Welcome to the guestbook.
 As a result of this guestbook, over the last couple of years, I have been lucky enough to receive messages from all over the world.
Sometimes the sender asks for information. Sometimes advice is sought.
Sometimes I get invited to a production.
Sometimes I receive a report of a production.
This has brightened up my life no end!
Contact with practitioners at the sharp end, especially when they write positively, makes it all seem worthwhile and real!
When what is often a fairly hard grind at the desk turns into something that gives people pleasure performing and watching, the process doesn’t seem quite as lonely. Read some of the guestbook success stories...
Sign the guest book |
There are
259
guestbook entries in
26
pages and you are on page number
1 |
|
 |
Hello David. I heard through the grapevine that you are looking for actors for your upcoming show "fantastic Mr Fox." I am a professional actress and would love to audition. If you could send me an email with audition times and place I would be happy to come along also I can send you my C.V.
Kind regards
Samanatha
Dear Samantha,
Thanks for your message.
I think you are referring to the production of FANTASTIC MR FOX that is going to be produced for Christmas by Brentwood Theatre. I'm afraid I am nothing to do with the production, so cannot help you. Try contacting Brentwood Theatre.
All good wishes.
David |
 |
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|
|
my class did a play on one of the plays you wrote (the see-saw tree) we had a blast evryone injoyed you may reconise the name gordan or drew monkman he is my teacher he got the see-saw tree music from you on the record thats all for now bye
Dear Kristy,
Thanks for writing. Very pleased you had a good time doing THE SEE-SAW TREE! I like to think it is a play that is fun to do, but also makes people think!
Say hello to all your friends and to Drew Monkman. I hope you do another play soon!
Best wishes.
Davidhey |
|
|
|
|
Canada
|
|
|
|
Dear David, nice to speek to you again! Just thought I would let you know that I am very well and have just been offered a part in Gigi in the Open Air Theartre again this year. I am really looking forward to it. I hope you are ok and I will keep in touch with you to tell you how it all went.
LOve Shelby xxxx (Fantastic Mr. Fox robin team Fox number 2)
Dear Shelby,
Thank you for your message. Delighted to hear that you will be back at Regent's Park! You will have a great time, I am sure. I really enjoyed working there last year and the year before - will miss not being there this year! But Emma and I are busy on a new production based on the book THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA. It opens at the end of August at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, before going on a long tour.
Hopefully I will be able to see GIGI and we can say hello!
Lots of luck and all good wishes.
David |
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
Comments by
Peighton Sullivan
|
|
|
|
Hello David,
I'm in Mr.Monkman's grade 5/6 class. I'm in grade 6. We presented THE SEE-SAW TREE to our school. We divided the play into 2 halfs. I was Thrush in the second half. It was so much fun! My friend Lia ( who is first half Thrush) and I even thought of a REALLY anoying thrush voice! The kids LOVED it and 2 girls askd "Did the bunny rabbit really die?" and it was hard for us to get them to understand that Rabbit did die and that it happens all the time. Some of our parents cried a lot.
(p.s. My brother wants to know if your related to Tiger Woods, the golfer!"
Dear Peighton Sullivan, or is it Sullivan Peighton!
Great to hear about your fun experience in Mr. Monkman's production of my play THE SEE-SAW TREE. It sounds as though the play went really well, and that you and Lia were very funny as Mistlethrush.
Yes, Rabbit dying sometimes makes the grown-ups and the children shed a tear. But, as you say, it's all part of the story and part of life, sadly.
Please tell your brother that I would love to play golf as well as Tiger Woods, but think that's highly unlikely! Maybe if I WAS related to him, I could be as brilliant as him!
Please send my very best wishes to Mr. Monkman and all your class and everybody who helped with THE SEE-SAW TREE.
Best wishes.
David |
|
|
|
|
Canada
|
|
|
|
Dear Mr. Wood,
I am not sure how I came to your site - i have been wandering all over the wwww - did you run a production company with John Gould? I am trying to obtain a copy of his score for Betjemania. (It's taken me years to find a battered copy of the original cast recording.) If you have any suggestions or leads I would be very grateful!
Many thanks
Brian Garner
Dear Brian Garner,
Thanks for your message. I am glad to say that I can help you, and will be sending you an e-mail.
John Gould and I first worked together in 1964. Our production company did indeed present BETJEMANIA.
Delighted I can end your quest!
Best wishes.
David |
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|
|
Greetings from Minnesota, USA – where spring may be springing … any moment now. I’m ready. I’m waiting. My name is Claudia Haas and I have been writing plays for about fifteen years.
All right – end of introduction. I am writing with an odd request. (It’s coming…) I am sitting here with my dog-eared Writing for Children and somehow, some way I need to see your plays in action. Reading them is simply grand – but watching them live and in action is of course preferable.
BACKGROUND: I have been writing for children –with some success for 17? 18? years. I write for young performers. Some of my plays are – better than others. In my middle-age\, I am happy to look around and see how many young people I have impacted both on – and offstage. Which now brings me something close to terror. If I have that responsibility, am I making the best of it? Are my plays now going “according to formula?” And am I fully engaging my young performers and audiences? (Often but methinks not 100%)
THE REQUEST: I would love to watch a show of yours develop or an established one in rehearsal. In 2009 – the earlier half of 2009. (For about a week) I am a notorious watcher (ask the small wildlife in my yard – I drink coffee and watch them endlessly – in times of avoiding work). I am reticent and naturally quiet. I have a great ability to sit in the dark for hours on end and – watch. Silently. I would do attempt to do this with a grant. A small grant. From Minnesota. After writing the large-cast comedies for many years with some diversions into 9/11 and the bullies in cyberspace – I am seeking to move to another level of engagement with my work.
THE REALITY: I have had some success with commissions, publications and the contest arena. I am wildly unsuccessful in obtaining grants. That said – not trying is not the way to go – so I forge on.
THE IMPACT: I am developing a Conservatory Touring program for my most advanced students who have been with my summer youth theatre program for eight years or so and are ready to move on – but want to continue in their development. I want to offer them something new. Something immediate. Perhaps interactive. I am working on a small-cast play about the wetlands and have – too many other ideas that have not come to fruition… yet. (Quite a luxury to work with four characters instead of 26.) I have the backing of staff and a theatre to do this work – but I want my young seasoned performers to have another slant on theatre – theatre developed specifically for younger audiences than they are used to – the bookings would be at places that cater to elementary school-aged children.
I can be reached at: Mattkirs@msn.com.
I would be happy to send you my resume or website address (don't want to impose here) so you can guage the worth of my request.
I would love the opportunity to see your work onstage.
Sincerely,
Claudia Haas
Dear Claudia,
Thank you for your very interesting message. I wonder whereabouts in Minnesota you are based - I have been to Minneapolis several times, but not experienced other areas of the State!
Your idea of coming to the UK and sitting in on a production is perfectly possible, as long as there is something happening around about the right time!
I will send you an e-mail, so that we can discuss things further.
Meanwhile, I wish you lots of luck with your writing. And I look forward to looking at your website!
All good wishes.
David |
|
|
|
|
United States
|
|
Comments by
Patrick Vella
|
|
|
|
Dear David
I would like to thank you personally, as you were my inspiration to create professional children's theatre in Malta. Your Books, your work and your essays helped me if not directly, alot to produce some nice devised work targeted for eager children. This time I am considering to put on THE GINGERBREAD MAN (the musical)sometime in the coming December here in Malta.
Our website is www.curtainraiser.org I am still waiting for the book and score to see what i can create with it. Hopefully I will give you more information in the coming months.
Kind regards
patrick vella
curtainraiser
Dear Patrick,
Thank you so much for your message. I was very pleased to hear that you have created professional children's theatre in Malta, and wish you every success in the future.
Hopefully you will choose to put on THE GINGERBREAD MAN. Would you like a tape of the songs? I will send you this message by e-mail, so you can let me know how things are developing. And I will look at your website!
Maybe, if you produce the play, I should come to Malta to see it. My wife and I have only been to Malta once - and it snowed! Very unusual, apparently, but I remember the only way we could keep warm was by drinking hot chocolate in a cafe in Valletta!
Keep in touch!
Best wishes.
David |
|
|
|
|
Malta
|
|
Comments by
Judith Watsham
|
|
|
|
I am involved in a forthcoming amateur production of The Witches and wonder if you could let me know of any other amateur companies who have performed this recently (in order to pick the brains of their props team) or if you have any helpful thoughts on the matter of constructing tightrope walking mice?
Dear Judith,
Thanks for your message. Delighted to hear that you are involved in a production of THE WITCHES.
The best way to find out about recent amateur productions is to contact the Amateur Department at Samuel French. They have all the lists in front of them! Try e-mailing Paul Taylor paul@samuelfrench-london.co.uk or ring him on 020 7387 9373.
For the tightrope-walking mice, you really need to have a magic advisor. Do you have a local magic society? Are you using a magic advisor to help with some of the other illusions in the play? I'm afraid I can't divulge the way we did it in the original production, because the method was devised by our magic advisor, Paul Kieve. There is nothing to stop you asking him for help, but he would be entitled to charge a fee, I am afraid! Advising on magic in theatre productions is his profession - he recently worked on THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the latest HARRY POTTER film. If you google his name, you will find his website and contact information.
But it might be more appropriate to find somebody local.
All the very best, and very good luck with your production.
David |
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|
|
Dear David,
I am writer and producer of a children's show called 'Kamakan The Vampire Slug - Live & Monstrous!!', based on my children's adventure rhyme, 'Kamakan The Vampire Slug'. The show premiered very successfully last October and I am seeking a production partner to take the show on tour. I have many years in theatre marketing but need an experienced producer to take this out on the road. You can find out more at www.kamakan.co.uk. Its a very unique and entertaining show so I hope you will consider looking at it further.
Kind regards
Dear Huw,
Thank you for your message. I will certainly have a look at your website.
However, I am afraid that Whirligig Theatre Company, my touring children's theatre company, no longer produces. We decided to stop after 25 years, just a few years ago. So I cannot help you. I hope you manage to find a producer to take on your show.
All good wishes.
David |
|
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
|
|
|
Dear David,
I’m a PhD student in Taiwan, and my research domains are mainly in children’s theater and children’s literature. Your work - Theatre for Children: A Guide to Writing, Adapting, Directing, and Acting is a magnificent book. The book not only covered both practical and theoretical aspects of theater, but also generously incorporated in the book your own experiences in directing and scriptwriting to share with the readers, which makes it even greater. It’s been 1 year since I bought this book from amazon.com, and I still can’t get enough of it. I still read it all the time. So, I have a little wish, which is to translate this book into Chinese, so that all Chinese readers who wish to get closer to children’s theater can be brought to this “bible” of the industry, which can bring us closer to understanding children’s theater.
Six months ago, I approached three publishing companies in Taiwan to negotiate about purchasing the copyright for the book, but I has not yet heard or obtained any reply from the copyright company. Therefore, I was wondering if you could provide me with contact details or any other relevant information on the copyright agency of this book for further negotiation?
Finally, I would like to pay you my highest respect, and thank you for having written this most unique and exclusive book in the world on the theory concerning children’s theatre. Its value is what no other similar books can possibly provide.
Thank you very much.
Best,
Sally Chen
Dear Sally,
Thanks for your message. I'm delighted you are interested in translating my THEATRE FOR CHILDREN book. I have tried to contact you by email, but the message gets bounced back every time.
The person you need to contact is Jason Cooper at Faber and Faber. jason.cooper@faber.co.uk
Copy your email to lizziej@faber.co.uk
Farterng Culture Company also wrote to my website asking for this information. Messages to them have also bounced back.
All good wishes,
David Wood.
|
|
|
|
|
Taiwan
|
|
|
|
