Double Plug-In: O SOLE MIO & Looking for Lucy

Writers in Productions is back with another fantastic night of theatre, this time presenting "Love Is Strange." The night features four short plays by individual writers. At The Creative Wire, we delve into each play separately in this four-part special feature for "Love Is Strange." Next up is a double plug-in with writers Liz Redwood’s Looking for Lucy and Bernie Winston’s ‘O SOLE MIO’

First up… ‘O SOLE MIO’

A true Scouser born and bred, Bernie Winston has become a regular figure on the Liverpool Fringe over the past four to five years, with his signature blend of comedy and heartfelt moments. A graduate of the Liverpool Royal Court and Liverpool Everyman's playwright development programs, he has found success with his works hitting the stages of the fringe scene. Bernie’s full-length play, 'Stand Up,' and a few shorter plays have all been met with great feedback, which has given him the confidence to keep creating great theatre that will make you laugh and cry at the same time.

Bernie gives us great insight into the characters and what drives their actions throughout the play. At Domino's, he's always found the scenario of a Monday morning manager handling the weekend's takings in the safe to be a fascinating story idea. You can literally get inspiration for stories to write anywhere, and Bernie has done just that, saying,

“I work at Domino's and have always thought the idea of a manager in a store on a Monday morning with the weekend's takings in the safe was a great vehicle for a story. Phil, the store manager, is someone who’s always played it safe, never taken risks. John is willing to risk everything to be with the love of his life. They are complete opposites in every way.”

“I am using the medium of drama to explore some very uncomfortable themes such as the growing gaps between men and women (socially, economically, psychologically, intellectually), the pitfalls of online He adds,

‘It fits neatly into the 'Love Is Strange' lineup as we delve deeper into their characters and they open up about their relationships. Store manager Phil is stuck in a stale marriage, John is desperate to be with the one he loves and will do anything to make it happen.’

Bernie is also directing his own piece and not only that but directing Liz Redwood's "Looking for Lucy" as well. He says,

“As well as writing, I enjoy the whole process of producing, directing, managing rehearsals, and working with the actors, so I was more than happy to jump onboard and help with the directing of Liz Redwood's play ‘Looking for Lucy’ as well as directing my own piece. It’s been great fun.”

Up next… "Looking for Lucy" by Liz Redwood.

Liz has quite an impressive journey. She began by earning a Certificate in Screenwriting from Liverpool John Moores University, then delved into prestigious programs like the Liverpool Royal Court Playwrights Programme and the Liverpool Everyman Playwrights Programme in 2020/21.

Her works have been showcased in Liverpool, with several short plays and a full-length play being performed there. Notably, her short play 'A Tipsy Christmas Fairy Tale' made it to the Liverpool Royal Court's studio Christmas show in 2022, marking her first professional production. This influence led to Channel 4's New Writing North Awards 2023, where both she and Joe McNally secured two out of the three Writing for Television Awards

Most recently, her short comedy 'Squeeze' was selected by Rebound Productions for the Emerging Artists Festival at the Hen and Chickens Theatre in London, a testament to her growing reputation and talent.

"Looking for Lucy" is a heartwarming story filled with love, friendship, and the kindness of strangers, all with a loose Beatles theme. It all begins with love at first sight in Liverpool. But then disaster strikes. Two Irish visitors, Mac and Fin, find themselves in a race across the city to find Lucy. There's just one catch—they only have four hours before they need to head back to Dublin. And what was the name of Lucy's street again? We had the opportunity to speak with Liz Redwood about the play featured in "Love Is Strange."

What inspired the creation of your play and its inclusion in Writers Inc Productions' lineup?

The inspiration for the play came from an Irish lad I met in my party days when I used to go out clubbing with my Irish friend in Liverpool. We met lots of Irish blokes on these nights out, and usually, it culminated in an all-night drinking session in one of the hotel bars, then going home when the sun was coming up and the birds were beginning to tweet. Those were great times! I remember this one lad was looking for a girl he had met in a bar, but he had lost her number when he got back to Dublin. He had come back to Liverpool on several occasions, going to the same bar where he met her, hoping he would bump into her again. What a romantic! Sadly, he still hadn’t found her when we met him, and I’ll never know if he ever did, but I like to think he did and that they are living happily ever after with loads of kids. And maybe her name was Lucy? I can’t remember.

Can you tell us about the characters in the play and what drives their actions throughout the play?

Mac and Fin are two lifelong friends in their early twenties, who have been on a weekend of craic in Liverpool. Mac is a flighty romantic who has met Lucy, and it’s love at first sight. But then disaster strikes, and he loses her number. He persuades Fin to hightail it back to Liverpool with him to find Lucy. Loyal and gullible, Fin agrees, despite that he has got an important exam in less than 24 hours’ time. With only four hours to spare in Liverpool, the lads come across Bill, a black cab driver, who’s never been lucky in love but still remains an old romantic at heart. After they do him a big favor, Bill makes it his mission to help them find Lucy. They meet the charming and flirty Prudence, who wants to help them but just can’t as it's not in her job description and are almost scuppered in their quest by a ruthless and jobsworth railway guard. But just as all seems lost, a brilliant idea by Bill saves the day, and Prudence has a big surprise for Fin. And Lucy ends up floating in the sky with her diamonds!

How does your play fit into the broader narrative or theme of the evening of performances at Hope Street Theatre?

The theme of the night is ‘Love’, and my play has got Beatles references because they were all about love, weren’t they. It’s all about that tingling goosebumps at first sight love, where you think about the person constantly, go around with a never-ending smile on your face, and only want to be with them because nothing else matters. It’s light and happy, and looks at the beginnings of love, but not just romantic love, but the love we experience in our friendships too, and how it all can only manifest from meetings with strangers.

Writers Inc productions ‘Love Is Strange’ which will be showcased over two nights in April on the 19th and 20th at the Hope Street Theatre.

Covered by, Amy Brennan