Time and the passing of it seems to be my biggest obstacle and source of frustration.  It has taken me three years to complete a script I anticipated finishing in three weeks.  I seek some inspiration by attending a talk of a writer I very much admire.  He stands formidably strong in this advanced time of his life.

Holding the audience like a precious gem Alan Ayckbourn, master of stage and screen, addresses fellow writers and keen theatre goers regarding his illustrious career. I feel privileged to breathe the same air as such a legendary prolific and esteemed writer. His prolonged success lies in his popularity with audiences thanks to his ability to replicate dialogue that moves informs and entertains in equal measure.

I spent a whole day at London’s Old Vic Theatre watching his trio of contemporary plays wittily entitled ‘The Norman Conquests’ and the ten hours flew by. His work has been premiered at London’s National Theatre (England’s major subsidised venue) as well as gaining box office success at the West End and providing a highlight to the Royal Shakespeare Company’s season in Stratford.

He has written over a hundred plays and all this began from the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, a venue famous for playing in ‘the round’, a layout Ayckbourn still favours today. Sitting centre stage and being honest to us as an audience we feel we get a true insight to a genius. His words are straightforward and powerful. He advises an aspiring actor to listen to the other actors on stage. He counsels writers to not live in the past regarding plays they have written and to move on to the next thing.

The words are inspiring and engaging. The hour flies by. Everyone in the theatre shares the same moment of being at one with what we enjoy and agree that time flies when you are having fun.  When time has shot out the door ahead of us there is still no stopping real champions as ultimately they are doing what they love and passion acts as rocket fuel.  Alan Ayckbourn’s new plays ‘Arrivals and Departures’, ‘Farcicals’ and ‘Time of my Life’ open in our regional theatre next week.

This is a response to Daily Prompt

Enjoy staring in the face of other obstacles that perhaps ultimately inspire us to do more in life and with stronger resolve!