Special Plug-In: Spin The Imperfect & O Sole Mio
Spin The Imperfect
"Spin the Imperfect," is a tale of ambition, desperation, and intrigue: Meet Lawrence Maynard, a once-prominent playwright whose latest West End show is teetering on the brink of failure. With his career hanging in the balance, Lawrence concocts a daring plan to sway the critics and salvage his reputation. As the tension mounts and secrets unravel, audiences will be on the edge of their seats awaiting the outcome of this high-stakes gamble.
The multitalented Ted Grant, who not only wrote, directed and produced the play but also hit the stage with a great performance at the Leverhulme Festival, where it earned praise from both audience and adjudicators.
Ted commented on the success of the recent production:
‘The production has gone brilliantly so far. We’ve already put it on at the Leverhulme Festival and it went extremely well complete with some great feedback from the adjudicator. There was some incredible work at the festival and I believe our play more than held its own.’
he added,
‘I knew I’d taken on a lot trying to direct it, produce it and act in it but it was very much a case of just wanting to get on and do it. It helps being reasonably fearless and having confidence in my own work. I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from Dave and Tom Williamson, two brothers who I acted with in the MAD production of Our Country’s Good, who fairly spontaneously decided to form their own production company and put stuff on they wanted to.
Inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of fellow artists and spurred on by a passion for storytelling, Ted took on the challenge of bringing "Spin the Imperfect" to life on his own terms. Encouraged by local playwrights like Lee Clotworthy, who advocated for producing one's own work, Ted embraced the opportunity to carve out his own path. Armed with a compelling script and a talented ensemble cast, saying
‘I saw a post from Lee Clotworthy, who wrote and produced Out the Woodwork, imploring people to produce their own work if they think it’s good enough. You could be waiting forever for someone to take your work on, the best remedy is just to do it yourself. If you can write a strong script and find capable actors to carry it then anything is basically doable. We know there are no guarantees of anyone taking your work and producing it.
I’ve never directed before and I knew this would be a challenge but I figured my acting experience and instincts would help me. And I knew the other actors’ experience and instincts would enable me to shape the look of the play. Despite being the director and producer this was always a team effort. My cast are acting contemporaries, I know them and they know me. We all trust and believe in each other. Between us, I knew we could make it work if we knuckled down and believed in it. We figured if we took matters into our own hands and controlled our own destiny then we succeed or fail on our own terms. That’s really exciting. ’
Looking ahead, Ted and his partner, Kirsten Hawkins, has plans to establish 4th Wall Productions, a platform for showcasing original works and helping upcoming talent.
‘Kirsten is a fantastic writer as well as an actor and in the future we both want to put our work on the stage. We plan to write individually and jointly and come up with interesting and inspiring work. Our basic principles and approach is that of pared-down aesthetics: less is more, keep it simple, let the story and characters do the work and take you on a journey. Spin the Imperfect is just the first of many, we hope, successful productions. ‘
O Sole Mio
"O Sole Mio," is a dramatic comedy that follows the misadventures of Phil, the manager of Dominator's Pizza delivery store. On a quiet Monday morning, Phil finds himself alone in the shop with the weekend's earnings safely tucked away in the safe. But just when he thinks it's going to be a mundane day, an unexpected visitor turns his world upside down, leading to a series of unexpected twists and turns.
A true Scouser at heart, writer Bernie Winston's journey into the world of theatre was ignited by the works of acclaimed Liverpool playwrights like Willie Russell and Alan Bleasdale, whose performances at the Liverpool Everyman in the 1980s left an indelible mark on his creative spirit. Bernie's journey as a playwright took a significant leap forward when he was selected to participate in prestigious writer's development programs at the Liverpool Royal Court and Liverpool Everyman in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Under the guidance of seasoned professionals, Bernie honed his skills and refined his unique comedic voice, laying the groundwork for his future success.
As Bernie explained:
‘O Sole Mio’ is a comedy but asks the question ‘What would you do for love? How far would you go? What risks would you be prepared to take?’ It began life as a 15-minute two-hander a few years back. I have since gone on to have several other plays performed, but always wanted to return to this piece and expand it … I thought the characters and the story deserved it… Now it’s 30 minutes long and delves deeper into the characters and their story. The play recently featured as part of Writers Inc’s ‘Love is Strange’ presentation at Hope St Theatre and was well received. I was delighted to be asked by Ted Grant to share the bill with him in the Arts Bar ‘Studio 3’ alongside his play ‘Spin the Imperfect’… It should be a great night. I actually work part-time as a pizza delivery driver, so this piece is close to my heart.’
Over the years, Bernie has brought six plays to life on the Liverpool Fringe, two of which he directed himself. Each production resonated with audiences, earning acclaim for their blend of humour and heartfelt storytelling. Notably, "Fluorescent Adolescent" with lead actress Sarah Howes-Dixon receiving recognition for her stellar comedic performance at the Liverpool Fringe Festival in 2023.
The Double Bill at Art Bar Hope Street is not to be missed. So mark your calendars, Thursday, 16th May. Don’t forget to have a look out for the special double bill podcast coming very soon.
Covered by, Nadine Jump