I’m writing this on a rainy Saturday afternoon, looking ahead at what will be a rather crazy, fun, fascinating, exciting and nerve-wracking week. I’m writing this on Saturday because as of tomorrow I won’t have one single moment to raise my head and look around until Saturday of the next week. It starts with:

Sunday‘s rehearsal and then concert of The Kensington Philharmonic. I love this orchestra. I’ve played the violin with it for — hard to believe — about 20 years. We play three concerts a year and, of course, every concert brings it’s own challenges. This concert’s programme includes the unbelievably challenging Elgar Violin Concerto. Last night we had our rehearsal with the soloist, Melina Mandozzi, and she, as always, sounds remarkable. She’s played with us many times before, knows us well, as we know her, and that makes for as much comfort as this mammoth piece will allow. Just rehearsing it is exhausting. Rehearsing it and then performing it along with the rest of the programme (Strauss’ Die Fledermaus Overture and Dvorak’s 5th Symphony) will certainly be a challenge. By the time you are reading this, it will all be over, so let’s just assume it was a triumph!

Monday-Wednesday I will be working with the actress, Catherine Harvey, to prepare for our performance of my play, Dreams of May. Yes, I wrote it. Yes, I produced it several years ago, and yes, I’ve given readings and lectures about it many times since. BUT, and this is a big BUT, I never directed it myself before. I’ve never directed anything. Although I’ve founded the theatre charity, CurvingRoad, and acted as its Artistic Director, and although I have sat in on scores of rehearsals and helped develop many plays, I’ve never been the Director and, believe me, that’s a whole different kettle of fish. Playwriting, like all my writing, starts for me with character and language. But I will be the first to admit that I have no ability in the visual arts, no visual memory, no experience of translating a vision into a physical reality. Holding a book in my hands is about as physical as I get with my work, so this will be a real challenge. To be honest, I’m only attempting it because this is a one-night only affair, and I will be surrounded and helped by experienced practitioners. But ultimately, it will be my responsible and that is just a bit terrifying — but exciting! I can’t wait. I’m finding that I am really craving the chance to create collaboratively, to be in a room with other people hashing something out. And then, to make matters worse, after the performance I’ll have to answer questions about it at the post-show q&a. So again I say, if you’re in London on Wednesday at 7.30 pm and want to come along to see it at 35 Marylebone High Street, please do, and then ask me questions. But be kind 🙂  Details are here.

Are we done yet? No, because on Thursday-Friday I will be embarking on a new “secret project,” spending 2 days with 2 artistic friends mapping out a project which, though based on some of work I have already done, will find me writing in a very new way on a very different sort of topic. I can’t say any more except watch this space and fingers crossed.

Out of my comfort zone? Yes. Excited to be there? Absolutely. Wish me luck.