Leave me a message

Previous Guestbook Entries
2005 - 2011

CatLeave me a message now...

As a result of this guestbook, over the last couple of years, I have been lucky enough to receive messages from all over the world. 

This has brightened up my life no end! 

When what is often a fairly hard grind at the desk turns into something that gives people pleasure performing and watching, the process doesn’t seem quite as lonely.

There are 401 guestbook entries in 17 pages and you are on page number 7

Comments by Patrick VELLA

 

 


Hi David!
We have listed your Gingerbread to be performed at the National Theatre (Manoel Theatre) in November. Hope you can come over and be our guest!
patrick

Dear Patrick,

Delighted to hear your news. Please let me have dates and times as soon as possible, and I will certainly try to come to Malta.

All good wishes.

David

 

Malta

 


Comments by Peter Collins

 

 


Hi David. I'm afraid I'm another who's just been watching If... again. Thank god for Film 4 being free to air these days. Great film, but having first seen it 30 years ago, the subtexts and attitudes all look very different to me now. And I'd never made the connection between the David Wood in the film and the David Wood that is the, what can I call you, multitasker that you are. And scrolling down the entries, I find it very heartening that you offer advice and help to all and sundry, even offering to attend someone's show at Wimbledon Art College (which is round the corner from where I live). More power to your elbow. Sad to see from imdb.com and other sources that Richard Warwick and Christine Noonan are both now dead. Anyway, good luck to you.
Dear Peter,

Thanks for your message. Yes, IF ... seems to pop up regularly on Film 4! Often, however, in the middle of the night! I feel very fortunate to have taken part in something that has stood the test of time so well. And last time we met, Malcolm and I remembered with great affection Richard and Christine, both of whom were lovely people, who left us far too young.

Best wishes.

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Ron Bayton

 

 


Hello David,
I saw "If" again recently, as did another of the contributors to your guestbook. I was surprised to see how little it has aged, although the public school theme seems to have dated, if that makes sense. Cruelty and refusal to accept silly rules exist in any age. You might hate this, but I thought your presence in the film was very strong but don't know why as I am not an actor. I was at Chi Hi at the same time as you (I was born Sep 44) and you once tapped me on the head with a spoon as I was mucking about at lunch. You were a prefect or table monitor or something. Glad to see you are still going strong.
Dear Ron,

Thanks for your message, and I am pleased that you felt IF .... has stood the test of time pretty well! Lindsay Anderson always said his work would never date, apart from the odd skirt length! His arrogance was, in a delightful way, almost as great as his genius!

I was devastated to hear that I had tapped your head with a spoon. To be honest, that sounds very unlike me, because I have always hated behaviour like that! If it really was me, then I apologise profusely! Hopefully the episode didn't ruin you for life ...

All good wishes.

Yours

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by charlotte soares

 

 


Dear David,
I was interested to read the Philippa Pearce Memorial lecture. I am studying for an MA in Creative Writing and writing an essay on Dunne and Tom's Midnight Garden. Can you remember anything else Philippa said about Dunne apart from the comment about the Uncle? I would be very grateful to have a first hand quote for my essay!! Thankyou so much if you are able to reply within the next week- my deadline looms!
Dear Charlotte,

Thanks for your message. I wish I could help you! Having checked through my correspondence with Philippa, I cannot find any more references to Dunne. She undoubtedly revered the thoughts of this man, and sent me a chapter of his book to help me understand his theories. But I don't think we ever had a long discussion on the subject.

Your essay sounds very interesting. Sorry I cannot contribute to it!

All good wishes.

David


 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Tracey

 

 


Dear David,
I discovered your site after googling Julia McKenzie following a conversation with a neighbor who was at school with her. This reminded me that her lovely mum Kath (who had a sweet shop round the corner from my childhood home) took me as a child to see your wonderful play "The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner".
This was my first visit to the theatre and I was totally enthralled with everything about it, and have no doubt that this led to my love of the theatre for the rest of my life, in particular musicals.
Kind regards,
Tracey.
Dear Tracey,

Thanks for writing. I was delighted to hear that you went to see PLOTTERS with Julia's mum! That would have been at Christmas, 1971, at the Shaw Theatre, near St. Pancreas Station. It was a brand new theatre, and PLOTTERS was the very first Christmas production! I was thrilled that Julia agreed to take part. We had worked together before, at the Swan Theatre, Worcester. I was employed there as actor/director, and was casting a musical called A PRESENT FROM THE CORPORATION. I had also written the lyrics, with John Gould, the composer with whom I had worked a lot at Oxford. John and I auditioned several actors from outside the resident company, and Julia was one of them. At that time she was understudying in West End musicals like MAGGIE MAY. Her wonderful singing voice and her natural comedy acting ability made her a brilliant choice for the female lead in our musical. She played opposite Terence Brady, who later found fame as a writer.

PLOTTERS was directed - brilliantly - by Jonathan Lynn, who later wrote YES, MINISTER, before going to live and direct in Hollywood! Jonathan later - in 1976 - directed the first production of my play, THE GINGERBREAD MAN.

I am sure that you, like me, are much looking forward to seeing Julia on television playing Miss Marple. I think she might well be the definitive Miss Marple!

All good wishes.

Yours

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Andrew Bryan

 

 


Hello David
Oliver, my four year old son, has been singing (a very small fragment of) the theme song to Fantastic Mr Fox ever since he saw the production at the Brentwood Theatre last week.
I cannot get this tune out of my head and long to hear more than a few short bars, and wondered if it is possible to buy the music somewhere.
Best wishes
Andrew
Dear Andrew.

Thanks for your message. I'm glad you and your son enjoyed the FANTASTIC MR FOX music. I'm afraid I cannot help you get a copy of it, other than forward your message to the theatre. I was not personally involved with this production of my adaptation.

Hopefully Mark Reed, who runs Brentwood Theatre, will contact you. If not, give him a ring!

Best wishes,

David.

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Polly Macpherson

 

 


HI there, I have just watched the Film If.... (Borrowed it from the Uni library & watched it on the way back from work on the train) and thought I would look you up as I recognized your face but couldn't put a name to the face. I can see that you are doing loads of exciting different things but I just wanted to say what a great film it was....
Thanks & Best Wishes
Polly Macpherson

Dear Polly,

Many thanks for your message. Delighted that you enjoyed IF .... . It was very important to me, working on that film. It was my first film, and it was an amazing experience. Amazing to realise it was forty years ago! I occasionally get asked to introduce the film at the BFI in London, and when they released a new print, they gave us a second Shaftsbury Avenue premiere, which was great fun.

Thanks for getting in touch.

Best wishes.

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Shelby Speed

 

 


Dear David, nice to speek to you again! Just thought I would let you know that I am very well and have just been offered a part in Gigi in the Open Air Theartre again this year. I am really looking forward to it. I hope you are ok and I will keep in touch with you to tell you how it all went.
LOve Shelby xxxx (Fantastic Mr. Fox robin team Fox number 2)
Dear Shelby,

Thank you for your message. Delighted to hear that you will be back at Regent's Park! You will have a great time, I am sure. I really enjoyed working there last year and the year before - will miss not being there this year! But Emma and I are busy on a new production based on the book THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA. It opens at the end of August at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, before going on a long tour.

Hopefully I will be able to see GIGI and we can say hello!

Lots of luck and all good wishes.

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Peighton Sullivan

 

 


Hello David,
I'm in Mr.Monkman's grade 5/6 class. I'm in grade 6. We presented THE SEE-SAW TREE to our school. We divided the play into 2 halfs. I was Thrush in the second half. It was so much fun! My friend Lia ( who is first half Thrush) and I even thought of a REALLY anoying thrush voice! The kids LOVED it and 2 girls askd "Did the bunny rabbit really die?" and it was hard for us to get them to understand that Rabbit did die and that it happens all the time. Some of our parents cried a lot.
(p.s. My brother wants to know if your related to Tiger Woods, the golfer!"
Dear Peighton Sullivan, or is it Sullivan Peighton!

Great to hear about your fun experience in Mr. Monkman's production of my play THE SEE-SAW TREE. It sounds as though the play went really well, and that you and Lia were very funny as Mistlethrush.

Yes, Rabbit dying sometimes makes the grown-ups and the children shed a tear. But, as you say, it's all part of the story and part of life, sadly.

Please tell your brother that I would love to play golf as well as Tiger Woods, but think that's highly unlikely! Maybe if I WAS related to him, I could be as brilliant as him!

Please send my very best wishes to Mr. Monkman and all your class and everybody who helped with THE SEE-SAW TREE.

Best wishes.

David

 

Canada

 


Comments by Brian Garner

 

 


Dear Mr. Wood,
I am not sure how I came to your site - i have been wandering all over the wwww - did you run a production company with John Gould? I am trying to obtain a copy of his score for Betjemania. (It's taken me years to find a battered copy of the original cast recording.) If you have any suggestions or leads I would be very grateful!
Many thanks
Brian Garner

Dear Brian Garner,

Thanks for your message. I am glad to say that I can help you, and will be sending you an e-mail.

John Gould and I first worked together in 1964. Our production company did indeed present BETJEMANIA.

Delighted I can end your quest!

Best wishes.

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Claudia Haas

 

 


Greetings from Minnesota, USA – where spring may be springing … any moment now. I’m ready. I’m waiting. My name is Claudia Haas and I have been writing plays for about fifteen years.
All right – end of introduction. I am writing with an odd request. (It’s coming…) I am sitting here with my dog-eared Writing for Children and somehow, some way I need to see your plays in action. Reading them is simply grand – but watching them live and in action is of course preferable.
BACKGROUND: I have been writing for children –with some success for 17? 18? years. I write for young performers. Some of my plays are – better than others. In my middle-age\, I am happy to look around and see how many young people I have impacted both on – and offstage. Which now brings me something close to terror. If I have that responsibility, am I making the best of it? Are my plays now going “according to formula?” And am I fully engaging my young performers and audiences? (Often but methinks not 100%)
THE REQUEST: I would love to watch a show of yours develop or an established one in rehearsal. In 2009 – the earlier half of 2009. (For about a week) I am a notorious watcher (ask the small wildlife in my yard – I drink coffee and watch them endlessly – in times of avoiding work). I am reticent and naturally quiet. I have a great ability to sit in the dark for hours on end and – watch. Silently. I would do attempt to do this with a grant. A small grant. From Minnesota. After writing the large-cast comedies for many years with some diversions into 9/11 and the bullies in cyberspace – I am seeking to move to another level of engagement with my work.
THE REALITY: I have had some success with commissions, publications and the contest arena. I am wildly unsuccessful in obtaining grants. That said – not trying is not the way to go – so I forge on.
THE IMPACT: I am developing a Conservatory Touring program for my most advanced students who have been with my summer youth theatre program for eight years or so and are ready to move on – but want to continue in their development. I want to offer them something new. Something immediate. Perhaps interactive. I am working on a small-cast play about the wetlands and have – too many other ideas that have not come to fruition… yet. (Quite a luxury to work with four characters instead of 26.) I have the backing of staff and a theatre to do this work – but I want my young seasoned performers to have another slant on theatre – theatre developed specifically for younger audiences than they are used to – the bookings would be at places that cater to elementary school-aged children.
I can be reached at: Mattkirs@msn.com.
I would be happy to send you my resume or website address (don't want to impose here) so you can guage the worth of my request.
I would love the opportunity to see your work onstage.
Sincerely,
Claudia Haas
Dear Claudia,

Thank you for your very interesting message. I wonder whereabouts in Minnesota you are based - I have been to Minneapolis several times, but not experienced other areas of the State!

Your idea of coming to the UK and sitting in on a production is perfectly possible, as long as there is something happening around about the right time!

I will send you an e-mail, so that we can discuss things further.

Meanwhile, I wish you lots of luck with your writing. And I look forward to looking at your website!

All good wishes.

David

 

United States

 


Comments by Patrick Vella

 

 


Dear David
I would like to thank you personally, as you were my inspiration to create professional children's theatre in Malta. Your Books, your work and your essays helped me if not directly, alot to produce some nice devised work targeted for eager children. This time I am considering to put on THE GINGERBREAD MAN (the musical)sometime in the coming December here in Malta.
Our website is www.curtainraiser.org I am still waiting for the book and score to see what i can create with it. Hopefully I will give you more information in the coming months.
Kind regards
patrick vella
curtainraiser
Dear Patrick,

Thank you so much for your message. I was very pleased to hear that you have created professional children's theatre in Malta, and wish you every success in the future.

Hopefully you will choose to put on THE GINGERBREAD MAN. Would you like a tape of the songs? I will send you this message by e-mail, so you can let me know how things are developing. And I will look at your website!

Maybe, if you produce the play, I should come to Malta to see it. My wife and I have only been to Malta once - and it snowed! Very unusual, apparently, but I remember the only way we could keep warm was by drinking hot chocolate in a cafe in Valletta!

Keep in touch!

Best wishes.

David

 

Malta

 


Comments by Judith Watsham

 

 


I am involved in a forthcoming amateur production of The Witches and wonder if you could let me know of any other amateur companies who have performed this recently (in order to pick the brains of their props team) or if you have any helpful thoughts on the matter of constructing tightrope walking mice?
Dear Judith,

Thanks for your message. Delighted to hear that you are involved in a production of THE WITCHES.

The best way to find out about recent amateur productions is to contact the Amateur Department at Samuel French. They have all the lists in front of them! Try e-mailing Paul Taylor paul@samuelfrench-london.co.uk or ring him on 020 7387 9373.

For the tightrope-walking mice, you really need to have a magic advisor. Do you have a local magic society? Are you using a magic advisor to help with some of the other illusions in the play? I'm afraid I can't divulge the way we did it in the original production, because the method was devised by our magic advisor, Paul Kieve. There is nothing to stop you asking him for help, but he would be entitled to charge a fee, I am afraid! Advising on magic in theatre productions is his profession - he recently worked on THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the latest HARRY POTTER film. If you google his name, you will find his website and contact information.

But it might be more appropriate to find somebody local.

All the very best, and very good luck with your production.

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Sally Chen

 

 


Dear David,
I'm a PhD student in Taiwan, and my research domains are mainly in children's theater and children's literature. Your work - Theatre for Children: A Guide to Writing, Adapting, Directing, and Acting is a magnificent book. The book not only covered both practical and theoretical aspects of theater, but also generously incorporated in the book your own experiences in directing and scriptwriting to share with the readers, which makes it even greater. It's been 1 year since I bought this book from amazon.com, and I still can't get enough of it. I still read it all the time. So, I have a little wish, which is to translate this book into Chinese, so that all Chinese readers who wish to get closer to children's theater can be brought to this "bible" of the industry, which can bring us closer to understanding children's theater.
Six months ago, I approached three publishing companies in Taiwan to negotiate about purchasing the copyright for the book, but I has not yet heard or obtained any reply from the copyright company. Therefore, I was wondering if you could provide me with contact details or any other relevant information on the copyright agency of this book for further negotiation?
Thank you very much.
Dear Sally,

Thank you for your kind words. Delighted my book has proved useful.

I will contact the rights people and ask them to contact you.

Best wishes,

David.

 

Taiwan

 


Comments by Chantelle

 

 


:) hello
i would just like to no how to start in acting because i love acting but i dont go to a acting school and theres not that many localy im young but i just no that acting is write for me its something i feel comfertable doing.
:)
thankyou. bye
Dear Chantelle,

Thank you for your message. I am sure there are lots of drama groups in your area. Some of them will be for young people, some of them will be for everybody. Some will do plays, some will do musicals. Some will offer classes as well. Ask at the local library, or phone somebody at your local council.

The main thing is, if you want to act, do lots and lots of it as young as possible!

Good luck.

Best wishes,

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Phil Hall

 

 


Dear David,
I just wanted to say thanks for getting me involved in theatre. The earliest show I saw and loved was a 1981 production of your "The Owl and The Pussycat went to Sea" at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Imagine my happiness when we performed the show at my prep school the following year and I played The Plum Pudding Flea.
Since then I have been involved in youth theatres and acting and I have never looked back. Thank you again for a wonderful play and starting me on something I really enjoy: acting in the theatre!
Best Wishes,
Phil
Dear Phil,

Thank you so much for your memories of THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT WENT TO SEE ... at Chichester. Was it really so long ago?! Chichester Festival Theatre is probably my favourite theatre. I was at school in Chichester and watched the Festival Theatre being built! We were even taken from school, in crocodile formation, to watch the laying of the foundation stone! This was really thrilling for me, as a teenager who was mad keen on theatre - suddenly this amazing building was going to be on the doorstep. Not only that, the first artistic director was Sir Laurence Olivier!

During the second season, in 1966, I was lucky enough to be an extra in SAINT JOAN and THE WORKHOUSE DONKEY. This was during the summer before I went to university, and by the end of the season I was totally hooked, and knew that my life had to be a theatrical one!

Peter Dews invited me, as a professional actor, to take part in a production of TERRA NOVA in the summer of 1980. This was a wonderful play about Captain Scott. I played Birdie Bowers, one of the five who lost their lives on the expedition. Peter knew that I wrote and produced plays for children, and kindly asked me to do a production of OWL the following Christmas. A brand new set was built - designed by my regular designer, Susie Caulcutt (we are still working together after over 40 years!) and we got a great cast together, plus new musical arrangements by Chris Walker for a talented band of musicians. The whole thing was a joy. And the theatre suited the play perfectly.

The Plum Pudding Flea, the character you played the following year, entered several times through the auditorium and terrified the life out of the audience!

Delighted to hear that your interest in theatre has continued and grown. Thank you so much for writing.

Best wishes,

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Marten Peereboom

 

 


Hello Mr wood, I was researching one of your pieces for Lamda, Flibberty and the Penguin, and I came across your site so I thought I might just put something in the guest book. I think Flibberty and the Penguin is a funny piece. Well, thats what I wanted to say, bye.

Dear Marten,


Many thanks for your message. Glad you like the excerpt from FLIBBERTY AND THE PENGUIN in the book of performance pieces published by LAMDA. I wonder if you have read the whole play! It is published by Samuel French Ltd. Although I wrote it a long time ago, I remember it with great affection. I directed it on tour about 30 years ago!

A couple of years ago, the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama toured a shortened, one-act version of the play to schools. I saw it, and was very impressed. It is on my list of jobs to submit a shortened version to the publishers, to see if they would like to have the new version available as well as the original one!

Best wishes,

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Louis Urwin

 

 


Dear David,
You came to my musical theatre school, The Arts Educational Schools London last year to do a workshop and a talk. I was really inspired by what you told us about children's theatre and it really changed the way I thought about it. I was wondering if you knew of any productions of your work that are currently casting at the moment? Hope all is well!
Lois Urwin x
Dear Lois,

Thanks for your message and for your kind words!

Unfortunately I don't know when people are casting shows, but I can tell you that there is a JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH in pre-production at Northampton Theatre. And there is a production of TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN at Nottingham Playhouse, which opens in the middle of June.

Can't think of any others! But good luck in the future, whatever you do!

Best wishes.

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Katy

 

 


Dear David
i love all your books . the pop up ones are the best .
i love the way u do magic .hayes park school say thanks for the gingerbred man they were yummmy.
where can u buy ur books from?
from Katy
Dear Katy,

Thanks for your message. I really enjoyed my visit to your school, and I am pleased that the gingerbread men were yummy!

Glad you like my books. Some of them difficult to find, because they are no longer in the shops. Sometimes you can find them on Amazon.

Some of the others are available through my website, in the CHILDREN'S BOOKS section.

Thank you for writing.

Best wishes,

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Marie Kearney

 

 


Dear David,
I have my degree show coming up and I wondered would you be interested in being added to the list of those invited? I am the organiser for the Design for Performance course, and several of the students have a keen interest in children's theatre. Perhaps their work or skills could be of some use to you in the future? There are two dates on which we’re doing 'entertaining', so to speak.
Thursday June 19th- 8-11 (industry breakfast), 6-9 (industry night)
Friday June 20th- 6-9 (private view/ friends and family)
The exhibition is open to the public from the 20th- 24th of June, and full, updated details of the shows opening and closing times can be found at the website www.wimbledon.arts.ac.uk.
If you’d like to attend the industry night on June 19th, please could you get back to me with an address and telephone number so that I can get you added to Wimbledon College of Art’s official list. If you could get back to me as soon as possible, that would be brilliant as ideally I need to get addresses in this week.
Furthermore, if you know others in the industry who might like to attend the industry breakfast or evening, could you include their details in your response.
Many thanks,
Marie Kearney.
3rd year Theatre Design Student, Wimbledon College of Art
Dear Marie,

Thanks for your message. Yes, I would be delighted to be invited to the degree show. Wimbledon is a wonderful college, and has produced some brilliant designers, several of whom have done excellent work in children's theatre.

I will send you an e-mail, in the hope that I can be put on the invitation list!

Best wishes,

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Emily

 

 


to David you came to my school hayes park school .how long does it take to make a play?
from Emily

Dear Emily,

Thank you very much for your e-mail. I much enjoyed my visit to your school. I hope you are very happy there.

You ask me how long it takes to make a play. This is a very difficult question! Sometimes it can all happen very quickly. Sometimes it takes a long time. When writing a play I always try to do a synopsis first. This means I work it all out in my head, and then write down what happens, so that I have the order of the story mapped out before actually writing the play. This is quite important, because if you start to write the play without knowing how it is going to end up, you find that you go down funny little side roads that don't add anything to the main story! Then you have to start again!

Another way of making a play is to get some friends together, decide on what the characters are going to be and where the story will take place, then start making up the play, and keeping notes of the story you come up with. In other words, you have a kind of drama class. It's always a good idea to have a leader, who is in charge!

I hope you enjoy writing and performing plays. It can be a very exciting and rewarding thing to do.

All good wishes.

Yours

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by David Wood

 

 


WE HAVE THE SAME NAME :]
Simplicites make me smile. Regardless, I'm proud of my namesake. While in primary school, I saw the playwright version of the BFG and as expected, many of my fellow school children went crazy over the idea that I wrote a book.
It made me look like this:

Anyway, a reply would be nice, don't feel you have to though. I'm 16, and quite strange.
KISSES.x
Dear Philip,

Please post this reply.

Dear Namesake,

Thank you for writing. I rather like our name! However, there are quite a lot of us!

Maybe one day you will write a book and I can show off to people that I wrote it!

Best wishes,

David.

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Dianna Wood

 

 


Hi there! I have been a fan of yours for many years as a Primary school teacher in Scotland and overseas, and now find myself in the Isle of Wight married to a guy called Wood......another David, as it happens. I would like to congratulate you on your output and wonder if you are ever down this way.......?
Dear Diana - and the other David Wood!

Thank you for your message and kind words.

The Isle of Wight is a wonderful place, and I have visited many times. I was at school in Chichester, which isn't that far away! And my theatre company played at Shanklin a couple of times.

Also, I had a distant relative who lived in Freshwater.

Hope you are enjoying it there. Are you still teaching?

All good wishes.

David

 

United Kingdom

 


Comments by Gillian Rose (nee Douglas)

 

 


Hi David - A bit of a blast from the past!!! Fantastic to read about all your successes - may there be many more - I remember the magic shows at the Chi Boys - was I your very first Assistant??? I would love to have a video of those performances!!! but I doubt if there are even photos taken in those days!! Well it was roughly 50 years ago!!!!! Great website. All the very best to you and your family Gill

Dear Gill,

What a lovely surprise to hear from you. I will be sending you an e-mail message.

Yes, I wish it was possible to see what those early shows were really like! Come to think of it, maybe I don't! They were probably not very good - but they were great fun!

Thanks very much for your memories and kind comments.

Best,

David

 

United Kingdom

 

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