In November 2023 I self published Stuff Happens! and Other Plays, a (118 pages, professionally printed in 'easy to read' larger typeface) book of 4 of my humorous short plays and 2 monologues (which also includes what inspired me to write each one), to raise funds for the wonderful charity Healing Little Hearts, who carry out free life saving heart surgery on babies and children in the poorest parts of the world. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to them. So go on - treat yourself to a copy! I'm asking for a minimum donation of £5.00 per book (which costs £2.91 to print, plus £3.25 for postage/packing), making the total amount £11.16.
To find out more and to order a copy, please visit: http://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/stuffhappensandotherplays
2024
April 2024 - I enjoyed writing a short (10 minutes) play entitled You May Now Kiss The Bride. Sue, an older divorced woman and Natalie, a much younger soon to be married woman, meet on a park bench and discuss their experiences and views on relationships and marriage. After hearing Sue's advice regarding her concerns, can Natalie expect a 'happy ever after'? This has one of my satisfying twists appearing in the last few seconds of the script. I do like a twist!
April 2024 - I really enjoyed writing a one act, 85 minutes play entitled The Visitors - my most serious (and possibly most moving) to date but still including my usual humour in parts. It has supernatural elements running throughout and with seven characters and two of the cast doubling, I'm looking forward to seeing this produced. The summary: After an elderly widow’s stepson informs her that he wants to sell the house she lives in, she decides to find someone who can move into her home, in the hope that she can continue living there. But what about the other visitors? The main themes are homelessness, grieving, old age and living on your own, approaching the end of your life and 'the last big mystery' being the possibility of life after death.
Matt is forced to sit at the children's table while attending his friend's wedding. He soon spots somebody from his past but can the ‘old beyond his years’ child he is sitting next to, turn the situation around in Matt’s favour?
When I Grow Up? ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020 & 2023
Mary lives in a small one bedroom flat in a council block and is the last person living there, due to the council regenerating the estate. As she is not happy with the alternative accommodation being offered to her, she decides to make a stand but will her stubbornness get the better of her, or could it pay off?
Smile! ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2022
A woman remembers her grandmother, who passed down her knowledge of planting by the phases of the moon.
Celestial Body ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2019
June 2023 - I was delighted to be part of the cast for a rehearsed reading of Secrets & Pies, performed by Company of Ten at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans. With some good audience feedback, there was food for thought for further development, hopefully working towards a full production.
May 2023 - I was delighted to be back in the conservatory at Broomfield Park after a break of a few years and performed a set of covers and original songs on the guitar - outside this time as it was 31 degrees Celsius in the conservatory!
May 2023 - I loved writing my most quirky script to date - an 18 minutes three-hander spy comedy entitled Stuff Happens! The synopsis of the play: When desperate Barry, who was close to jumping off from the side of the River Thames embankment, is approached by Katie, his life takes an unexpected turn, while Thomas suffers the consequences of mistaken identity.
2022
November 2022 - I was really pleased that my play Blast from the Past was one of five plays (from 300) shortlisted for the Stables Theatre New Play Competition (Hastings).
September 2022 - I enjoyed writing a one act, 55 minutes three-hander play about environmental issues, with plenty of humour, a surprise ending, and a strong relevant message, entitled Cliff on the Edge, which is being sent to playwriting festivals and competitions. I loved writing 'for' these characters, with the bulk of it written in 6 days and with just one eye - don't ask!
July 2022 - I enjoyed writing a 16 minutes monologue entitled My Home Is My Castle, about a working class retired lollipop lady living on her own, and the last person left in her block due to the council regenerating the estate. What happens is, well, you'll just have to wait and see... This was written for a specific actress, who will be filming it next year.
June 2022 - I performed in the heart-warming and entertaining play Goodnight Mr Tom, for Company of Ten at Abbey Theatre, St Albans, playing 3 characters.
2021
July 2021 - My short monologue ‘When I Grow Up?’, was comically and wonderfully performed by Callum Lloyd as our joint entry into the World Monologue Games, which reached the UK Regional Final.
Matt is forced to sit at the children's table while attending his friend's wedding. He soon spots somebody from his past but can the ‘old beyond his years’ child he is sitting next to, turn the situation around in Matt’s favour?
When I Grow Up? ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020
June 2021 - My short monologue ‘Celestial Body’, was beautifully performed by Ros Adler as our joint entry into the World Monologue Games, which reached the UK Regional Final.
A woman remembers her grandmother, who passed down her knowledge of planting by the phases of the moon.
Celestial Body ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2019
June 2021 - My short monologue ‘Smile!’, was beautifully performed by Toni Brooks as our joint entry into the World Monologue Games.
Sarah finally gets around to searching for that long lost box of family photos.
Smile! ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020
June 2021 - My short monologue ‘The Park Bench’, was wonderfully performed by Steve Bergman as our joint entry into the World Monologue Games.
A homeless man stays positive whilst sleeping on a park bench.
The Park Bench ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020
May 2021 - ‘A Fishy Tail’ was brought to life, and once again superbly performed and produced as an audio play, by the talented Talisman Theatre.
The dramatic rescue of a girl on the Cornish coastline is linked by the account of an elderly man, who has waited to tell a similar story most of his life. Can they both convince those who doubt them, that the incredible events, connected by many decades apart, did really happen?
A Fishy Tail ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2019
March 2021 - ‘Grammatically Speaking’ was superbly produced as an audio play, by the talented Talisman Theatre.
Grammatically Speaking ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020
February 2021 - I was pleased that the video of 'Grammatically Speaking' was chosen as one of the performances for the Hastings Virtual Fringe.
2020
December 2020 - I performed a Facebook live-stream concert - 'The Almost Christmas Concert', with a selection of Christmas and wintry songs, which included free virtual mulled wine and mince pies! Singing on behalf of Broomfield Park Conservatory, in aid of Crisis.
August 2020 - My short play ‘Grammatically Speaking’ was wonderfully cast and read by actors Moses Gale and Andrew Cullum via the Zoom new writing group, Writing Doesn't Have To Be Lonely.
Simon decides to carry out his first burglary, unknowingly breaking into his former school teacher’s cottage. Clive tries to convince Simon that everyone deserves a second chance but is everything as it seems?
Grammatically Speaking ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020
July 2020 - My short monologue ‘Smile!’, perfectly read by David Robins, was added to the ‘My Tiny Play’ Facebook page.
Alan finally gets around to searching for that long lost box of family photos.
Smile! ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020
July 2020 - I performed my first Facebook live-stream concert - 'Lounge Music', with a selection of easy listening songs on guitar, direct from my lounge! Singing on behalf of Broomfield Park Conservatory, in aid of Crisis, and Trent Park Animal Centre.
July 2020 - My short ghost play, Grammatically Speaking reached the long list of Pintsized Plays - an international competition for short plays.
June 2020 - I was delighted that my short, lighthearted audio monologue, Ever Expanding Waistlines was chosen for The Ragged Scratch Podcast, as part of their series of episodes during the pandemic lockdown - The Isolation Sessions, wonderfully read by actor Nigel Fyfe. It's always satisfying when my writing finds 'its place', so that listeners may (hopefully) be entertained.
Melvin’s wife Gloria, has developed a habit of ordering numerous items from a home catalogue over
the past few weeks, in order to take her mind off the present situation. But with deliveries
quickly piling up around the flat, can what Gloria wants, be found in a box? You can listen to it
here: https://www.raggedfoils.co.uk/raggedscratchpodcast/rsp-is-35
Ever Expanding Waistlines ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2020
The subject of ageing and coming to terms with the life changes accompanying it is currently a hot topic for dramatists. Marc Harris has taken up the theme in his new play, Blast from the Past.
The story is that of Tim Horton, a successful actor who has reached retirement age where he is struggling with the loss of his wife and some issues with his memory, but otherwise living a reasonably happy life. Tim has been offered an audition for a small part in a very decent, upcoming film and he’s nervous about going to it. In five distinct scenes Horton, played by Rodger Hayward-Smith, converses with his brother to whom he is close, his twin daughters and his young neighbour who invites him to dinner and the prospect of friendship across the generations. The play takes us through the usual themes of how the generations interact (quite positively in some cases) and how families function, or don’t, particularly when faced with an ageing parent. One of Tim’s daughters urges him to remove his late wife’s clothes from the house, something he cannot do, and a small row follows. This rift is eventually repaired with help from the other daughter.
The play itself is efficiently constructed and progresses steadily through its five stages, broken by an interval. Its strengths are in the accessibility of its subject matter – it seems everyone in the developed world is seeking comfort and help with ageing – and the gentle, generally positive way in which the story is told. The dialogue is natural and on the whole believable. Blast from the Past clearly isn’t meant to be a laugh-a-minute-comedy, nor do I think it should be one.
Tuesday night’s performance was a rehearsed reading rather than a performance. That said, there were costumes, props and scenery, semi-staging in fact, and Barnes Community Players rendered their roles effectively, giving life to the script while reading from files. Rodger Hayward Smith particularly deserves credit for being on stage most of the time and giving an endearing performance as Tim Horton. All in all, Blast from the Past with some tweaking and tightening could well make another dramatic source of reassurance for families and individuals trying to deal with the last phase of life as we know it.
Accompanying Blast from the Past was a second, short sketch rather than a play, (it’s about fifteen minutes long) entitled Stage Door Blues. This involved a couple waiting at the stage door for one of the actors from the first play. It’s cold and they are sniping at each other but there is a little plot twist to entertain the audience and this worked reasonably well on Tuesday evening.
Eleanor Lewis, Mark Aspen Reviews
Stage Door Blues - Liz is determined to wait until she has her theatre programme signed. Robert is impatient, and persists in undermining her and Russ, an actor, because of her infatuation with him. Can they overcome their differences and bickering, and is Liz able to hold on to her secret?
Stage Door Blues ℗ & © Copyright Marc Harris 2019
January 2020 - I was delighted that the award winning Barnes Community Players performed a 'double bill' of my plays, as rehearsed play readings - a precursor to fully staged performances in the future. These were Stage Door Blues, a short comedy, and Blast from the Past, a full length drama with much gentle humour. This was staged at the OSO Arts Centre, Barnes, London. It was a full house and a success, with some marvellous feedback from the audience.
2019
July 2019 - My short comedy play, Stage Door Blues reached the short list of Pintsized Plays - an international competition for short plays.
July & September 2019 - I performed once again (now in my 8th year!) in the tranquil conservatory at Broomfield Park.
2018
October 2018 - I performed in the Watford Fringe, singing covers and original songs on my guitar.
July & September 2018 - I performed a selection of original songs on the guitar and chatting about what inspired me to write them, in the conservatory at Broomfield Park.
2017
December 2017 - My play, Blast from the Past was read and discussed by the terrific group of actors and writers at The Script Readers writers workshop at Theatre Royal Stratford East. With many new and exciting ideas explored, I will be developing this script further, with the aim of seeing it produced.
July & September 2017 - I performed a set of covers and original songs on the guitar in the conservatory at Broomfield Park.
2016
September 2016 - I wrote and performed in a short scene with two actors at the Cockpit Theatre, NW8. Blast from the Past is an uplifting story showing the main character's life as an actor and his acceptance of change towards the 'winter' of his life. Following encouraging feedback from the audience and from a professional playwright, I am adapting this into a full length play.
April & September 2016 - I performed as 'resident musician' in the tranquil and acoustically pleasing setting of the 1930s conservatory in Broomfield Park, Palmers Green.
January 2016 - I performed in Looking For You for three performances at Pantameters Theatre, Hampstead. The show was a musical journey of three couples and their encounters with love. This was a staged showcase of musical, jazz and contemporary songs, written by and performed with Sue Van Colle, a talented published composer/lyricist/pianist. We had previously performed this show in October 2015 with an 11 piece classical orchestra, and also in May 2014.
Angels Around.mp3
This live recording of an amazing, emotional song Angels Around, was my solo song in Looking For You. © Copyright Sue Van Colle 1981