Citadel
DAVID CHRISCOLE | SATURDAY, 01 SEPTEMBER 2018
Foreword
"Citadel" is the name of my début one-act stage-play, and the first production for our little umbrella cooperative too. This short series of blogs aims to shed light on both the development and production of the show.
How Did We Get Here?
It seems like a very long time since this particular stage-play began its life, but in reality it's only a couple of years. Long enough I hear you say, but I think it's a good amount of time for the development of an idea. I have alluded to this play in a previous blog ("Write For The Stage Courses"), where it was under the working title of "Get Me Out Of Here".
The play itself began life in October 2016, growing both in size and theme as I progressed through the Write For The Stage Intro and Advanced courses. Citadel has always been a three-hander with one female and two male roles. In the original form, my protagonist refused to go out and socialise, instead staying in to watch DVD or Blu-ray films. This was part of the overall theme, one of 'escapism', and attempted to use budget movies as a metaphor for isolation.
Filling In Holes
It became apparent very early on in that first 10 page draft that I had a major problem, and a big hole to fill. Simply put, I didn't know "why" my protagonist didn't want to go out. I pondered this issue during November 2016, in fact over Remembrance weekend. Through a series of memories of my past life in the military, and the emotional connection to the annual remembrance, I found the solution to the primary issue with my play. What if my protagonist was a former serviceman, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? This seemingly simple notion changed the entire premise of the play, and has driven the story to something very far removed from my initial concept.
Getting It Out There
Along the way the script has been aired to audiences too. In February 2017, and as part of the Write For The Stage Intro Course showcase, the first 10 pages were given a public reading. Taking in the written feedback from this event helped in the next step of development.
The next outing was a twin event during September 2017. With collaboration between Studio Salford and Manchester ADP, the first two scenes (about 20 minutes) were performed script-in-hand. The following day, the full script of 1 hour was performed as a rehearsed reading. Both of these events were once again opportunities to gain valuable feedback from audiences.
A Different Approach
In my short time wandering the venues of Greater Manchester (Fringe) Theatre, I have seen many shows that deal with some form of mental health issue. Whilst I do enjoy their challenging perceptions, I am concious that a lot of these show the unbelievably harsh reality of the trauma and the devastating effect on the individual, their friends, family and colleagues.
I didn't want to make a show full of tears, shocks, and despair. No, I wanted to make a show that provided some possibilities for the sufferer, many months after their "crash-and-burn".
- How do they cope in the aftermath?
- What do they do to reintegrate into society?
- What relationships do they forge?
- More importantly, what is the reaction in those relationships to PTSD?
The Message Of Citadel
Citadel means many things to me as the writer, and I believe it will mean many things to those that watch the show. There will be distractions, diversions, red-herrings, misdirections, and of course a little bit of angst thrown in for good measure. But the message being conveyed is a simple one...
To judge someone negatively because of your own fear of their mental health is the driver of division, isolation and loneliness. These are the very things that act to prevent sufferers from coming back from the darkness to rejoin society. Compassion and understanding create safe spaces, giving them power over the monsters we cannot see, and helps them to heal. Become part of the solution, not the problem. Citadel presents you with both sides of this perception and allows you to see the benefits, and potential pitfalls, of both.