WINNER, People’s Play Award.

Jenny’s Mam is a 1920s Hollywood blonde bombshell movie star. They are really close, hanging out and doing regular mother-daughter stuff. The only trouble is that here in the real world, Jenny’s fantasies are about to cause her Dad to have a meltdown. Will he be able to coax her back to reality and convince her that a relationship with him is worth having? And will his girlfriend ever fit into the picture?

The People’s Play Award is run by the People’s Theatre and New Writing North to discover and develop new writing talent in the North-East.

First produced by the People’s Theatre, Newcastle upon Tyne, in May 2006.

The cast was as follows:

JENNY: Emma Richardson
DAD:    Kevin Saint
TRACEY: Helen Belgian
MAM: Kath Frazer
LAURA: Heather Carroll

Directed by Tony Childs

REVIEWS …

“a play that stood out from the norm … emotive, original” (The Evening Chronicle)

“Alison Carr will have a bright future ahead of her as a playwright” (Claire Malcolm, New Writing North)

The production contributed to Alison’s nomination for The Journal Culture Newcomer of the Year Award.

[A BIT] ABOUT …

“When I was younger I was fascinated with Hollywood, the glitter and excitement. I did actually get to visit the place as part of a family holiday about 10 years ago – it was such a disappointment, not a bit like I’d  thought. I think that memory stayed with me and when it came to writing this play, it fed through – the contrast between what you think, or hope, something is going to be like and the reality of it.”

While the play’s foundations may be built upon this interest in the apparent glamour of Tinsel Town, the end product is much more home grown.

“It is set now in a Tyneside house,” explains Alison.

“The characters, their relationships, are all very real and recognisable. At its heart it’s a simple story of a family but then the addition of Mam, this extravagant fantasy figure, turns everything on its head”.

The play is being directed by Tony Childs. “It has been a delight to rehearse and I’m sure audiences will be delighted too. It’s a lovely blend of humour, seriousness, real life and fantasy.” [- extract: The Evening Chronicle, May 2006]

Read the [article] in full …