Briony Bax, LISP Film Festival 2023 Stage Play Official Selection by St Saviours

LISP Film Festival 2023 Stage Play Official Selection St Saviours by Briony Bax

- Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?  

I'm 62 and live most of the time in a little village on the North Norfolk Coast. I've lived in the UK and the USA and also spend time in Kenya so travel quite a bit. I have a busy life as I'm a university student studying part time for a BA, I am a poet, I help run a charity that works in Kenya, I sit on my local parish council, and I'm a grandmother!

- When and how did you get into writing? 

Originally I was writing poetry and I've had poems published in many magazines and Rough Trade Press published my book 'Lament' in 2020.  I also was editor of Ambit Magazine for 9 years and poetry editor of The New European for a few years.  After I retired from Ambit I decided to spend more time on my own writing and took a playwriting course with the Traverse Theatre which lead to my writing 'St Saviours'

- How often do you write? Do you have a working routine? And what inspires you to create?

I write whenever I can. My dream is an uninterrupted day, but that rarely happens. I have a study at home and lately I've actually been blocking time off in my diary to write so I make sure I don't schedule anything else during my time.

- How does it feel to have your work recognised?

Recognition always feels good. Now I'll have to find a theatre producer to take the leap to put on my play.

- What's the best and most challenging thing about writing a Stage Play?

Making sure that everything you want to say comes across but in a dramatic fashion. Keep the audience engaged. Set up tension. I love playing with dialogue and I also am glad to be able to write about my work in Kenya and use my 17 years experience there in a play.

-  How did you develop the idea for your LISP-selected Play? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

It was during the Traverse Theatre workshop that I decided to write about Kenya. I've been working in a children's home in Kenya for 17 years (and just received an MBE for it!) so I wanted to bring a different view of Kenya to an audience.

- Can you please give us a few tips about Stage Play?

Just write. You can redraft and redo. Think of your work as liquid. I change and edit my work many. many times. It is never finished.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions and festivals?

Best thing is being part of something - challenging thing is to keep track of them all and know which ones to submit to.

- Lastly, do you recommend the writers submit to LISP?

Absolutely. If you don't get your work out there what good is it doing anyone. Take courage. Be bold. Send your work in. But make sure it is polished and drafted to the highest standard. you can bring to it.