I first began writing creatively because I wanted to learn how to construct a good joke; everything since has grown from there. As a partnership, I’ve written one-liners and sketches that have been picked up by shows like Have I Got News For You and Dead Ringers, and we’ve also created a number of unproduced sitcom pilots.
 
While I love the puzzle-solving element of joke- and sketch-writing, I have become increasingly drawn to the stage, as I’m excited by its immediacy and intimacy. My plays explore ‘big’ issues – the environment, national identity and ageing – through the ‘small’ stories of individuals. In this, I’ve taken what I’ve learned from joke- and sketch-writing and discovered the power of comedy to tackle difficult topics; as in real life, humour can lighten the darkest moments.
 
As I’ve gone further into my playwriting journey, I’ve found that I’m increasingly able to explore deeply personal areas, such as sibling bereavement through suicide, which I’ve sat with for a long time. At times, this has not been easy but, by pushing deeper, I’ve been able to understand and make peace with the past, grow as a person and, I hope, improve as a writer.