GO SEE MY PLAY - NOVEMBER 8TH, MIDDAY, 2014 @ THE ENSEMBLE THEATRE, SYDNEY

Very excited the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney is reading my play, For Goodness Sakey, on November 8th at midday.  If you'd like to be part of the audience, book your tickets fast.  There will be a Q and A afterwards and hopefully, the power of the internet will beam me in from Los Angeles to be part of the fun.

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Home > News > ENSEMBLE STAGES Spring Reading 2014

ENSEMBLE STAGES Spring Reading 2014

POSTED ON 25TH SEPTEMBER, 2014

Be part of the creative process…

It’s time for 2014’s Ensemble Stages Spring Reading! Come along and be part of the very first audience to hear a new Australian script read by a stellar bunch of actors, then contribute to a discussion about your response to the piece: what you liked, what you didn’t and what changes might be made. We are very excited to present a reading of:

FOR GOODNESS SAKEYBy Tempany Deckert

It’s 1975. Australia’s attachment to Mother England is slowly loosening. But not everyone likes the change.

After suffering a breakdown, conservative history teacher, Max, finds himself hired as a private tutor for Gigi, the daughter of infamous art darlings who’ve raised their child on a regime of atheism and rebellion. The subject: Australian history. But, whose history?

In a world where adults have their noses pressed firmly up against the canvas, Gigi must find a way to step back to a place of safety, a place of control, to force those around her to appreciate the work of art she has been creating all along.

About the playwright

Tempany Deckert tells stories in many mediums. She grew up in Australia as a household name on the television drama, HOME AND AWAY, but soon fell in love with writing after studying at the prestigious HB Playwrights Studio in New York City. She is the author of 18 young adult novels, several optioned teleplays and currently holds a coveted teaching position at UCLA’s Extension Writing Program in Los Angeles, California. FOR GOODNESS SAKEY is her first full-length play.

Details 

Directed by: Jo-Anne Cahill
Cast includes: Chloe Bayliss, Michelle Doake and Lynden Jones
Date: Saturday 8th November 2014
Time: 12pm
Location: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St Kirribilli NSW 2061
Running time: 3 hours approximately (including read and feedback session)
Tickets: $12 / $10
Bookings: Box Office (02) 9929 0644

Flex your creative muscles.
Lend us your analytical ears.Help take a work of art to the next level.

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ARE YOU GUILTY OF THE BIGGEST EXCUSE?

I've heard it before and I'll hear it again - I don't have enough time to write.  RUBBISH.  This is the MAIN reason people don't complete a novel.  If you are guilty of muttering this lame excuse, stop it right now and never utter those silly words ever again.  If you have time to watch TV, check Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or watch House of Cards on Netflix, you have time to write.  You just aren't choosing it to write.  Single mothers with full time jobs write novels, lawyers who work fifteen hour days write novels, teenagers who are studying for the SATs write novels.  If they can find time to write, so can you.  It's all about learning how to schedule your time and be DISCIPLINED.  The time excuse is just a delaying tactic - you're terrified your work is awful - it's safer if it stays in your head than actually land on a computer where someone might read it and say, that's awful!  But the cold harsh truth is that your work has to start out bad before it will ever become good.  So turn off House of Cards, disconnect your internet and start writing.  Badly.  Because that will make you feel better than uttering 'I don't have enough time' ever again.  Trust me.

WRITE A NOVEL IN 10 WEEKS

I'll be teaching my next WRITE A NOVEL IN 10 WEEKS course at UCLA EXTENSION this Fall.  Click the link below to sign up.  Only 15 spots available.

                      https://www.uclaextension.edu/pages/Course.aspx?reg=250446

EGO KILLS THE STORY

I'm always saying that everyone has a good story to tell.  But the difference between a captivating story - one that pulls the heart strings and makes you feel something - is far removed from a well written tale.  What is the magic ingredient that separates the two? Ego.  If you are writing to impress, change the world or show-off how clever you are, the story will not land.  Conversely, if you write from the heart, from feelings that are real and genuine, the reader will pick up on it and feel those things too.  

So next time you write, check in with yourself.  Ask some questions.  Am I writing this to be clever and funny?  Or am I writing this because I'm trying to discover an answer in life that is eluding me?  When we search for answers, we are being authentic.  We are connecting to the human experience.  And consequently, we write things that people understand, believe and can relate to.  Go forth!  Write without ego and see the difference in your work.

ARE THERE SECRETS HIDDEN IN YOUR WRITING?

Some people don't realize you can discover deep secrets about yourself through your writing.  Have a look at what things you often write about.  What does it say about you?  What questions are you trying to answer?  What do you keep talking about over and over?  Writing is a powerful communicating tool but it's also great at teaching us about ourselves.  More often than not, every character is you in some capacity.  Discover something new about yourself and read your writing through the eye of a therapist…you may be surprised by what you find.  Good and bad…!

KIDS TELLING IMPORTANT STORIES

These 2 kids tell an important story the best way they know how.  Important, impressive, talented and moving.  Well done.

Tristan and Temp's book on the Daily Edition!

The very talented kid's author Tristan Bancks talks all about his latest books on The Afternoon Show.  He also mentions the book we co-authored together ITS YR LIFE.  Check it out - he's a funny dude!

Tristan's Interview

THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF WRITING

So I'm reading an amazing book on how writers write.  How they're tortured by writing, enthralled by it and most importantly, how they can't stop doing it.  I believe, like anything in life, if you truly love it you are meant to do it.  People often ask me how I sit down every day and commit to the manuscript…the truth is, I want to.  If I don't write I feel like I'll explode.  I feel like something is wrong until I let it out.  All I think about is my book so I may as well write it down for someone else to enjoy.  So if you think you want to write, but you can never actually put pen to paper, do something else.  Art and expression comes in many forms!  Find the form that you adore and can't stop thinking about…the magic will happen.

ART TAKES TWO

If you develop a small accountability group to nurture your project, magical things can happen.  As this video shows, when one person creates, not a lot of attention is given, but with the power of two, mountains are moved...

WHEN YOU DOUBT YOUR VOICE HAS MERIT...

Sometimes being an artist, any type of artist, is bewildering.  Is what I'm doing good, interesting, needed?  Will I ever make any money from it?  Will anyone ever see these things that I create?  Does anyone WANT to see these things I create?  Should I give up this artistic pursuit and focus on a more practical existence?  

Whenever you think these thoughts, and if you are an artist or even attempt anything artistic you will think them at one stage or another, please read the below quote.  It is true beyond belief and a much needed reminder of why we do the crazy things we do.  Go forth and create people!

WRITE YOUR STORIES - THEY ARE IMPORTANT

Who you are is important.  What you are going to do in life is important.  Your opinion is important and more importantly than that, needed.  Every single person in the world is unique and that is why everyone's story is interesting, valuable and special.  Never, ever doubt that your contribution to story telling is lame, boring or cliched.  If you write from the heart, you will never get it wrong.  

WRITE PEOPLE.  SHARE YOUR STORIES.  

IT HELPS US FIGURE OUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT MAKES US HAPPY.  YOUR TALE MAY BE THE EXACT THING SOMEONE NEEDS TO KEEP THEM GOING AND PUT A SMILE ON THEIR FACE.  DO IT.  BE BOLD AND BRAVE.