Dear Jayne,

Thanks for your message. CHISH 'N' FIPS was a television series, but it started off as a stage play. It was commissioned by Liverpool Playhouse, and had the title CHISH 'N' FIPS, but after its first production, when I decided to tour the play, I changed the title to THE IDEAL GNOME EXPEDITION. Later on, the television producers wanted to go back to the original title! There is a cassette available of the songs from the television show. There was also an annual published (looking back, it seems a bit odd to call it an annual, because only one edition appeared!). There is also some sheet music of the songs. And the published text of the stage play is also available. I will send you a separate e-mail giving you more details.

All good wishes, David

Dear Kathryn,

Delighted to hear that you still remember THE PLOTTERS OF CABBAGE PATCH CORNER. This was the first "original" play for children I wrote, and it still seems to be quite popular, particularly in Germany. I suppose it was a "green" play before anybody was talking about being green! But I didn't really think about that. It was simply meant as a story about insects in a garden. You must have seen the Whirligig Theatre production, in 1979. It was the first ever Whirligig tour. Clarks Shoes sponsored the tour, and provided the toy theatre cut-out you describe, complete with all the characters. I still have a few left! The production was directed by Sheila Falconer, a long-time associate. It was based on the original London production (seen at the Shaw Theatre for two Christmas seasons), directed by Jonathan Lynn, best known for having written YES, MINISTER! The wonderful Julia McKenzie played Ladybird. Before that, the very first production was at the Swan Theatre, Worcester in 1970. Greenfly was played by a very young Alison and talented Steadman! The play is published by Samuel French Ltd., but there is no recording of the songs, and no storybook version. Maybe I had better try and get a new production of this play mounted! Hopefully it hasn't dated too much!

Thanks for remembering it!

David

Dear Nolan,

Thanks for your message, and please send my very best wishes to your mother. I last saw her in Chichester, when I was directing one of my plays at the Festival Theatre. And the last time I saw Di and Dave was in Truro, Cornwall, when one of my plays was on there! We all attended residential weeks at Lodge Hill, having a wonderful time on summer drama courses, run by an inspirational teacher called Frank Whitbourn. You might like to tell your mother that he died last year, in his early 90's. For many years he and I kept in touch, and I treasure his many witty and wise letters. All good wishes to you and to Katharine.

Way back when she used to spell her name

Kathryn!

Yours David

Dear Sarah,

Thanks for your message. Sadly THE GINGERBREAD MAN is not on CD. There are still cassettes available, but so far there has been no demand for CDs. If we revive the play - it is 30 years old this year - we will probably re-issue the story and songs on CD. Maybe you could transfer the cassette to a CD, then you could play it in the car! If you want to purchase a new cassette, just let me know!

All good wishes,

David

Dear Jeri,

Good to hear from you. If I understand you correctly, you and your friend want to come to London and take part in workshops. I am afraid I don't know of any children's theatre workshops next summer. Maybe I should be trying to organise some! It looks as though I might well be directing a play for children in the Open Air Theatre at Regent's Park in July/August. I am afraid I don't think you could take part in the show, but you might be able to attend a rehearsal. Glad to hear that my book helped you. I suggest you contact Polka Theatre in Wimbledon, (South London) and Unicorn Theatre in central London. These two theatres only do children's plays, and organise workshops for children. You might be able to participate in these somehow.

All good wishes,

David

Dear Sinead, Thank you for your message, and VERY GOOD LUCK for your exam. I hope you enjoy playing Sleek the Mouse. I suppose the difficult thing is saying his spoonerisms (when he gets his words muddled up) very confidently, then suddenly realising that you have got them wrong! Quite tricky, but great fun too! All good wishes, David

Dear Jeri, I have answered your message dated November 16th. You should find it on the website! One other thought - NYU (New York University) organise a summer course in London which focuses on children's theatre. It is worth contacting the drama department there for more details. It might be just what you are looking for. Meanwhile, look at my answer on the website for a couple of other ideas! Best wishes, David

Dear Rozz, Thank you so much for your kind comments, and may I wish you lots of luck with your presentation. Maybe my ears will be burning as you talk! Good luck for the future! Best wishes, David

Dear Gregory, Thank you for your message. Delighted to hear that you have directed so many of my plays! I enjoyed looking at the photos of THE TWITS! DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD is now published by Samuel French. Yes, the play is on tour in the UK, and has been very well received. I suggest you contact Samuel French to see whether the rights are available. If you have any problem with this, let me know, and I will ask my agent to chase it up. Sometimes the amateur/community theatre rights are delayed until there have been some professional performances. But certainly not always! Have you done FANTASTIC MR. FOX? I think this would work very well within your High School. Also JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. Or maybe you could try one of my original plays! Thank you so much for getting in touch. David

Dear Judith, Thanks for your message. As far as I know, THE QUEEN'S HANDBAG is to be repeated on BBC1 at Christmas. Please look out for it! There was a plan for it to be released on DVD, but I haven't heard anything about that yet. Fingers crossed for a repeat on television soon! Best wishes, David

Dear Ed, Good to hear from you. You need to look at the market! Who is doing new family plays? Where are they doing them? Might be able to get it tried out by an amateur company? Might a local school be interested in doing it? You don't say how many are in the cast. Few professional plays for children have a cast of more than six or eight, so if there are more characters, they need to be able to be doubled. Have you shown it to Chris Denys? Is it something that students might be interested in doing, as a Christmas season, perhaps? In The Stage (or on the website) there will be lists of the Christmas productions of all the professional theatres. It is worth having a good look and making notes of the kind of theatres that might be interested in producing something other than a traditional pantomime. Good luck with it! All good wishes, Yours David

Yes, our name is rather a common name!

Maybe you should start a David Wood Society!

Best wishes,

Your namesake

Dear Charlie, Thanks for your message. The tv version of the stage play based on THE OLD MAN OF LOCHNAGAR was never released on video, I'm afraid. There was a cassette version, with story and songs. That is no longer available. I will send you an email with some further thoughts! Best wishes, David.

Dear Paula, What a pleasing message! Delighted that PLOTTERS worked for you. You may have seen it at the Shaw Theatre in '71 or '72. By a strange coincidence, Jonathan Church, who is the artistic director of Chichester Festival Theatre, once told me that one of his first theatre-going experiences was THE PLOTTERS OF CABBAGE PATCH CORNER! So maybe he will take your email seriously! The play is still performed quite a lot by professionals in Germany and by amateurs in the UK. Published by Samuel French Ltd. I was at Chichester High School in the late fifties and early sixties. Another coincidence! All good wishes, David.

Dear Namesake,

Our name is rather common, isn't it? But easy to remember!

Best wishes,

David.

Dear Jan, Many thanks for your enthusiastic message!  I am delighted that your daughter enjoyed FIMBLES LIVE.  I am passing your comments to the producers and to Sarah Jane and the cast.  They will all be very happy to receive this positive reaction! The show has been touring for some time, sometimes in the extreme heat we have been experiencing!  But the cast always give their all. When I was writing it, just after Christmas, I became very fond of the characters in FIMBLES.  They offer all sorts of possibilities for happy participation.  And Roly Mo is a hero, I feel!  He champions the whole idea of story and reading and love of books. I would like to be able to tell you that there will be another production on the road next year.  But I'm not sure.  SPOT'S BIRTHDAY PARTY was a possibility - it hasn't toured for some years.  But no news so far! And there is a possibility that I might be adapting PERCY THE PARK KEEPER! All good wishes, and thank you for taking the trouble to write. David

Dear Les, Thank you for your kind message.  So glad your son enjoys my work!  Look out for the return of MOLE'S BEDTIME STORY (Random House) in January. All good wishes, David

Dear Sara, So glad you like THE GINGERBREAD MAN.  Have your read the storybook version too?  I realised the other day that THE GINGERBREAD MAN (the play) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year!  It would be nice to celebrate this by putting on a production, possibly in London.  But these things are not always easy to arrange! Glad you have the video.  In fact there were two videos released, but when the company who made the television programmes was taken over, the policy changed, and no further episodes were made.  Shame! Thanks for your message, David

Dear Amy,



Lovely to hear from you! I'm delighted that you enjoy being one of the flock in BABE, THE SHEEP-PIG. All the sheep work extremely hard, and the audience reaction shows how well everybody is acting.



Melody is much better, and, as you know, still gives a wonderful performance as Ma.



Have you seen the wonderful review on www.londontheatre.co.uk? There is a whole paragraph devoted to the sheep and puppies, and how good you all are! Show it to Freddie!



I am not sure what my next production will be that includes children. But I can tell you that DANNY THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD goes into rehearsal next month. It will be touring for two years! I am not directing it myself, but have adapted it from Roald Dahl's splendid book.



See you soon! So glad you are having a good time at the Open Air Theatre!



Best wishes,



David

Dear Andrew, So glad you like the television programmes based on my play, THE GINGERBREAD MAN.  I agree that it would be nice to see the programmes on television again! Best wishes, David

Dear Simon, Thank you for your kind comments about THE GINGERBREAD MAN.  I would love to make some new episodes, but the company that originally made it was sold to another company, who were not interested in making more episodes.  Maybe I should try to find another company! Best wishes, David

Dear Toby, You are very kind!  I have thoroughly enjoyed my career, writing, performing and directing plays for children.  For me, the enthusiastic response of children means much more than from adults!  Children are more of a challenge!  I don't think I am really "unique".  There are lots of people who passionately enjoy producing work for children.  But your flattering message was delightful to receive! Best wishes, David