Testimonials

Past, Present & Future - Short Plays

At short notice, and without at that point having a location, I commissioned C J Parker to write sketches. The Sketches were to be performed to help celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the publication of The Road to Wigan Pier. 

I am Chair of The Orwell Society and I plan and organise our events.

Chris’s pieces took as their inspiration three of Orwell’s works but were totally original.

The 3 excellent sketches were a view on Orwell's past, present, and future.

Past, related to ‘The Road to Wigan Pier’ performed by David Denham, where the actor gave a very convincing performance as he looked back on his time with Orwell at the Brooker’s tripe shop from a time just post 1945.

Present, an ‘Animal Farm’ inspired piece performed by Steph Bradshaw. Steph played Mrs. Jones talking on a phone to her friend. We of course only received one side of the conversation. She related the history of the family farm from being taken over by the animals to recovering the farm. It was very witty and beautifully acted. Her laugh was in the same league as Boyce’s in Only Fools and Horses.

Future, inspired by ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ by Luke O’ Rourke and Sebastien Parker. The actors portrayed two people in a lift that suffers a power cut. They slowly come to trust each other and plan a life without Big Brother and get a shock when the power is restored and they revert to their obedient selves.

In view of the events in Ukraine, the piece and its performance were both timely and chilling.

Given the time that Chris had to write the pieces, and for the actors to learn and rehearse their parts, it was an outstanding performance.

If they had had 6 weeks I don’t think they could have improved it.

30 members of The Orwell Society, including Orwell’s son Richard Blair, hugely enjoyed the evening and were fulsome in their praise of Chris and his cast in the informal aftermath. This production brought a full weekend of events to a lively conclusion. 

I would not hesitate to commission Chris or any of the actors again.

Quentin Kopp

Chair of The Orwell Society.