story of a family torn apart by events out of their control. Trying to do the right thing leads to catastrophic consequences and the protagonist Rene then faces a dilemma; and she chooses a path that leads her into a web of lies and deceit that she cannot escape from. This situation pushes her relationship with her daughter Charlene to the brink. In the end she makes a decision that will have a shattering affect on the mother and daughter bond; a decision from which they will never recover. 

I am so excited and honoured to be working with Likeminded Productions. I'm really inspired by their innovation and passion for theatre making. I'm looking forward to writing a piece for Kristallnacht which is going to be such an exciting and powerful piece of theatre. Can't wait to see it....roll on 2021!

Words by Liz Redwood