Gorgeous Avatar by Jules Horne

Avatar on Tour - Ullapool

I set off from Kelso in the morning and pick up two of the Traverse team in Edinburgh, then it's up to Ullapool's McPhail Theatre and a Highland heatwave. It's not all been plain sailing for the actors and crew, but it's a great show nonetheless - and we've a good-size audience, despite the glorious weather.

Next day, there's a writers' workshop with a extraordinary group, some of whom have travelled over an hour to get to Ullapool. 'Local' has a totally different meaning in the Highlands. We're impressed by their dedication and enthusiasm. We're also impressed by the contents of their bags, which are revealed in an ice-breaking exercise. Rare curtain hooks, home-made preserves and a broken crystal necklace are just some of the items that surface from the writers' various bags and baskets. We decide it's a great way of exploring character - a single object can say a huge amount about its owner. So the less said about my strawberry kitchen timer, the better.

Moving swiftly on, some candid shots from Ullapool. It's the first time I've been able to eavesdrop on some of the audience during the interval. They're talking about the characters: How's Amy going to do next? What about Rose's past? What will the real Rafi be like? It's fantastic to hear how they've taken on a life of their own - and a weird feeling. A bit like being a proud parent, maybe. They're out there and walking without any help. They don't need me. For a horrible second, I suspect that maybe they never did. After all, a big chunk of act two was written by Amy and Rafi - or rather, by the two characters as played by Pauline Knowles and John Kazek. They showed up when I was writing and pretty well wrote the scene for me. I know that sounds hideously flaky. I hate flaky, believe me. Writing's a disturbing business. Don't go there unless you absolutely have to.

Moving swiftly on - again.

posted by Jules Horne @ 6/08/2006 01:43:00 PM