in person

with John Markland

may 29th - july 17th

I was born in 1974, yes, a half century ago, in a small house in West Derby Village, Liverpool. The house I was born in previously belonged to the mother of Pete Best, “the 5th Beatle.” Pete was the drummer for The Beatles before Ringo. The story is they would practice in that house, driving the neighbors insane. I’ve always dreamed that the vibration of their music was in the walls and somehow seeped into my soul as a baby. I can’t play guitar and I won’t make you endure my singing. But I will offer my storytelling.

I have been writing for thirty years and The Beatles did seep into me, because I can hear their lyricism, and certainly their humor. I also have shared a path known to poor people from Liverpool who trek into the world of the arts.

I have woven some of their influence into theatre pieces based on the stories of some of their songs. I invited five other screenwriters and two playwrights to contribute a short piece based upon a Beatles song that had touched them.

We will workshop these original pieces and the music that inspired them. We will explore the lyricism and “personality/mentality” of the people from Liverpool... but I will not hold you to their accent.

We all have music from our childhood dancing somewhere in us and it is a home we revisit anytime the music finds our ear, walks inside, and turns the light on in our hearts. The Beatles have been this for me and I’d like to collaborate and bring the stories to life for others.

AUDITING