This is a weird time for everyone. Millions of words have already been written all about it, and billions more will come. The virus itself, the isolation, the loss of income and stability, the unexpected small positives… I don’t need to write anymore about this. You know because you’re going through it, too.
But some of the most powerful words that have been written about this global pandemic address the fact that we are all experiencing it differently. I am an actor and a writer, but I’m someone who also has a steady income from other work in my life – my teaching, and my part time work as a library technician. I recognise that I’m so fortunate to have this, as I see so many people around me fighting to have their livelihoods recognised as worthy of compensation right now. It’s horrendous that a whole industry can be put on pause, and yet those workers are not deemed eligible for financial support.
If you’re one of those people struggling to make ends meet (regardless of your usual occupation), and you’re also using this time to write a play, then I’d love to hear from you. I know it’s not much, but if I can offer my advice on your script, for free, I hope that it helps in some way.
I must admit, I’m not completely selfless here! I really love reading others’ scripts, connecting with people, and getting my brain fired up. I’m not getting a lot of human interaction or creative stimulation like I usually do – so this is not fully altruistic of me! I can realistically offer only ten playwrights the opportunity to have their work read and analysed during the month of May, so if you’re keen – let me know asap! If you’re interested, send me an email – samanthahill.writes@gmail.com, or go here.
Stay safe, and go easy on yourselves x
Samantha Hill 