A play first heard at Lighthouse as part of a script-in-hand showcase of new writing is to return on the opening night of a tour.
Pot licker is a mischievous dark comedy by Dorset-based writer Ed Viney about what happens when three teachers decide to bend the rules after coming come across a bag of drugs in their school’s lost property.
“It’s about what happens when good, respectable people do something bad with inevitably disastrous consequences,” explains Ed.
The play gathered momentum after Ed brought it to the first PIPELINE session for new writing at Lighthouse in January 2024. An excerpt was rehearsed and read by actors to an audience of curious theatre goers, other writers, venue managers and programmers.
“I was relieved when it was well received and afterwards in the theatre bar, between Lighthouse and Dorchester Arts, we started to hatch a plan of how this might work. Artsreach came on board and are taking us into Portland and Halstock village hall, and we’ve also got dates in Greenwich and the Ustinov Studio in Bath.
“This is PIPELINE in action and Lighthouse has been invaluable in that because for Pipeline to be in a studio theatre with lights and sound means something. It’s about context.
“For me, as a writer, to hear the words lifted off the page and spoken aloud by performers was invaluable. That’s when I knew I had something worth developing and now, a year later, we’re getting ready to go on tour.”
The tour not only highlights a progression route for new writing to make it into production, but also throws into focus questions of funding and the cold commercial reality of getting a play on in the current climate.
“There’s always a discussion to be had about making it sustainable,” Ed explains.
“Pot licker needs three people, a bag and a table, and when we had those first discussions in the theatre bar that was one of the things that came up. It’s about recognising the reality for how it is and acting accordingly.
“This kind of show can only work if you put together a small scale tour. Only then does it become financially viable and we’ve been lucky enough to negotiate guarantees with the venues. The risk to venues is clear, but then the reward is there if it brings an audience.
“In the age of Netflix and streaming services you have to answer the question of why someone would chose to come to see studio theatre and Studio theatre is a different, much more visceral experience than main stage theatre – you see the whites of the performers’ eyes!”
Pot licker premieres at Lighthouse Poole on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 March before playing Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland, Halstock, Exeter, Greenwich, Bridport and the Ustinov Studio in Bath.
Ed Viney has worked with theatres across the South West and nationally, including the RSC, Bath Theatre Royal and Bristol Old Vic. He recently received the Creative Scotland Four Nations Award and is the Festival Director of The Script’s The Thing which last year saw over 70 scripts being presented, linking with venues across Dorset and organisations including BBC Writersroom and National Theatre New Work.
:: Tickets for Pot licker are available now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/pot-licker/ or phone 01202 280000.
(NC)
