Surrounded by day-glo Post-it notes

My office walls are decorated with dozens of post-it notes in different day-glo colours as I attempt to chart the story-arc of each of the minor characters and identify where the gaps and the inconsistencies are. Started doing this on a whiteboard but the post-its gradually fell off (infuriating) and so now have secured them to a cork notice-board with drawing pins.

Announcement of the 2011 season

I attend the press night of Rafta Rafta at the Octagon when, in the Hospitality Suite before the show, David announces the new season of plays to the assembled guests. A shiver runs up my spine when he tells people about ‘one of the most exciting plays next season - the world premiere of The Demolition Man’. He also reports that the Octagon Box Office has sold more season tickets in the first day of sales than ever before.

Big cheque

My first fat cheque from the Octagon arrives. A friend says I should have it framed. I decide to bank it - but take a photo of it before I do!

Self doubt and a lightbulb moment

As I beaver away on the script, I get periods of self-doubt. What if I’m not up to this? What if I can’t see it through and something happens to me before I get chance to finish the final draft? What if the play doesn’t live up to it’s promise? These are the ‘what ifs’ of writers’ angst. Then I get a ‘light-bulb’ moment about a new opening for the play and the self-doubt is quashed – for now.

A visit to Fred's garden

David Thacker, Lizzie and I visit Fred’s garden. They are both as amazed as I was on my first visit by the sheer scale of it, the various pieces of iron-mongery and, in particular, the mine shaft with its huge pit-head gear. David has big ideas about doing a TV film of the play in the garden to coincide with the production.


We skip the fish and chips as David is on a diet and end up in Costa Coffee talking about the set for the play – which could be more or less a naturalistic replica of the actual garden or an abstract version of it, or indeed something in between. We have different visions for it, I think, but we are agreed that the mineshaft should form the centrepiece, whatever form it takes. (I am already thinking about a future tour and whether all that set will fit in a van.)

David gives me advice on the next draft. He says I can write notes in it to him and Lizzie and not be too precise about the actual work the men are doing in the garden, if that helps. It does.


David gives me a sneak preview of the new 2010/11 brochure and I am thrilled to see The Demolition Man sitting well amongst, The Price, Streetcar and Romeo and Juliet. Wow!

Talking about Fred

Sheila Dibnah and I meet at the River Pilot at Preston Docks for lunch. (I feel I know her pretty well now as we've met several times during the research for the play and we are relaxed in each others' company.) She is happy to answer my many questions – ranging from what was Fred’s favourite food to how does she feel about the Malc character in the play making a pass at her (character).

I come away with a lot of detail which I can use in the new draft.

Later in the afternoon I meet with actor John Branwell for a coffee. He has already been signed up to play Fred (following his superb portrayal of him at the workshop) and seems as excited as I am about the prospect of a full production. He’s already started his research by reading the Don Howarth's book about Fred Dibnah. We have a pleasant hour chatting about all things Fred before John has to go and get ready for the current show he’s in at the Octagon.