Writer’s trip to the darker side of life
Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date published: 08 September 2009
WRITER Mark Whiteley
Mark delves into the underworld
GANGS, knives, art and theatre will all come together when Springhead writer Mark Whiteley presents his new play at the Lowry next year.
And to help him with his research into knife crime and detective work, he has been awarded a £3,100 Lottery grant, via the Arts Council.
Last year he tried to get a job in Poland as background for his “Poles Apart” play about immigration, now he is off the meet shady underworld figures and convicted criminals as he researches “Knife Edge”.
Mark, who is married to make-up artist Jessica Taylor, daughter of Oldham actress Judith Barker and actor/director Kenneth Alan Taylor, was inspired to start his latest work after an off-the-cuff discussion with his comedy partner, Daniel Hoffman-Gill.
They were touring the country with “Poles Apart” when the idea for the new play, his 11th, came up.
Mark, who was recently runner-up for the BBC’s Alfred Bradbury Award for new writers, said: “We spent the whole of spring touring, cooped up in a car, talking about absolutely everything. The idea just came up and we batted it about.
“I’ve always been interested in crime and terrible as it is, we love reading about it.
“I’ve just started writing ‘Knife Edge’ and been talking to the police, a journalist and next week I’m going to Nottingham, my home town, where I know a few criminals.
“The story is about a man who has lost his son to knife crime and what happens to him and what he goes through. He feels powerless, the police seem powerless, and he decides to take things into his own hands, by challenging the killer to a dual to the death.
“I like writing about ordinary people who do extraordinary things.
“It’s good that the Arts Council offers support, and the grant means you don’t have to worry about what’s coming in for a couple of months.”
Mark, father of Billy (four) and baby Martha, will begin rehearsals for “Knife Edge” in January and it will be premiered at the Lowry studio theatre in April, before a national tour.
