Before heading into the New Year we sat down with GARY'S NOT WELL writer Liam Cogan about his upcoming show...
1. What inspired you to write Gary's Not Well? Why this story? I wanted to challenge the notion that men had to be the providers, that they had to be the one with the successful job. I think it's something that's quite ingrained in men as a stereotype, but the world's changing and in doing so I think some find it difficult or feel threatened even by women's advancements in the workplace as strange as that sounds.
2. What have been some of the highlights in the development of Gary's Not Well? The writing process was a highlight in general as I often would improvise scenes with my friend Alan who's a clinical therapist. I would then go home listen to the audio and take what I liked and scrap what I didn't. That way I got to mix acting with writing which was a real pleasure.
3. Any highlights & stumbling block in the general development of Gary's Not Well? Producing it! Writing and acting is one thing but getting a team together and hiring external cast or crew and finding a theatre etc was all new to me! The stumbling blocks began after the writing process for me!
4. Who are the collaborators on this production? Alan Bordeville, a trained psychotherapist who was integral to the writing of this play. His improv sessions and general advice throughout the process was priceless. The other collaborators are my cast, my girlfriend, brother and my former tutor Armen, whose notes and suggestions really helped tighten the play.
5. What attracted you to stage this production at The Bread & Roses Theatre? For our first staging as a company, I liked the idea of a profit share somewhere local. I looked at the space, the reviews from others who had staged there and it sounded like a perfect place to start without incurring a heavy cost, which when you start out isn't ideal!
GARY'S NOT WELL
5-9 February at 7:30pm
1. What inspired you to write Gary's Not Well? Why this story? I wanted to challenge the notion that men had to be the providers, that they had to be the one with the successful job. I think it's something that's quite ingrained in men as a stereotype, but the world's changing and in doing so I think some find it difficult or feel threatened even by women's advancements in the workplace as strange as that sounds.
2. What have been some of the highlights in the development of Gary's Not Well? The writing process was a highlight in general as I often would improvise scenes with my friend Alan who's a clinical therapist. I would then go home listen to the audio and take what I liked and scrap what I didn't. That way I got to mix acting with writing which was a real pleasure.
3. Any highlights & stumbling block in the general development of Gary's Not Well? Producing it! Writing and acting is one thing but getting a team together and hiring external cast or crew and finding a theatre etc was all new to me! The stumbling blocks began after the writing process for me!
4. Who are the collaborators on this production? Alan Bordeville, a trained psychotherapist who was integral to the writing of this play. His improv sessions and general advice throughout the process was priceless. The other collaborators are my cast, my girlfriend, brother and my former tutor Armen, whose notes and suggestions really helped tighten the play.
5. What attracted you to stage this production at The Bread & Roses Theatre? For our first staging as a company, I liked the idea of a profit share somewhere local. I looked at the space, the reviews from others who had staged there and it sounded like a perfect place to start without incurring a heavy cost, which when you start out isn't ideal!
GARY'S NOT WELL
5-9 February at 7:30pm
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