I can't do both!

Looking back I seem to have been in a bit of a lull seem the start of the new year - there have been one or two occasional highlights and sparks but nothing sustained. Since the building work finished I feel I have been hibernating a little and of course the weather hasn't helped.

However things are starting to pick up now and I am starting to get overlapping demands and pressures. In fact so much has the lull disappeared that I have reverted back to a schedule of my own. I suppose that was inevitable after nearly forty years of leading a timetabled life - the only difference being that this is a schedule of my own devising and that I can abandon it at a time of choosing or of necessity.

The playwriting competition, of which I am one of the readers and the chief recorder, has reached the stage where all the scripts have been read twice. We now need to decide which scripts need a third read before drawing up a long list of plays, which all have to be read again by the whole panel. I love reading plays and particularly plays which deal with issues. That sounds very worthy on reading it back to myself but it is seasoned by the fact that I like plays that make me laugh and have characters in it that actors will want to play.

I am putting together a funding application for a local society of which I am treasurer. I hadn't realised that I would have to put together a dissertation as part of the application. I had thought of filling in a form, ticking a few boxes and making sure the sums add up. The responsibility, and the prospect of failure to secure the funding,have suddenly loomed large in my life. Luckily I have friends who will help and there is a deadline.

I have been taken on by a company producing murder mystery dinners professionally and my first rehearsals and performance are in the coming fortnight. Rather nervous about the prospect as it is not my usual theatrical venture. I am very good at learning the lines and avoiding the furniture - especially after lots of rehearsals. Though these attributes are useful, thinking quickly on your feet and remaining in character seem to be even more important in the murder mystery business. Still I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to the Ghost Walk business after expert tuition with Mark Wakeman so hopefully will find I can adapt to this new aspect of the theatrical business equally successfully. I will certainly let you know how I got on and any amusing anecdotes that may arise out of the business.

The Bench Theatre is working on its 40th Anniversary season. I was amazed to find that I was chairman in the 1975 to 1978 period. I remember being chairman but hadn't realised that it was at the same time I was recently married and trying for a family. My chairmanship finished as the firstborn arrived. Looking back from where I am now, I am impressed by the dedication, the energy and the sex drive I obviously possessed then. I still believe I possess all three attributes but their application is rather more erratic these days! It's that old joke. The woman says, "Come upstairs and make love to me". The man replies, "I can't do both!"

I am working on my personal history memoirs as I would like to present a booklet at the birthday gala on August 1st. I am still in the 1980's so need to get a move on and cover the productions in years rather than individual entries. There were four plays in 1984, one of which is being repeated this year. There were five plays in 1985 to 1987. There were five plays in 1988 and 1989. These three periods should provide the material for my next three Benchpress articles using some archive material.

I am also working on a couple of touring production ideas over which I am inordinately excited. Hopefully the spring will also see more film jobs as we approach re-registration day in April.