1/7/04

Universal Taxi is the new Arts Company set up by Playwright and ex-Ferret Theatre head honcho Graham Macfarlane. Over the forthcoming months it will be touring his play Writers Block around various venues across the UK. Here we spare no punches in putting Macfarlane through the wrangler and seeing what comes out……..

So, why should we be interested?

Well, if your into a good yarn but are a little put off by the fact that we’re talking about theatre, then you may very well be the kind of person that should be coming to see the play.

Yeah, because theatre’s crap innit?

Well, frankly most of it is, yeah. But that’s because most playwrights out there tend to write plays for people who go to the theatre. And the people who go to the theatre tend to be middle class intellectual types.

What, are u having a go at middle class intellectual types?

No, I’m just pointing out that for 17-35 year olds, going to the theatre is not traditionally high on the things to do list when it comes to going out. Cinema, yes. Gigs, yes. Clubbing, yes. Theatre, shut up. As for those who do go to the theatre, well I’m not into alienating them. I want them to come to my plays as well and I know when they do they tend to enjoy them. It’s just that I’m not writing specifically for this market.

Who are you writing for, then?

All sorts really, but I’ve always tended to attract a rock’n’roll type crowd before. In fact, when I first started, I was into the idea of writing plays for people who didn’t normally go and see plays. I guess I still feel that way, but how can you knock Shakespeare for crying out loud. He’s like the Beatles of theatre. And I like Tom Stoppard as well.

Hold up? If ever there was a playwright writing for middle-class intellectuals…….

Yeah, I guess, but he tells a good story, is into some of the things I’m into and likes to play with theatre; be inventive with it.

Hmm. That’s what your into, is it? Subversion?

If u like. I’m a surrealist I guess, with no real respect for the rules. That’s all. I’m into playing with what is theatre, deconstructing it, and yeah subverting it when it needs to be, but like I said, I admire the great storytellers. It’s just I suppose I’m like a lot of people of my generation – I tend to go and see a film or read a book first, when I want a story.

So, what are your plays like?

You’ll have to come and see them!

In a nutshell, please.

Er….I guess they’re comedies. Surrealist comedies. With philosophical undertones. But very much set in the now. I was a lecturer in media studies/pop culture once, don’t u know, so that tends to come through in my work.

Listen to it. Not “kitchen sink” dramas, then?

No.

Or gritty realism?

What is real?

You take drugs, don’t you? And the philosophy thing? What’s that about?

I like to ask the big questions; challenge the audience a little. I know a lot of people out there who are into searching for some kind of answers. I wanna reflect that in my work. But I guess it just comes down to writing about the human condition. That’s universal innit?

Tell us more about Universal taxi? What is this “arts” company nonsense? You’re a theatre company, right?

Well, yeah, we are. But I’m into other things as well. I help out a few DJ’s/musicians from time to time, still do a little bit of promoting here and there and quite a few of the people who are involved with the company in one shape or another are into a lot of other stuff as well, like film-making, television, making/playing music, journalism, photography, painting dj’ing etc. So, I want this new company to embrace all that as well, along the way. But first things first! Touring Writers’ Block is my priority. Followed by writing a new play, which I plan to take to Edinburgh next year.

What’s that about?

It’s gonna’ be a one-man stage show.  Kindof autobiographical, I suppose. Beat Freak is the working title. It’s loosely based on a book I wrote when I had a little “sabbatical” from things…. and went travelling round Europe.

“Sabbatical from things?” Sounds like a euphemism if I ever I heard one.

Er, well, you can find out a bit more if you read some of the extracts. They’re on the site somewhere. The aim is to mix stand-up, theatre and music with some multi-media shenanigans. I’m writing it at the moment. I’ll give out more information when I know myself! It’s actually the first play I’ve written in about 7 years. If you can call it that.

When was Writers’ Block written?

1996.

What, and it’s still relevant?

Of course. More than ever. I was a head of me time, mate! In all seriousness, I think it still stands up. I’m not sure if that’s true of all my work written around then, but I actually think this is my best play and can speak to audiences today. That’s why I’ve chosen it as the first play for the new company.

On another tip, is it true you’re from the Isle of Wight?

Well, I wasn’t born there, so I’m not strictly an islander (there are some serious rules for that stuff). However, it’s been my base on and off since 1989 and I’ve still got a lot of friends and ties there. I guess it’s where I call home, even though I’m not living on the Island at the moment. Sometimes, I find you need time off from the place, otherwise you can end up going….well, mad, ‘cos it’s not huge. The population’s about 160,000 and u can end up feeling like a goldfish in a bowl, seeing the same faces, doing the same things etc. But I love it too. It’s a magical, spiritual place, for sure.

Is there much going on there? I can’t imagine there is.

Actually, there’s some amazing things going on there at the moment. There’s a real creative renaissance in swing, even though, to be fair, it’s always been a very creative place – the old festivals kicked off a lot of things and the music scene, for one, has always been pretty vibrant, although it’s really buzzing at the moment, what with the Bees and all. That’s a very bad pun. Sorry.

Ah Yes. The Bees. I’ve seen them on the box a few times. And they’re on the radio a lot. Jo Whiley and John Peel really like them, don’t they?

Yeah. They’re good mates of mine – we’ve got some history together, for sure. They all live in the same town I used to live in: Ventnor. I’m so proud of ‘em, what they’ve achieved. It’s amazing really. The second album’s just been released, Free The Bees, and hopefully that will do real well for them. There’s others as well, though. There’s a guy called Drew, whose another mate from the area. His album’s just been released on Source (a Virgin imprint) and he’s starting to get some attention now. Paul, from the Bees, produced it. There’s a whole host of other bands, DJ’s, I dunno, "artists" is probably the word for it, doing stuff. Too many to mention here, but I’m hoping that in time we can feature some of what’s going down, on this website (see the “links” signpost for more details). We’ve actually been filming quite a lot of it, documenting stuff. We’ll have to do something with it all at some stage.

You’re into biggin' up the island, then?

For sure. Like I said, it’s my adopted home; I've lived there for the last fifteen years , give or take the odd break for freedom. My parents live there and I've got a lot of mates from the place. And it’s where I started my career. That’s why it’s so cool to do the first shows on the island; kind of homecoming gigs.

And then you’re touring?

Yeah, check on the “dates” signpost for up coming stuff. There’s some Southampton dates and then we’ll be touring universities and other venues in the winter and doing the odd festival. So come see the play!