Climbing the ladder to writing success

THERE are many attractions that bring people to Clare; the wild atlantic coastline, the vast expanse of the Burren landscape, the buzz of towns such as Ennis and the melodious music that permeates through the county.

While English-born writer Jacob Hodgkinson appreciates all of these things about his new home, it wasn’t any of them that brought him to the Banner. Instead, it was for love that the playwright came to Clare, following Louise, the girl he first met at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, back to her home county.
“She had just gone to Edinburgh to meet a friend when we met there, my first play was being performed at the festival. We were having a long -distance relationship up until the beginning of January, which is when I moved over to Ennis,” he said.
Although he has left his home, Jacob has not left his artistic ambitions behind and he plans to continue writing here in Clare. He has already been approached to write a play for a women’s group.
“I’m looking at ways to get into the new writing in Ireland, not just in Clare but across the country. Being in Ireland is certainly an inspiration. The Irish are all very loquacious, they tell a good tale and they’re always one for talking, which is obviously very important if your trying to write a play.
“I like the heightened speech of the Irish, it rolls a lot and it takes unusual turns at time. I like the way you can, at times, have a conversation with somebody and all it will be about is other people they know rather than themselves. And there’s a morbid fascination with death, I write black comedy so that also inspires me in my own writing,” said the 22-year-old.
“I’m absolutely glad I’ve made the move. I’ve always had an affinity with Ireland, I think it’s because my mother’s side of the family originates from here. I don’t know why but I’ve always wanted to come here.”
Originally from Nottingham, Jacob left school at 15 and he developed an interest in literature, writing lots of short stories. “It was during that time that I realised I always focused on characterisation, so I decided to develop on from that and try plays,” he said.
He moved to London, doing some playwriting courses and he showcased his first play, Fotobooth, at the Edinburgh Fringe. “It was a monologue piece about a woman who has been in continual abusive relationships and her mindset, which is a bit lost,” he explained.
The play ran for two weeks and was well received, although he admitted the production had a shaky start.
“The review in The Scotsman newspaper wasn’t amazing and I believe that was down to the director pulling out the week before, so I had to direct. It was pretty shambolic but me and a friend sat down afterwards and cut it and rewrote some bits and it developed into a more rounded piece and it got some good reviews. Directing was quite a good experience because I had never directed before,” he said.
Since then he has written a full length play, Pigeon Song, which he is currently re-drafting and hopes to submit to theatre companies both in the UK and Ireland.
“It’s not completely black comedy, it’s tragic as well. It’s about four people who are on a rooftop of a building in Shepherd’s Bush and they are planning on throwing themselves off. It is serious but there is dark humour within.
“I think a lot of the time some of the funniest moments are at the darkest points in our lives. I certainly experienced that with my granddad when he was dying of cancer and the sense of humour that he had, it really gives you a lift and takes away from all the despair and depression.”
When it comes to writing, for Jacob it’s very much a case of characters first and storyline second.
“I’ve been writing that piece for the past 18 months. I write from characters that I have and I just let them kind of communicate with one another. All of the time I’m really trying to find a story within the communication. It takes me a good amount of time to find a plot.
“I do write more from characters, I think that’s of the utmost importance as a playwright, actually having substantially developed characters rather than a plot. I think it doesn’t have to be the strongest plot in the world to be a good play, if the audience cares for the character and their journey, that’s what matters, it doesn’t have to be a huge journey but I think it needs to be significant in its own manner.”
Jacob said that much of his inspiration comes from people. “Either from people I’ve seen, I’ve known or stories I’ve heard about those who I feel don’t get enough of a voice. Listening to people obviously gives me inspiration,” he explained.
As well as working on the re-draft, Jacob also plans on entering a new piece for the Edinburgh Fringe. “I’m pretty certain I can write another piece to the standard they’re looking for, I just have to crack on with it. I have my idea for it, it’s a sensitive subject but it’s one I would like to tackle.
“It’s about testicular cancer and how men deal with it. How often maybe because of some male pride kind of thing a very young life can be cut short.”