I am halfway through writing a play – working title “Barry Born and Beautiful”.

It interweaves fact, fiction and myth presenting snapshots of Barry's industrial and urban history (from 1860 to present day) juxtaposed with the unravelling of a dsyfunctional relationship. The doomed love interest brings in issues of abuse, drug addiction, welfare sanctions and homelessness - sounds grim!! But the central character a young Goth art student, is full of energy and ideas for her artwork and her hometown. Her grandparents play a dual role linking to Barry's past and embodying a strong sense of community and roots. The structure of the play was inspired by Caryl Churchill's work.

I am working in collaberation with a young Drama graduate, Jade Curnick who is my editor/muse/producer. I am a retired drama teacher who has worked as a writer in residence and is interested in heritage projects and oral history. Our aim for the play is to find funding and stage it in the Barry Memorial Hall as a multi-media production, accompanying the action and dialogue with textual, photographic and film footage relating to Barry past and present. The aim is to produce a celebration of Barry's unique history as the once “Coal capital of the world” and “The Blackpool of South Wales” and also to stimulate enthusiasm for Barry's future with the focus on economic and cultural regeneration.

I'm just about to start work on the second half of the play which will be looking at the coming of Butlins in the teeth of the local community, the Rochdale report which sounded a death knell for the port, the rise and fall of its Funfair and the Island's plans for regeneration. I also hope I can find space to honour its best loved citizens such as Richard Taylor, the tragic roller-skating champion. If you think you could contribute to the research for the play or would like to be involved in any way in its direction or production please contact me on 07812404001. We are looking for a composer/musical director and choreographer. At the moment we have no funds but are getting busy on that front.