JILL HUCKLESBY
Plays
Play premiere, Brighton Festival, May 1-5, 2015
FACETIME premier
My short comedy, FaceTime, premiered at Phoenix Artists' Club in February, 2019. One of four 'shorts', it was produced by Michelle Payne of Caspa Arts and directed by Lizzie Fitzpatrick from Soho Theatre.
Set in the near future, FaceTime is an embryonic love story between a guy with an embarrassing problem and a virtual doctor.
Starring Stephanie Stevens and Antonio Ayuso, it was the final play in Caspa Arts' Scratch Night show.
Some pics from the show (thanks to Caspa Arts for these).
2019/2021
The Roof Garden
radio play wins an award through the Green Stories initiative run by the University of Southampton.
'Monte Cassino Morning' , a WW2 love story, ran at The Pit at The Basement, Kensington Street, Brighton, Brighton Festival Fringe, 2015.
Set in 2014, before the 70th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, it focuses on an old soldier whose life changed forever because of his love for a nurse. But some wounds last a lifetime and he finds the only road home leads back to the battleground.
Directed by acclaimed director, Chris Bond, (writer/director of 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Alice On The Underground'), the play was billed as a 'gripping and poignant drama.'
The show starred former RSC actor, David Fielder and West End performer Nicky Croydon-Bond.
**** The Stage
***** Broadway Baby
Nominated, Best New Play in the Fringe Award
Nominated, Broadway Baby 'Bobby' Award for most outstanding show reviewed.
'David Fielder gives a stunning performance.This is an intelligent, moving, perfectly constructed play that is performed beautifully. Go and see it. It’s just a shame it doesn’t have a longer run.' Broadway Baby
'This play says big things in small ways. As Kinsley haltingly tells of finding and losing love as a young captain with a nurse called Elizabeth, digressions and telling details form a close-up portrait of a man thrown by war into an achingly unfulfilled future.
A gentle, beautifully intimate portrait of loss and regret.' Tom Wicker, The Stage
August 2021, I worked as a dramaturg for Hungry Wolf Visionary Youth Theatre, helping groups write new plays for performance in one week. Based on classic fairy tales, the groups started with ideas and developed their writing through workshops and rehearsals, culminating in two shows for audiences on the Friday evening. Based at Roedean School for the project, forty students aged 14-24 took part. Thanks to the brilliant team, director, Gary Sefton, Creative Director of The Theatre Workshop, Rebekah Whiteley, project manager, Melody Roche and writer Katherine Manners, and all the students, for a great week. Photos from Beauty and the Beast courtesy of Hungry Wolf VYT and photographer, Sam Cartwright.
LATEST NEWS:
April 2023, my radio play, 'Moon Tide' was showcased at Ink Festival, Halesworth, Suffolk, one of several new plays being produced at the annual festival, together with work by established playwrights. Directed by Ashleigh Sendin, 'Moon Tide' was performed by a professional cast on the evening of April 15th.
Spring, 2022,
I was delighted to join the reading team at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, for their playwriting award. My play, 'The Roof Garden,' reached the longlist. My thanks to Literary Manager, Fleur Hebditch and the SJT team.
In development:
The Roof Garden - a post-Covid, full length play focusing on green space as a catalyst for change.
White Horses - a full-length play focusing on dementia/assisted death and family dynamics.
Fool's Gold - A contemporary play about roots and identity, set on the east coast of Scotland. Mentored by National Theatre of Scotland. Longlisted by Theatre 503 in international award.
Buds - A two-hander about teen love and loss over the course of 4 seasons.
My monologue, 'Parked' was produced at The Arcola Theatre Outside on July 30th, 2022, one of a collection of short dramas focusing on women's mental health. Performed by Carrie Cohen, it was one of 30 shorts presented by producers, SLAM King's Cross. Proceeds from the evening of two shows are going to MIND. My thanks to Carrie and SLAM's artistic director, Rebecca Jones.
Short plays available for companies:
Parked - a monologue from a grandmother who visits a 'chatting' bench in a park. (Performed by Carrie Cohen at The Arcola Theatre Outside in July, 2022)
Turbo Girl - a teen monologue focusing on the Manchester bombing.
FaceTime - 15 minute comedy about relationships in a virtual world. (performed at The Phoenix Arts Club, London, 2019).
Nice Zanzibar
An encounter between a teenage girl and an old man has unexpected consequences. 40 minutes running time.
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