Names To Keep An Eye On

As the frenzy of the last few months dies down, I thought I highlight a few new writers who I believe have very bright futures ahead of them. Firstly, my time at the Lost in May for the One Act Festival introduced me to several thought provoking dramatists, including the two eventual winners Jennifer Sarah Dean and Victoria Gimby.

Gimby's By Virtue Fall pursued a deeply complex moral dilemma involving the Roman Catholic church and young couple expecting their first child. It's a fascinating study of the human moral compass and thoroughly deserved a winning place in the popular festival. Without registering it, I had already seen Jennifer Sarah Dean's work the previous year with In The Loop. This year, What If was a beautiful play, which told the story of Jamie, a young man who is unable to suppress his actions or thoughts. Beautifully directed by Elizabeth Kent and with thrilling performances, What If is both heartbreaking funny and deeply moving.

I first ran into Jim English at the 2013 Spotlight Showcase, where he had been nominated for the prize. Oddly, his writing appeared also in the 2014 Spotlight Showcase with Chloe Levis as the frustrated supply teacher in his Memoirs of an Actor. He invited me - very kindly - to visit his latest play The Words I Should've Said To Phoebe Lewis and aside from the restrictions of the Phoenix Artist Club the play was an absolute joy. Neatly crafted and faintly whimsical, Phoebe Lewis is an astonishingly accomplished calling card for English and shows much promise for the future.

Finally, I recently caught The Picture of John Gray by CJ Wilmann at the Old Red Lion, a story set at the end of the 19th Century depicting the lives of a selection of gay men in society. This thoroughly absorbing drama is particularly well crafted and I found it curiously similar in form and purpose  to My Night With Reg, which is currently being revived at the Donmar.

After its short run at the Phoenix Artists Club as part of the Camden Festival, Phoebe Lewis is returning for a one-off performance on the 18th of August and I urge you to try to get along. The Picture of John Gray continues its run at the Old Red Lion until August 30th.