Being on the road once more, I thought this would be a good time to announce the results of CurvingRoad’s Call for Submission.  Discerning readers may recall that, a few years ago, my friend and I founded the arts charity, CurvingRoad, to help launch the professional careers of new (not necessarily young) artists who are ready to go public with their work but need that extra logistical and financial push to get them there.  Over the past two years we have produced two plays, one photography exhibition and supported artists and productions with emergency loans. This time last year, we were in the midst of producing the new play, “Sh*t-M*x”, in the West End’s Trafalgar Studios.  The playwright, Leo Richardson, has gone from strength to strength after that production with all sorts of new BIG writing deals on offer.

Those same discerning readers — you know who you are — may also recall that last spring we announced a Call for Submissions here, hoping to find playwrights who had never been professionally produced, over the age of forty.  The response was overwhelming and quite exciting.  I am thrilled to now be able to announce the results of that call:
        

We have chosen two one-act plays, one American, one British, which we aim to produce together in a show of one-acts:
 
Dig  explores through dark humour the power struggle between prey and victim., centering on the dialogue between an executioner and a victim who refuses to dig his own grave .  It is written by the American writer, JD Smith, whose poetry, essays and stories have appeared in literary magazines throughout the US.  He is currently enjoying a recent success with his children’s book, “The Best Mariachi in the World.”
 
Nearly Man  represents on stage that tricky tug-of-war between art and fame.  The artist Salvatore Rosa’s paintings hang besides the Mona Lisa for over a hundred years.  If they could speak to each other, what would they say?  This unusual piece is written by Scottish playwright, Michael Hart,  who has written and produced radio, TV and cinema scripts for a host of advertisers. 

It’s always exciting when we are starting on a new project. I’m sure, as always, there will be ups and downs on this road to production, but right now, it’s all looking up.  I’ll keep you posted as progress continues.


I head up to Boston soon, so I must sign off for now.  It’s very much a New England autumn now  with the trees creating all sorts of technicolor displays.  I woke up to this one outside my door: