Alison Mead

Tell us a bit about where you live and about your life?

I live in South East London. I trained as an actress and worked for a few years all over the UK, went into teaching Drama, directed a lot of student productions and returned to the "Biz" when my children were grown and I was newly single and independent. It was then that I realised that mature roles are not plentiful so I turned my hand to writing them. 

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I loved the idea of being Shakespeare and writing during the plague and was delighted that you are aware that people of 70+ still have something to say.

What inspired your work?

I hate to admit it but all the events in the play happened with perhaps a little more salt and pepper added.  And, as so often happens, I tell a story and someone says "You should write about that!" And so I do.

What else have you been doing to keep busy in lockdown?

Since early this year I have been trying to get my house repaired which has been badly affected by an ingress of water. The work is done now (after a long wait for plaster to re-appear in the shops)  and I am licking my wounds and nursing my bank balance which is severely diminished. I've also managed to travel South to see friends who live by the sea and swam! and tomorrow I am travelling North to see other friends and do some walking.

What are you looking forward to most after lockdown?

Going to the theatre with friends; long walks; flying to Madrid to see my son and granddaughter without being quarantined afterwards.

Rob Briggs

Tell us a bit about where you live and about your life?

I live in the village of Wyke on the South side of Bradford, West Yorkshire. I left Grammar School at 16 and went to Art School to train as a commercial artist which led me into the world of printing - a job I did most of my working life. In my 20s I began producing, directing and writing plays for a small drama group.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I learned about the competition from my sister-in-law who had seen it on Facebook.

What inspired your work?

There is more to the story of the Gunpowder Plot than is commonly known. Rather than concentrate on the usual suspects I chose to focus on 3 lesser known yet interesting characters and have them brought in for questioning. A crime drama based in fact with imaginary dialogue.

What else have you been doing to keep busy in lockdown?

Writing stage plays is my passion so I never stop.

What are you looking forward to most after lockdown?

To feel 'free' and have unrestricted access to family and friends. Eat out and see live theatre again.

Ron Fernee

Tell us a bit about where you live and about your life?

I have lived in London, since 1971, when I moved to England from Florida, where I did all my schooling and ultimately graduated from the University of Florida, with a BA in Theatre Arts.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prize, because I've long felt that there aren't enough outlets for serious creative work by emerging artists over 70. I consider it to be an important prize and an honour to make it on the short list.

What inspired your work?

The original inspiration for STARGAZEY PIE, was a local news story in the Hampstead and Highgate Express, of a homeless man who actually tried to hold up a sub post office, using a gun made of pipe and gaffer tape. 

What else have you been doing to keep busy in lockdown?

My lockdown has been spent primarily writing a new script, going on long walks, and by trying to avoid watching the rubbish programming used to substitute the cancelled sport on television.

What are you looking forward to most after lockdown?

After lockdown, I look forward to travelling again, particularly to America, where I can be with my family.  I'm also looking forward to enjoying the new, improved, post-Covid theatre, and having my work as part of it.

Heather Lister

Tell us a bit about where you live and about your life?

Originally from Herefordshire, I have lived in Bristol for 20 years. I've had a busy life, mainly as an English teacher, and brought up four boys.

What inspired your work?

Watching young people growing up, I was always interested in what makes us what we are. A few years ago I worked with some Bath Spa students to produce a play on the theme "Thresholds." This present play is a re-working of that idea, written in lockdown.

What else have you been doing to keep busy in lockdown?

I have spent lockdown supporting (remotely) my family, especially during the birth of a new grandson and the death of my brother; reading, writing and exercise (not as much as intended) and continuing some voluntary work with a mental health charity. I am also learning Welsh!

What are you looking forward to most after lockdown?

I long to resume face-to-face contact with people, especially friends and family, and to enjoy their company.

Graham Large

Tell us a bit about where you live and about your life?

I live in Hampton and in my younger days I wrote for and edited various trade magazines connected with the food and drink industry, from fish retailing to meat processing. I ended up running a monthly brewing magazine, which gave me the opportunity to visit breweries up and down the country and learn about one of life’s great pleasures, which I’m happy to say I’ve given free rein to over the last four months.

Apart from the writing I’ve always played music. I am currently in a band specialising in classic rock and roll from the 50s and 60s although lockdown has put the brakes on that, hopefully temporarily.

Why did you enter the King Lear Prizes?

I entered the King Lear Prizes as I thought it a wonderful opportunity for older people like me to show what we could do artistically. There is a huge pool of talent in the over 70s generation and I thought I’d like to participate in the venture. I take my hat off to the people who thought the thing up with all the work that must have gone into organising it. And it’s very nice of them to have put me on the drama short list.

What inspired your work?

When I ended my career in journalism I involved myself with a local charity as a driver, ferrying older people to mainly doctor and hospital appointments. I enjoyed the work as I came into contact with people who had led interesting lives and who were happy to share some of their experiences with me. For instance, one had been a professional ballet dancer and another a principal orchestral player in a major opera house.

The idea for my play, ’The Visit’, came after listening to a long-term ‘befriender’ – a volunteer who visits people in their own homes – talk about her work. This lady had quite a superior manner and I wondered how she related to some of the people she visited and who I may have given lifts to. It was this social contrast that I found interesting and the play was constructed around it.

What else have you been doing to keep busy in lockdown?

During lockdown I’ve been kept busy by continuing my job as groundsman for a local cricket club. It was fairly easy at first as all I had to do was cut and water the square, but when leagues started up again in July it was back to producing two wickets for the weekends, plus the odd colts game midweek. It has certainly helped keep my fitness levels up.

I’ve also been writing a diary of life during the pandemic and continuing my life story, which I started after I packed up work. I’m pretty well up to date now although I keep having to revisit incidents I’d thought I’d written about previously but discovered I hadn’t.

What are you looking forward to most after lockdown?

After lockdown I’m hoping to write more plays and short stories, carry on with charity driving and play regular gigs with my band in local pubs. Most of all though I’d like the pubs to get back to normal so that I can once again stroll into my local and order a pint without feeling that I’ve entered some kind of isolation ward. Fingers crossed.