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Hi

I am looking for help here.

Many years ago I had a story to tell, being involved politically, and sent it to John McGrath who was very kind, but he's DEAD, and I've another story, but this time more a projection than real - though it could be real and I'd like to avert it.

'Where are we going'

You know I am concerned with the increased fascism of the state - increased interference with our personal privacy and rights.

I was no good at English, so I can't write this
BUT I have this play idea

Judge has cerebral palsied son /autistic (will be almost always associated with other emotional illness)

always compromising with state laws eg how long to detain people with no rights (association, exercise, stimulation, clean clothes, proper canteen food etc)
loves son
dies
other siblings love son (one is also high flown lawyer)
(PS no-one here has any association with anyone I know in real life)

Some of us in our 50s/60s/70s 'children of the revolution' cue: song

Increasing infringement of human rights for 'quotes' the communal safety
Increasing infringement of personal liberties - to kill ourselves through chips/smoking/drink - to drive where we want, when we can afford the car and the petrol

One dreamy Weegie woman (not at all modelled on someone I work with) who alleged they could actually fire the gun at the politicians - (I know I'd miss- so I offered to load instead)

Children in need - a real skit here - aren't babies lovely - except there's going to be more of us adults that need help- and they're currently cutting all the funding to the adults. Kids matter - adults phweeeeew!

2030s and rationally we no longer have the money to pay the pensions or keep the day centres going - extermation is the rational policy - as it was once before, somewhere else in another 30s.

Yer judge is dead, but his son, still compromising, goes along with all the laws and then he realises he's signed his brother's death warrant. You see your Sprys and yer Wens off to the gas chambers and he knows his brother's gone too. But not before Joan (not her real name, yer Weegie) has put up a good fight and taken a few with her, to protect the brother.

The brother's internal fight for his soul is the climax. (Sorry it's about the priveledged one - Weegie woman already had hers.)

I can write songs - but English, Nah!!!!!!

Where could I take this, please, my friends.

I feel there's something worth saying there.
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The Kips, Pentlands avatar - Scald Law, Pentlands.

I would help but my English is ****, three attempts to get O grade English.
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'S riogal mo dhream
Ciamar À Thà Sibh

www.cheesesoup.myby.co.uk

What are you blethering about?... Dead McGrath, Fascism, Sprys and Wens to the gas chambers ...Politicians and Weegies??

.....I d love to help you out..if I only knew how.
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Keep Youth in your heart and you'll never grow old

So long as we retain democracy it won't get as bad as your play predicts, Wen.

Personally, I don't see anything sinister about the way things are developing. Decent folk have got to be protected and I think that's what government in this country tries to do, regardless of which party is in power.
Extremism here got the boot a good while back.
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Write the whole thing out as best you can, and then do a Google on Theatre Workshops.

If it's got a glimmer of merit, somebody, somewhere will at least help you edit and rewrite it.

Good idea, Dingle. I'll give it a try. Very Happy

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The Kips, Pentlands avatar - Scald Law, Pentlands.

Spry, I thought about what you said.

First a play is a drama, a story - and I am considering a few facts and the choices available, here. Also I'm thinking of choices currently being made.

There's enough people talking about erosion of civil liberties, democratic rights and 'big brother' that I'll leave that for now.

I now work with learning disabled adults. Most of these people came into the community in the late 80's and early 90's from the institutions. Funding has stayed at the same level for 6 years. Now it is being cut. These people are getting older and have the same increased needs of decreased mobility, dementia, that affect any ageing population - but the money is being cut. Same people - increased needs - less money.

There is already a 'pension crisis'. We have all seen news items of older citizens, let down by pension funds, having to take low-paid, less skilled, harder work at a time in their lives when they need life easier.
The post-war baby-boomers are just about to get to retirement (some of the women will have retired already). If the situation now is dire it can only get worse. For a few years most will cope. Some will have final-salary schemes. Ten years along that pension is worth much less. It is realistic to recognise that firms will argue inability to meet their promises and default. The burden to the state and state care will be greater than ever. Baby-boomers are also the generation that benefitted from post-war changes (NHS etc) and can be expected to have better health than the current over-65s.

If there is wingeing now about how much pensions/old people/appropriate care costs - what will it sound like in 20 years time?

My drama idea - rather than what I think will happen - is more what I think could happen unless we start challenging some of the stuff that's happening now.

Taking people with learning disabilities for example. Great to get money into the children and maximise opportunities for their lives. Important to recognise that they will be adults for much longer than they are children and may need levels of support through that. Important to recognise that they may age or get ill and need more care - and the funding that goes with it! Promote the validity of adequate funding for all and we promote funding for ourselves at the point we might need it - and that means changing mind-sets so that it no longer acceptable for politicians to even consider these kind of cuts. If they want to cut anything let it be their junkets and prestigious projects. Let all of us have the facility to lead good lives whatever age we are.
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The Kips, Pentlands avatar - Scald Law, Pentlands.

First , do you know there is a writers group in Penicuik? It used to be based in and around the Community Arts Cafe in West St. Ask in there. It is also allied to a group calling there selves Penicuik Community Trust.
Second . Do you know that people over 65 get less than 5% spent on them than juveniles. Social Work has a massive waiting list for people wanting care. Free personal care is just a joke, its just a five minute check in many cases just to see if you are alive. If you want care you still have to pay. This goverment has a lot to answer for.
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Forum Expert (esoteric musical instrument division)

There is also the Tyne & Esk Writers Group, which includes folk from Mid and East Lothian. They run an annual Writers' Contest too - featured in the Advertiser a couple of weeks ago.

Thank you for those suggestions, Ben and Sue.
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The Kips, Pentlands avatar - Scald Law, Pentlands.

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