I saw the most marvellous play on Friday night - Derrida in Love by Timothy Daly at the Ensemble Theatre in the shadow of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In fact, the evening was one of the best I've spent for ages - a delicious dinner at the theatre's restaurant, Bayley's, as the guest of good friends - thank you Leila and John, with great company - hello Jenny, Phil and Lyn, in a beautiful harbourside setting on a steamy Sydney evening, followed by the brilliance of the world premiere production of a great new comedy.
It's a reminder that writers need to live - to get out there and have fun, laugh, relish, confront - whatever. It's all too easy to be held captive by the demands of daily life and of work.
Also, it's a reminder that playwrights need to see plays. I often advise new writers that we should all read widely. It's vitally important for playwrights to learn from and be inspired by the work of others, and to be reminded of the magic, the alchemy of theatre. I can't tell you how stimulating it is to me as a playwright to have seen such a good play.
