About me

I am a Somerset based writer, originally from Essex. I have written two plays to date (one of which is currently being produced by a South West based theatre company), as well as another couple of shorter pieces - a radio drama and a short film. My writing so far has tended towards working-class narratives and themes of gentrification and dislocation. I also have a strong attraction towards the comedic and absurd. I have worked as a professional actor for many years too, which is almost certainly what led me to consider taking up playwriting in any serious sense.

My Plays

Rank


Synopsis:

A world-weary taxi driver always has a story to tell about his passengers. But he soon finds the story isn't over just because they've got out of the cab.

Lying low in a roadside cafe, yet eager to get something off his chest, the taxi driver imparts an epic encounter with a young woman and her two small children as they travel cross country to buy a horse. As this odyssey unfolds and the woman's plight becomes known, the taxi driver is forced to decide what is more important; to get the job done or act like a decent human being. But, as he battles to tell his tale against a backdrop of an ever-ringing phone, it is apparent he has become far more involved in the lives of his passengers than he ever intended.

Based heavily on the writer's own experiences driving a taxi in a small town, 'Rank' is a one-man dark comedy exploring the relationship between loneliness, rural deprivation and mental health. Suitable for ages 16+.


Number of Characters: 1


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 1


Length (in Pages): 28


Location: Roadside cafe in Southern England


Key Words: monologue, one-person play, dark comedy, thriller


Has the Play Been Produced? Yes


Are the Rights Available? No


Has the Play Been Published? No


Award nominations/wins:


Reviews:


Production Photos/Posters/Playtext Cover:

Play Image

Tomorrow the Fox


Synopsis:

A Somerset tavern, 1669: Meg discovers her brother, John; hiding out after sabotaging the enclosure of moorland on which his livelihood depends. John wants to utilise his sister's special talent to spread his proclamation of dissent against the landed class. But has Meg's time in London quelled her renegade ways?

A high rise flat, a modern city: A man and woman are locked into an ever-deepening struggle; with their employers, with their landlord, and with each other. At risk of eviction, both think they know what to do; providing, of course, they can get out of the building.

Tomorrow the Fox is a dynamic two-hander playing across two different time periods; examining two different couples in extraordinary circumstances. Vitriolic, comedic, and often absurd, the action takes place against a simplified duel-purpose set; suitable for small to mid-range theatres, halls and studio spaces. Suitable for ages 14+.


Number of Characters: 4


Minimum Number of Actors Required: 2


Length (in Pages): 55


Location: Somerset, 1669/London, present day


Key Words: comedy, drama, historical, political


Has the Play Been Produced? No


Are the Rights Available? No


Has the Play Been Published? No


Award nominations/wins:


Reviews:


Production Photos/Posters/Playtext Cover:

Play Image
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Dan Gaisford
@ dangaisford

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