Oxford’s Burton Taylor Theatre recently showcased extracts from my new play ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. It was performed by professional actors, script in hand, in front of a full house.
The play centres on the ageing members of Savage Eclipse, an old-school rock band that once played loud and partied hard, before breaking up in acrimonious confusion. Now Savage Eclipse’s only big song has become a hit in Armenia, and after thirty years the members of the band have come together to rehearse for an Armenian tour. Unexpected bad news, and copious amounts of booze and drugs, combine to bring about conflict, violence and sudden death. It’s a comedy.
Developed as part of Oxford Playhouse’s Playmaker Later scheme, ROCK AND A HARD PLACE features four actors, two male and two female, and has one set, a rehearsal room, and minimal props. Taking place in real time, it is an ideal show for theatre companies looking for a dialogue-driven comedy drama that requires only a small cast and minimal production costs.