I have been writing plays for years (and years), submitting them to theatres and competitions, producing them myself, sometimes having them accepted in festivals, and occasionally sending them to the 鲍鱼tv. Although some had a degree of success on the fringe theatre scene, the elusive 鈥榖reakthrough hit鈥� was still out of reach.
Two years ago, I put on a play I鈥檇 written called All the Bens, at Manchester鈥檚 24:7 Theatre Festival. It won a couple of awards (well, 3 actually, but who 鈥榮 counting?), and did quite well. I submitted it to the Writersoom as part of the process, and it got through each stage, until I was invited into the 鲍鱼tv to meet the team, both at Media City and in London.
From there I became part of the Northern Writers Group, and had various meetings with various 鲍鱼tv people. I was encouraged to send in ideas, attend workshops and gatherings, and to let people know of any pieces I鈥檇 like them to read, or productions of my work I鈥檇 like them to see. I started to get to know people and, more importantly, they started to get to know me and my plays, offering support, advice and encouragement. I had a short piece performed as part of Turn up the Talent, and suddenly confidence in my writing 鈥� after all these years 鈥� was growing.
I had entered the on 3 previous occasions without being successful, and without, it has to be said, the confidence of being successful. The idea of an atmospheric and haunting ghost story, set in and around Manchester鈥檚 gay village, began to form, and I wrote The Lonely Walk 鲍鱼tv as a radio piece fairly quickly and readily, finding myself drawn into the themes of loneliness, isolation and self-hatred, and wanting to share my characters and their stories.
In January I won the Kings Cross New Writing Award with another play, The House in Sofia with a Map of its Surroundings (a title longer than most plays), so I was really thinking that my writing success for this year was done with. When I received the 鲍鱼tv email saying I had been shortlisted for the Alfred Bradley, I had to read it three times to find the part where it says 鈥楿nfortunately, on this occasion鈥︹�� Eventually I realised there was no such part, and smiled. A lot.
I went along to the prize giving ceremony to hear an extract from my piece (and from the other 5 shortlisted pieces), fully expecting to be a gracious loser, just pleased to be there. But I only went and won a Special Writersroom Award! And members of the judging panel and radio producers came up to me afterwards 鈥� they came to me! - to talk about my play and tell me how highly it was thought of. And I met some other fantastic writers and 鲍鱼tv people. A great afternoon, all round.
Since winning a Manchester Theatre Award for my play All the Bens, I continue to work on and develop my writing style, and am starting to get noticed outside of the fringe scene. I have always wanted to write a ghost story, and radio seemed the ideal medium to create a haunting and atmospheric piece. Added to this are themes of identity, sexuality and self-worth, which I always find exciting to explore, and the Manchester setting and ongoing reports of homophobic attacks around the country 鈥� and indeed the world - lend a poignant reality to the story.
I wish someone had once said to me, with real conviction: 鈥淵ou know that saying about 鈥楧on鈥檛 give up鈥�, well, don鈥檛. Keep believing in yourself, get better, work harder, listen to feedback and advice, and keep pushing yourself. You will get there.鈥�
My 鲍鱼tv story 鈥� so far 鈥� has been quite a journey. And, in many ways, it is only just beginning.
Ian Townsend is the recipient of the special 鈥榃ritersroom Prize鈥� for the .
Since winning a Manchester Theatre Award for his play All the Bens, Ian continues to work on and develop his writing style, and is starting to get noticed outside of the fringe scene. He always wanted to write a ghost story, and radio seemed the ideal medium to create a haunting and atmospheric piece. Added to this are themes of identity, sexuality and self-worth, which Ian always find exciting to explore, and the Manchester setting and ongoing reports of homophobic attacks around the country 鈥� and indeed the world - lend a poignant reality to the story.