Writing.
All material used in our shows is generated by the performers. Through a process of devising, improvisation, workshopping and writing. We dedicate a good portion of our time to writing. Whether it be scripts written directly for scenes in our stage shows; or prose and poetry works that are adapted to performance; or outlines for video filming and even diaries. Sometimes we use things as simple as lists or actions or sounds as a starting point to generate original work. Below are some of our writings.
All material used in our shows is generated by the performers. Through a process of devising, improvisation, workshopping and writing. We dedicate a good portion of our time to writing. Whether it be scripts written directly for scenes in our stage shows; or prose and poetry works that are adapted to performance; or outlines for video filming and even diaries. Sometimes we use things as simple as lists or actions or sounds as a starting point to generate original work. Below are some of our writings.
Poetry.
All our poems are written in groups. Each performer taking turns to speak out loud the next line. All editing is done in the group. Usually consisting of nothing more than a regard for the length of line, or the need for rhyming if that is a consideration. Subject matter belongs to the individual. Often their speech pattern is recorded within the poetry of the line.
All our poems are written in groups. Each performer taking turns to speak out loud the next line. All editing is done in the group. Usually consisting of nothing more than a regard for the length of line, or the need for rhyming if that is a consideration. Subject matter belongs to the individual. Often their speech pattern is recorded within the poetry of the line.
The Autumn Weather.
By
Hal, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben and Michael.
The autumn leaf crumbled in the rain.
Then it started to hail very hard,
and it started to get muddier and muddier.
Then the rain came down and our shoes get wet.
All the leaves came off and made a compost heap,
and the branches are bare.
The forrest was empty.
It got colder and colder.
The mud, the mud, the mud and leaves got stuck on our shoes;
the bottom of our shoes.
Then slip over because it's really wet,
and hurt yourself.
And the snow has fallen and the people who had made the snowman
went inside to make hot soup.
The people felt depressed because there was nothing to do.
There was a snowball fight.
A boy threw a snowball at his father.
By
Hal, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben and Michael.
The autumn leaf crumbled in the rain.
Then it started to hail very hard,
and it started to get muddier and muddier.
Then the rain came down and our shoes get wet.
All the leaves came off and made a compost heap,
and the branches are bare.
The forrest was empty.
It got colder and colder.
The mud, the mud, the mud and leaves got stuck on our shoes;
the bottom of our shoes.
Then slip over because it's really wet,
and hurt yourself.
And the snow has fallen and the people who had made the snowman
went inside to make hot soup.
The people felt depressed because there was nothing to do.
There was a snowball fight.
A boy threw a snowball at his father.
The boy who had a fish.
by
Michael, Hal, Celia and Ashleigh.
The boy made a wish, his wish is to get a fish.
They bought six; six fish bowls and they put five fish in each bowl;
and they like to jump; jump from one bowl to another.
He has a fish; hundred fish and a hundred fish.
He can eat the fish; he can eat it and he can say yummy.
It was cooked; yummy fish; on the bar-b-q with lemon on top.
by
Michael, Hal, Celia and Ashleigh.
The boy made a wish, his wish is to get a fish.
They bought six; six fish bowls and they put five fish in each bowl;
and they like to jump; jump from one bowl to another.
He has a fish; hundred fish and a hundred fish.
He can eat the fish; he can eat it and he can say yummy.
It was cooked; yummy fish; on the bar-b-q with lemon on top.
Cave rock.
By
Hal, Ben, Peter, Ashleigh, Michael, Celia and Lyn.
Days of the month that we went down into the dark room in the cellar.
Because there was no light there, they used torches.
Then, then light opened up with a spring.
I could say because in the spring time the light it will glow.
Got brighter and brighter,
and it turned out it was a spirit.
Then spirit comes to me;
to ask God to save me;
save me too;
powers of my hand.
Two people went down to the cave,
and had candles burning in the cave.
They sleep in the cave for the night.
By
Hal, Ben, Peter, Ashleigh, Michael, Celia and Lyn.
Days of the month that we went down into the dark room in the cellar.
Because there was no light there, they used torches.
Then, then light opened up with a spring.
I could say because in the spring time the light it will glow.
Got brighter and brighter,
and it turned out it was a spirit.
Then spirit comes to me;
to ask God to save me;
save me too;
powers of my hand.
Two people went down to the cave,
and had candles burning in the cave.
They sleep in the cave for the night.
Ourselves.
By
Peter, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben, Hal, Ashleigh, Michael and Wayne.
My name is peter.
I can call him sonny.
I like Celia 'cos she rings me up sometimes.
Lyn can; sometime can be;
can be funny in her own terms.
He has good patience with Lyn.
Hal has been doing drawing and writing.
Ashleigh used to go to ferndale school.
Both Michael and I were at Kilmarnock enterprises.
By
Peter, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben, Hal, Ashleigh, Michael and Wayne.
My name is peter.
I can call him sonny.
I like Celia 'cos she rings me up sometimes.
Lyn can; sometime can be;
can be funny in her own terms.
He has good patience with Lyn.
Hal has been doing drawing and writing.
Ashleigh used to go to ferndale school.
Both Michael and I were at Kilmarnock enterprises.
Special Olympics.
By
Peter, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben, Hal, Ashleigh, Michael and Wayne.
Some time ago I had an interesting social life.
I used to do special olympics.
Swimming.
After that they got a gold medal.
The medal was brass gold.
Kept for a few years, then decided to sell it.
They went to the bar and got drunk.
When they drink,
everyone is tired.
They all went home in a taxi.
By
Peter, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben, Hal, Ashleigh, Michael and Wayne.
Some time ago I had an interesting social life.
I used to do special olympics.
Swimming.
After that they got a gold medal.
The medal was brass gold.
Kept for a few years, then decided to sell it.
They went to the bar and got drunk.
When they drink,
everyone is tired.
They all went home in a taxi.
Shadow.
By
Peter, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben, Hal, Ashleigh, Michael and Wayne.
The shadow; the shadow is my shadow;
the wind is blowing in my ear.
The shadow; the wind;
someone is walking past by;
like a ghost or something.
And he began to boast,
when he decided to boast.
I was sweeping, I saw my shadow.
By
Peter, Cecilia, Lyn, Ben, Hal, Ashleigh, Michael and Wayne.
The shadow; the shadow is my shadow;
the wind is blowing in my ear.
The shadow; the wind;
someone is walking past by;
like a ghost or something.
And he began to boast,
when he decided to boast.
I was sweeping, I saw my shadow.
Fat bear.
By
Celia Hal Ben Michael Ashleigh and Lyn.
A bear drank some beer and became scared.
No one was there.
The bear couldn't bare it anymore.
The bear found the christmas feast in the house.
He found one present in the box, a bottle of scotch.
He opened a third box and it was bear chocolates inside.
And the chocolate it was yummy inside his stomach.
The bear wore slinky silky underwear,
and the centre of the chocolate dripped on his fur.
It became sticky.
He got stuck to a tree.
By
Celia Hal Ben Michael Ashleigh and Lyn.
A bear drank some beer and became scared.
No one was there.
The bear couldn't bare it anymore.
The bear found the christmas feast in the house.
He found one present in the box, a bottle of scotch.
He opened a third box and it was bear chocolates inside.
And the chocolate it was yummy inside his stomach.
The bear wore slinky silky underwear,
and the centre of the chocolate dripped on his fur.
It became sticky.
He got stuck to a tree.
The winters edge.
By
Hal Peter Ben Celia Lyn and Ashleigh.
The winter is coming and the leaves fall on the concrete;
and a boy has a play; a play house;
and likes to build some steps up to the play house.
With snow under foot; frost in the air; chill down the spine;
a sleigh of white; of gold.
There were some children about, picking up snow
and chucking it into their faces.
Really hard.
The children play;
snow;
and the children can play.
Oh, my face.
All the children went in side
and had a nice hot shower.
Get ready for a bed time. Have dinner.
Put their feet up and watched TV.
By
Hal Peter Ben Celia Lyn and Ashleigh.
The winter is coming and the leaves fall on the concrete;
and a boy has a play; a play house;
and likes to build some steps up to the play house.
With snow under foot; frost in the air; chill down the spine;
a sleigh of white; of gold.
There were some children about, picking up snow
and chucking it into their faces.
Really hard.
The children play;
snow;
and the children can play.
Oh, my face.
All the children went in side
and had a nice hot shower.
Get ready for a bed time. Have dinner.
Put their feet up and watched TV.
What we find.
by
Hal, Cecelia and Ashleigh
The white cloud in the blue sky and it shines yellow.
It's a hot day; then a hot day; because we have swimming.
The people swim; on surfing boards; have lots of ice cream.
We walk on the concrete with bare feet,
and the pavement is extremely hot,
and it burns the skin of the foot.
Then go down if it's hot; the feet; down into the water;
run down to the water; have a swim too and pick leaves.
The people grab the leaves; make a collage;
and then just glue them on A4 paper.
by
Hal, Cecelia and Ashleigh
The white cloud in the blue sky and it shines yellow.
It's a hot day; then a hot day; because we have swimming.
The people swim; on surfing boards; have lots of ice cream.
We walk on the concrete with bare feet,
and the pavement is extremely hot,
and it burns the skin of the foot.
Then go down if it's hot; the feet; down into the water;
run down to the water; have a swim too and pick leaves.
The people grab the leaves; make a collage;
and then just glue them on A4 paper.
The Dark Forrest.
by
Hal, Chris, Wayne and Rachel.
We start at the beginning of the deadly wood.
I pick a strawberry which tastes very good.
It's very cold so I'm wearing my warmest hood.
Alone in the snowy forrest in which I stood.
by
Hal, Chris, Wayne and Rachel.
We start at the beginning of the deadly wood.
I pick a strawberry which tastes very good.
It's very cold so I'm wearing my warmest hood.
Alone in the snowy forrest in which I stood.
Treasure Yard.
by
Rachel, Hal, Chris and Michael.
After Christmas Rachel moved out of her parents place.
The next door neighbor found a treasure box in her yard.
She starts to dig it up; opens it up; found nothing.
It was because evil pirates had been there before.
by
Rachel, Hal, Chris and Michael.
After Christmas Rachel moved out of her parents place.
The next door neighbor found a treasure box in her yard.
She starts to dig it up; opens it up; found nothing.
It was because evil pirates had been there before.
Deadly Croc.
by
Michael, Chris, Hal and Rachel.
The crocodile opens it's mouth and chomps on a bird.
The bird tries to break free but the sharp teeth were too strong.
A stingray came round the corner with it's stinging tail.
It saw the crocodile and swam away to the sea.
by
Michael, Chris, Hal and Rachel.
The crocodile opens it's mouth and chomps on a bird.
The bird tries to break free but the sharp teeth were too strong.
A stingray came round the corner with it's stinging tail.
It saw the crocodile and swam away to the sea.
Someone.
by
Cecilia, Hal, Chris and Rachel
Someone was washing clothes.
Someone had to check the time on their watch.
Someone did the dishes.
Someone else was doing the ironing.
Someone was baking cake.
Because someone was really hungry now.
The fireplace was lit.
Fire ashes spit around everywhere.
by
Cecilia, Hal, Chris and Rachel
Someone was washing clothes.
Someone had to check the time on their watch.
Someone did the dishes.
Someone else was doing the ironing.
Someone was baking cake.
Because someone was really hungry now.
The fireplace was lit.
Fire ashes spit around everywhere.
The Journey by Plane.
by
Michael, Chris, Hal and Rachel.
I was flying high like a bird; in a plane.
Young man he wants to put on an old lions mane.
Blood dropped from nose; on the carpet made a stain.
Wayne was on his way to work; he saw a train.
The black cat leapt off the roof and howled in pain.
On the big round pond was a flying white crane.
The white crane from his diggings found a bulls brain.
Jack the cat went to the vet, it starts to rain.
by
Michael, Chris, Hal and Rachel.
I was flying high like a bird; in a plane.
Young man he wants to put on an old lions mane.
Blood dropped from nose; on the carpet made a stain.
Wayne was on his way to work; he saw a train.
The black cat leapt off the roof and howled in pain.
On the big round pond was a flying white crane.
The white crane from his diggings found a bulls brain.
Jack the cat went to the vet, it starts to rain.
Apples for morning tea.
by
Lyn, Wayne, Ashleigh and Jessica.
An apple grows on a tree.
That stands alone in the wood.
We have a sad morning tea.
That doesn't make things so good.
by
Lyn, Wayne, Ashleigh and Jessica.
An apple grows on a tree.
That stands alone in the wood.
We have a sad morning tea.
That doesn't make things so good.
The tiger.
by
Jerry, Jessica, Cecilia and Lyn.
The tiger lived in the dessert for thirteen years.
The scary tiger wants to hunt the hopping deers.
The hungry hunter may loose his fast prey he fears.
Moves slowly in the hot sun; the tiger in tears.
Two hunts men lasso the tiger around the ears.
From inside the cage the sad lonely tiger peers.
by
Jerry, Jessica, Cecilia and Lyn.
The tiger lived in the dessert for thirteen years.
The scary tiger wants to hunt the hopping deers.
The hungry hunter may loose his fast prey he fears.
Moves slowly in the hot sun; the tiger in tears.
Two hunts men lasso the tiger around the ears.
From inside the cage the sad lonely tiger peers.
Theatre scripts.
Below is a script used as part of our first theatre performance at the Court Theatre. It was written by Wayne Armstrong. Wayne has severe visual impairment. He wrote the first draft on his computer which is equipped with software that allows his typed text to be spoken aloud back to him. The idiosyncratic nature of his typing was retained and we spent some time editing and refining the script. This gave Wayne a chance to remove some material and include more as his recollections were being prompted by the writing process. The additions appear in italics and take on an almost conversational tone as they were recorded verbatum. Wayne's poor sight did not allow him to learn the lines in the traditional sense. So we used a theatrical technique known as 'Recorded voice delivery'. His script, read by another actor, was recorded on CD and Wayne would listen to this recording through headphone on stage. Delivering the lines to the audience almost simultaneously as he listens to them on the audio. The text was projected on a screen next to him.
Below is a script used as part of our first theatre performance at the Court Theatre. It was written by Wayne Armstrong. Wayne has severe visual impairment. He wrote the first draft on his computer which is equipped with software that allows his typed text to be spoken aloud back to him. The idiosyncratic nature of his typing was retained and we spent some time editing and refining the script. This gave Wayne a chance to remove some material and include more as his recollections were being prompted by the writing process. The additions appear in italics and take on an almost conversational tone as they were recorded verbatum. Wayne's poor sight did not allow him to learn the lines in the traditional sense. So we used a theatrical technique known as 'Recorded voice delivery'. His script, read by another actor, was recorded on CD and Wayne would listen to this recording through headphone on stage. Delivering the lines to the audience almost simultaneously as he listens to them on the audio. The text was projected on a screen next to him.
Wayne's life story.
The Beginning.
I was born on the 16th of October 1966 I was lucky too survive after just two days they found out that I had a Brain Tumour & the Doctors & Nurses at the Hospital had too put a Shunt starting from the back of my right ear down into my tummy & I went into Hospital 9 times in my young Years too have the shunt made longer.
I found out that I suffer from epilepsy. I also have a sight problem as I am blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other. Later on in life I found out that I am an asthmatic.
When I was 8 Years old I went on a Holiday down to Timaru I was there for about 2 weeks. Then on the way home I was involved in a car crash it was pouring with rain and the roads were very slippery.
We were at the intersection where we had the right of way. We were crossing the intersection and the car coming from the other side, who didn't have the right of way came over and crashed into the side of us.
I was taken to Timaru Hospital unconscious and with a broken thumb but that's little compared to what everyone else had. My mother lost her life as she was thrown through the windscreen.
Because in those days the seatbelts weren't the ones that lock...
I can't remember whether she was wearing one or whether they were the days...
or whether she was...
were they compulsory...?
The driver suffered a crushed ankle and her daughter sustained injuries too.
I came out of the coma. The woman who was driving the car, her husband told me what happened.
The drivers name was, I think it was Margret... trying to think of her second name... can't think of her second name... No can't think of her second name, or her surname I should say...
She was my aunty. I didn't put that in it did I?
I was released from Hospital with in a week or so and sent home.
So I lived with my Grand Parents my Grand Ma was a Diabetic and my Grand father was Blind. When my Grand Ma Passed away I stayed in a number of foster homes I didn't care for. Until I came to this one place where Roger and his wife Anne Marie and Anne Marie's mother Ena Adams lived, and I've been there ever since.
Just before Christmas I lost my sister. When I was younger I also lost people, but it didn't hit me as hard. So this time it's hit me harder than before.
(Suggestion of talking to audience about school days and religion.)
Worklife.
The first place I worked at was the Rehabilitation League. Where we did quite a few different contracts for different firms. When it closed I went to Kilmarnock Enterprises, that also did different contracts, such as packing, weighing and assembling. The main job was making Anzac poppies for New Zealand through out the year. They made thousands and thousands a year. My main job was Working in the office answering the Telephone Transferring calls to different parts of the Factory & taking messages and helping out in the shop*. This was back in the eighties. Most people were getting $24 a week because they were on the benefit. I was getting a little bit more because of the work I was doing.
In 1998 when I was at Kilmarnock working on the phone I took 1 weeks leave when I went back the next week Rosemary Carrs Daughter Sonya was doing my job so after 10 years of work I had no choice but to go back into the industrial section. It was a shock. Then about 4 or 5 months later because of less work they had to let 30 people go I was 1 of them.
There is a place called SkillWise we were told we had more chance of getting work being there than at Kilmarnock I've been at SkillWise for 4 years SkillWise isn't 1 of the places that I enjoy . Because I'd rather be doing paid work.
Voluntree Work.
For 3 Years I worked for LifeStart. Doing there mail out jobs. * I also help out once A week on A Tuesday Morning down at ST Lukes Parish. * I help to set the place up for Pre-school children to come along and enjoy themselves and have A dance and sing along. * when they have all gone I help to clean up. My other job is working for Age Concern*. I go and visit A person who lives on there own and I spend 2 hours talking and being with that person as I might be the only one they see each week. On monday and thursday mornings I also go out to Ferry Mede and work with 0800 Hungry. An organisation that helps people on low incomes to get their groceries. I'm also looking to do volunteer work with the Salvation Army.
Lovelife
While at Kilmarnock
I met my wife there her name was Michelle Mouton she worked doing Shrink-wrapping we were married in 1988 but the Marriage lasted only 4 years because I couldn't cope with her mood swings as she was a schizophrenic so in 1992 we were divorced. Then in 1997 I met Susan who I'm still with today we can't get married as she herself is an epileptic. We have been together for 15 years I went round to her place each weekend and when her mother died I moved in with Susan & her father. When Susan's father got ill and had to move into care both Susan & I moved back into where I've been since I was 11.
*Text edited
The Beginning.
I was born on the 16th of October 1966 I was lucky too survive after just two days they found out that I had a Brain Tumour & the Doctors & Nurses at the Hospital had too put a Shunt starting from the back of my right ear down into my tummy & I went into Hospital 9 times in my young Years too have the shunt made longer.
I found out that I suffer from epilepsy. I also have a sight problem as I am blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other. Later on in life I found out that I am an asthmatic.
When I was 8 Years old I went on a Holiday down to Timaru I was there for about 2 weeks. Then on the way home I was involved in a car crash it was pouring with rain and the roads were very slippery.
We were at the intersection where we had the right of way. We were crossing the intersection and the car coming from the other side, who didn't have the right of way came over and crashed into the side of us.
I was taken to Timaru Hospital unconscious and with a broken thumb but that's little compared to what everyone else had. My mother lost her life as she was thrown through the windscreen.
Because in those days the seatbelts weren't the ones that lock...
I can't remember whether she was wearing one or whether they were the days...
or whether she was...
were they compulsory...?
The driver suffered a crushed ankle and her daughter sustained injuries too.
I came out of the coma. The woman who was driving the car, her husband told me what happened.
The drivers name was, I think it was Margret... trying to think of her second name... can't think of her second name... No can't think of her second name, or her surname I should say...
She was my aunty. I didn't put that in it did I?
I was released from Hospital with in a week or so and sent home.
So I lived with my Grand Parents my Grand Ma was a Diabetic and my Grand father was Blind. When my Grand Ma Passed away I stayed in a number of foster homes I didn't care for. Until I came to this one place where Roger and his wife Anne Marie and Anne Marie's mother Ena Adams lived, and I've been there ever since.
Just before Christmas I lost my sister. When I was younger I also lost people, but it didn't hit me as hard. So this time it's hit me harder than before.
(Suggestion of talking to audience about school days and religion.)
Worklife.
The first place I worked at was the Rehabilitation League. Where we did quite a few different contracts for different firms. When it closed I went to Kilmarnock Enterprises, that also did different contracts, such as packing, weighing and assembling. The main job was making Anzac poppies for New Zealand through out the year. They made thousands and thousands a year. My main job was Working in the office answering the Telephone Transferring calls to different parts of the Factory & taking messages and helping out in the shop*. This was back in the eighties. Most people were getting $24 a week because they were on the benefit. I was getting a little bit more because of the work I was doing.
In 1998 when I was at Kilmarnock working on the phone I took 1 weeks leave when I went back the next week Rosemary Carrs Daughter Sonya was doing my job so after 10 years of work I had no choice but to go back into the industrial section. It was a shock. Then about 4 or 5 months later because of less work they had to let 30 people go I was 1 of them.
There is a place called SkillWise we were told we had more chance of getting work being there than at Kilmarnock I've been at SkillWise for 4 years SkillWise isn't 1 of the places that I enjoy . Because I'd rather be doing paid work.
Voluntree Work.
For 3 Years I worked for LifeStart. Doing there mail out jobs. * I also help out once A week on A Tuesday Morning down at ST Lukes Parish. * I help to set the place up for Pre-school children to come along and enjoy themselves and have A dance and sing along. * when they have all gone I help to clean up. My other job is working for Age Concern*. I go and visit A person who lives on there own and I spend 2 hours talking and being with that person as I might be the only one they see each week. On monday and thursday mornings I also go out to Ferry Mede and work with 0800 Hungry. An organisation that helps people on low incomes to get their groceries. I'm also looking to do volunteer work with the Salvation Army.
Lovelife
While at Kilmarnock
I met my wife there her name was Michelle Mouton she worked doing Shrink-wrapping we were married in 1988 but the Marriage lasted only 4 years because I couldn't cope with her mood swings as she was a schizophrenic so in 1992 we were divorced. Then in 1997 I met Susan who I'm still with today we can't get married as she herself is an epileptic. We have been together for 15 years I went round to her place each weekend and when her mother died I moved in with Susan & her father. When Susan's father got ill and had to move into care both Susan & I moved back into where I've been since I was 11.
*Text edited
