By Eleanor Davies
It’s every writer’s dream to see their work published, on stage or on the big screen, and for one Essex playwright, at just 25 he is already living that dream!
Jack Gibson, from Hornchurch, is about to make his debut at the Camden Fringe Festival and has previously had one of his plays performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008.
“I co-wrote and directed a play at the Edinburgh fringe festival,” Jack tells me. “It’s so exciting to be making my debut at the Camden Fringe Festival now.”
Jack has written not one but two plays for his debut in Camden, entitled The Editing Process and Now Bordering.
The Editing Process tells the story of what goes on in a local newspaper in the South of England and the lengths which three reporters are prepared to go to get a story.
Now Bordering is set in a boarding gate of an international airport in South England, focusing on morality, loyalty and how five people can embark on life changing journeys without taking to the sky.
And with both plays Jack used his own experiences to make them as realistic as possible.
“I used to work in media communications and travelled a lot in previous jobs so spent a lot of time in departure lounges and stuff, it’s just observations I’ve made over time,” explains the 25-year-old.
“The plays are both very different,” he adds. “There’s a cast of six and they play completely different roles in each play.
“In one they might be quite placid but in the next they might be really confident.”
And after working on these plays for six months Jack is hoping this is just the beginning of his career.
“Ultimately I would like to be represented as a play writer with an agent,” he confesses. “I think it’s the best form of expression and allows interaction with others, unlike say poetry. It’s more social.”
And while he is staying focused on Camden this year he has high hopes for what 2011 will bring.
“After the Camden fringe festival I’m going to take a holiday and then get back to writing,” he says. “Hopefully I’ll be at Camden or Edinburgh again next year.”
Catch The Editing Process and Now Bordering at The Etcetera Theatre in London from 27 to 29 August.
For tickets and further information about Jack and his productions, visit www.jackgibson.info or www.etceteratheatre.com.