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Bruce James Interview

Posted on 19 March 2004. © Copyright 2004-2024 WriteWords
A longer version of this interview is available to WriteWords Full and Community Members.
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WriteWords talks to Bruce James Productions, producers of commercial new stage writing. Recent productions include Perfetc Wedding and Kissing Sid James; shows often star well known actors and need to be suitable for big regional theatres or the West End.

Tell us a bit about your company

We would like to see ourselves as an innovative and forward thinking company who would work with any new writers who can produce work of a quality and standard that we, as a company, can produce on stage all over the country and hopefully in the West End. Obviously this is a dream for many writers, but we do look carefully at all the material submitted to us. We are looking at the more commercial side of the theatre market but do pass on work that we feel will do well in fringe theatres or less commercial venues.

Who are your favourite writers and why?

Our favourite writers are John Godber, Alan Ayckbourn, Ray Cooney, Patrick Marber and many others too numerous to mention. There are also many reasons why. They are popular. They write well. They are ultimately commercial. They are different. They are accessible to many audiences.It is our belief that theatre should provoke emotion and reaction whether it is through laughter, thrills, tears, thoughts, etc. The best theatre is theatre that makes you think and leaves an impression on you. You don’t always have to enjoy a theatrical visit but if it makes you think you have created an impression. I enjoy all types of theatre and hope that audiences who see our productions will leave the theatre feeling uplifted spiritually and wanting to experience those feelings again. The writer will hopefully be able to express that through his work and allow us to move that on to the stage.

What excites you about a piece of writing-

The synopsis of a piece of writing is important because we do get lots of work sent to us. If we can’t get excited about the synopsis then we may cast it aside at that stage. Once we have started to read it is important it grips you or makes you laugh or cry or at least feel compelled to read further from near the outset and doesn’t have long drawn out character building scenes unless these are wholly necessary for the piece.

and what makes your heart sink?

As with the above, long drawn out beginnings are not going to hold the imagination of us reading the piece or those watching the final staged piece.



A longer version of this interview is available to WriteWords Full and Community Members.
Click here to learn more about becoming a member.






Comments by other Members



Harry at 13:03 on 22 March 2004  Report this post
It's great to hear from a big producer who is willing to look at new work. I know that one of the biggest no longer considers new work at all - an attitude I find as perplexing as I do irresponsible. He gives some very encouraging and positive remarks and comes across as someone who obviously loves the industry he works in. A very pleasant change indeed.

Harry

popsnkrsreps at 11:38 on 16 September 2023  Report this post
Created by Professor Utonium using sugar, spice, Replica Sneakers , and Chemical X, The Powerpuff Girls are three tiny superheroes – Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. They protect Townsville from villains with their unique powers.


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