An Exclusive Interview with "Tinsel Town Trilogy" author, PT Rose

Summer 2020, Surrey. 

 

I was invited by Karen Struel-White, Executive Director of KSW Productions, to exclusively interview PT Rose, author of the ‘Tinsel Town Trilogy’

Interview processes have changed during the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19, they are carried out safely via social distancing.  The interview with PT Rose is interspersed with supplementary information.   

 

(CWW) – The name PT Rose.  What does P. T. stand for?

 

(PTR) – “I am always asked this question more than any other. I have never revealed this publicly before, but you are such a persuasive interviewer Charles! Full name is Paxton Tiberius Rose.”

 

(CWW) – What did you do before you became a playwright?

 

(PTR) – “Technically speaking I have always written plays. There was never a moment when I ‘became a writer’. It sorts of evolved over many decades. I began as a short story writer. The first story I wrote was when I was around 8 years old. A tale of love and death and stolen sweets in the classroom. I clearly recall My teacher at Brynmill Junior school, Mrs Lewis (she was a Miss Jones but married during the year) summoning the headmaster Mr Anthony. He glanced up from the sheet I had written on. Staring at me for what seemed like forever before turning cautiously to Mrs Lewis and saying.

‘Strange – better keep an eye on this one’.”



Brynmill School,
Trafalgar Place, Swansea
 

Brynmill School, Trafalgar Place, is a red brick building with distinctive pitched roofs, having been built on the crest of a hill, 1896, dominates the Swansea skyline.  When it first opened, the school accommodate over a thousand pupils.  Boys and girls were taught in separate classrooms, unlike today.  

During the Second World War, Swansea suffered during the bombing of February 1941. Brynmill School was damaged during the last night 21^st February 1941.

Trafalgar Place, with another road in Brynmill, Waterloo Place, was named after famous battles of the Napoleonic Wars

(CWW) – What qualities and qualifications do you have to obtain to become a professional playwright?

 

(PTR) – “That is an easy one. No qualifications required. Just start thinking and then once you have some ideas write them down. Writers write. Wannabe writers find excuses not to write and end up paying fortunes for a course that ‘promises’ to turn you into a writer. Just get on with it.”

 

(CWW) – How do you get your work to be spotted by a theatre producer?

 

(PTR) – “It’s never been easier to get noticed. The internet gives instant access to the people that might be helpful in your aspirations. It helps enormously to have a web presence. I would advise setting up a blog or a website featuring your work. When I wrote my first full length play and wanted to reach out to a producer, I made an audio recording of the first 5 pages. My friends gathered around a mobile phone and we recorded those 5 pages – having sunk a crate of beer beforehand. It was such fun. The I sent an email to a producer with a link to my website where the audio of the pages had been uploaded. A week later I get an email inviting me to a meeting with the producer and his associates in London. Basically, don’t think THEY will come looking for you – you need to make them NOTICE YOU in the first place.”

 

(CWW) – As a playwright do you belong to a Professional Union?

 

(PTR) – “There are some trade association such as the Writers Guild, but I don’t belong.”

 

The Writers Guild, or its full title, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain (WGGB) was established in 1959, when it was then known as the Television and Screen Writers’ Guild. This was successor to the 1938, Screenwriters’ Association.  During the 1960s, with the change of name to the present one, the union expanded to cover radio, and book writers.

 

Writers Guild Logo

 

(CWW) – In your first play of the Tinsel Town Trilogy, “3 Knights and two Welshmen”, what research was carried out to be able to write the play?



3 Knights and two Welshmen
(2019)
PT Rose
 

(PTR) – “All the source material in the play was readily available in books in movies, articles etc. There is acres of stuff about Richard Burton and his life and of course Dylan Thomas plus the 3 Knights, Olivier, Gielgud and Richardson. During the research phase, as luck would have it, Tony Palmer the famed film maker and director of Burton in ‘Wagner’ became aware of the script. His support really launched the play onto its path to success.”



Sir John Gielgud OM, CH
 

 The principal characters in “3 Knights and two Welshmen” – Three Knights, Sir John Gielgud OM, CH.  Arthur John Gielgud, born April 1904, South Kensington.  Gielgud was an English actor, and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades.  His first role, as Herald then aged 17 years old, was in The Old Vic, November 1921, production of Henry V, to last his appearance on stage as Compere at the London Palladium, July 1990, Royal Birthday Gala.

 

Gielgud’s films roles included as Daniel in 1924, film ‘Who Is The Man?’ to Protagonist in 2000, ‘Catastrophe’.  Gielgud was knighted in 1953, dying in May 2000. His funeral was a quiet one in Wotton parish church, and later his ashes were scattered in the rose garden of his home. 

 

Lord Olivier OM

Lord Olivier OM.  Laurence Kerr Olivier born May 1907, Dorking.  Oliver was an English actor and director.  He made his first appearance on stage, August 1925, aged 18 as a Policeman in Arnold Ridley’s ‘The Ghost Train’.  His last appearance on stage, April 1986 as Akash in ‘Time’.

 

 

Olivier first role in a film, was The Man in the 1930 film ‘Too Many Crooks’ to his posthumous role as Dr Totenkopf in the 2004 film, ‘Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow’.  Olivier, who was knighted in 1947, was given a Life Peerage in 1970.  He died July 1989.  His ashes are interred at Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey. 

 

 



Sir Ralph Richardson

Sir Ralph Richardson. Ralph David Richardson born December 1902, Cheltenham.  Richardson was an English actor.  His first role as Nigel Hartley in the 1933 film, ‘The Ghoul’ to his final posthumous role as Uncle Willie in the 1985 film, ‘Invitation to the Wedding’.   Richardson was knighted, 1947, dying October 1983, buried at Highgate Cemetery.

 

All three aforementioned knights, along with their contemporary, Peggy Ashcroft, dominated the British stage of the mid-20^th century. 

 

 

 

Welsh men, Richard Burton CBE, born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr., born November 1925, at Pontrhydyfen, Glamorgan.  Pontrhydyfen, is also the birthplace of Broadway theatre and musical star, Ivor Emmanuel.

 

Richard Burton

Burton, the Welsh actor, also noted for his mellifluous baritone voice. During the 1950s he establishes himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor.  Burton’s extensive career primarily on stage and in film.  His first role, as Gareth in the 1949 film ‘The Last Days of Dolwyn’ to his last role as O’Brien in the 1984 ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, based on George Orwell’s 1949 novel of the same name

 

Burton is the narrator in Jack Howell’s, 1962 short documentary film ‘Dylan Thomas’.  Burton started as Mark Anthony in the high-grossing film of 1963, ‘Cleopatra’, where Burton starred with future wife Elizabeth Taylor, marrying for the first time to her, the following year, 1964.   Burton had previously been married to Sybil Williams.  After his marriage to Elizabeth Taylor ended in a divorce, 1974.  Burton and Taylor remarried during 1975 only divorcing the following year.  Burton’s further marriage included Suzy Miller, 1976 and divorcing 1982 and Sally Hay, 1983

 

Before the release of ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’, October 1984, Burton, died August 1984, from a brain haemorrhage, at his home Celigny, Switzerland, and later where he is buried.  Burton who is buried with copies of Dylan Thomas’s poems is buried a few paces away from the Scottish novelist, Alistair MacLean, author of ‘Where Eagles Dare’, 1968.  Also made into a film, which Burton stared in as Jonathan Smith.

 

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Thomas, born October 1914, Swansea.  Thomas, the Welsh poet and writer, whose works include ‘Do not go gentle into the good night’ first written 1947, when the Thomas family were holidaying in Florence, then published firstly in 1951, in the literal journal ‘Botteghe Oscure’, then published as part as part of Thomas’ ‘In Country Sleep, And Other Poems’, 1952.   Thomas also wrote the 1954, radio drama ‘Under Milk Wood’. 

 

Thomas, who met in 1937, and later married Caitlin Macnamara.  1938, they moved to the village of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire and permanently settling there from 1949. 

 

 

 

Thomas first travelled during the 1950s the United States, and it during his fourth trip to New York, 1953, that Thomas became ill and fell into a coma.  

Dylan Thomas' Memorial Stone
Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey

Thomas died on the 9^th November.  His body was returned to the United Kingdom, where he is buried at St. Martin’s Church, Laugharne.  His grave is marked by a simple white cross.  Thomas also has a memorial stone at Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The four actors, starred alongside each other in 1981, epic ‘Wagner’, directed by Tony Palmer

 

(CWW) – In your second play of the Tinsel Town Trilogy, “HollywoodLand”, what research was carried out to be able to write the play?

Hollywoodland
(2020)
PT Rose

 

(PTR) – “I was in Los Angles making a documentary about the Welsh actor Gareth Hughes when I took a research trip to the archives of the University of Nevada. There I found a newspaper cutting from the Los Angeles Times dated December 25^th, 1963. In it Hedda discussed her friendship with Gareth. It was mind blowing to connect this little-known actor from Llanelli with a Hollywood Icon. It took almost 10 years for that play to be premiered.

 

(SEE IMAGE BELOW)”



 

Los Angeles Times
December 25th 1963 

 

 

 

Gareth Hughes

Gareth Hughes, born William John Hughes, August 1894, Dafen, Carmarthenshire.  Hughes the Welsh stage, and silent screen actor of the 1920s.  Hughes who as a child, performed on the stage, joined a group of Welsh players.  It was this group that toured the United States, although they were not successfully, Hughes was spotted in Chicago.  By the end of 1915, he had made it successfully on Broadway. This in turned led to success on the silver screen, where Hughes in his first role played Billy Clark in the 1918 film, ‘And the Children Pay’.  Hughes role was in the 1931 film ‘Scareheads’.

 

Hughes lost his fortune during the 1929 Wall Street crash.  1940, Hughes experienced a religious calling, adopting the name of Bother David.  1944 for the next 14 years, Hughes became a Christian missionary to the Paiute Indians on the Pyramid Lake Reservation, Nevada.  
 

 

Hughes returned back to Llanelli in 1958, only staying for 5 months, returning back to California.  Hughes died October 1965.  His ashes are interred at the Masonic Memorial Garden cemetery, Reno, Nevada.

Hedda Hooper

Hedda Hopper, born Elda Furry, May 1885, Pennsylvania.  Hooper the American gossip columnist and actress.  Hooper continued to write gossip column until the end of her life.  Her column was titled “Hedda Hooper’s Hollywood”. She was feared by most people, as being vindictive, cruel and unrepentant, and one of the driving forces the behind the creation of the Hollywood blacklist, established during the 1930s and 1940s, during the height of the Great Depression and the Second World War. 

Even thought, Hopper was able to destroy the careers of many, her friendship to Hughes remained.  They both acted together in the 1919 film ‘The Isle of Conquest’

 

Hopper died February 1966 and buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Pennsylvania.

 

(CWW) – In your third play of the Tinsel Town Trilogy, “One night with Marilyn”, what research was carried out to be able to write the play?

One Night with Marilyn
(2020)
PT Rose

(PTR) – “That play came about again from my time in LA.  I was writing a film script about Sammy Davis Junior and discovered the friendship with Marilyn – then I got hooked.  The Marilyn play was to have premiered this year but Covid had caused a postponement.  Hopefully, that will stage at The Dylan Thomas Theatre on her birthday next year June 1^st, 2021.”

 

Marilyn Monroe

 Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jane Mortenson, June 1926, Los Angeles.  Monroe the American actress, model and singer.  She became one of the world’s iconic figures.  Monroe first appeared on the silver screen as Evie in the 1947 film ‘Dangerous Years’ to her final role Ellen Arden in unfinished 1962 film ‘Something’s Got to Give’.  Monroe’s most notable roles are in the 1953 film, ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’, 1955 film ‘The Seven Year Itch’, 1957 film ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ and the 1959 film ‘Some Like It Hot’.

 

 

 

 

Left - Right
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953; The Seven Year Itch, 1955;
The Prince and the Showgirl, 1957 and Some Like It Hot, 1959 

 

Monroe died August 1962, from an overdose of barbiturates and is buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, Los Angeles.

 (CWW) – What connects the three plays of the Trilogy?

 

(PTR) – “Great question. Aside from Hedda who connects all three main protagonists Burton, Hughes and Monroe – it is about the corruption of the soul which results after earthly desires are satisfied. Fame. Power. Wealth. Celebrity – they all mean Jack Shit.  The fundamentally most important issue is family and truth.  Burton deserted his, Hughes never really had one and we know Marilyn’s problems were rooted in issues involving her mother and absent father.”

 

(CWW) – Whilst writing the paly did you have in your mind’s eye; which actor would be best suited to paly certain roles?

 

(PTR) – “Interesting you should ask that. The answer is no. I am imaging the actual characters themselves as they play out the various scenes on the silver screen in my mind.  What actors play them on stage and screen is of VERY little interest to me. That is something that funders, producers and directors get all excited about.”

 

(CWW) – Did you have much of a say as the direction of the play was performed?

 

(PTR) – “In the early days I did hand my plays over in their entirety to producers and directors. I thought they knew what they were doing. As things turned out I was fooled, and the plays suffered as a result. In one case I didn’t even recognise the play when I went to see it. Now I’m not so trusting and have my own production company which develops and produces my scripts. If they fail under these circumstances it will be my fault.”

 

(CWW) – In the recent events with the world’s pandemic, is there a feeling that it is going to harder for a playwright to write a play and get it performed?  What does the future hold?

 

(PTR) – “Its not harder to write – in fact, the time off has provided more people with the freedom to start writing. The drama business is changing, however. The West End style show for £50 a ticket, £20 programme and a £5 hot dog are HOPEFULLY coming to an end and we can return to a cleaner more honest kind of theatre. A theatre open to all at affordable prices and which gives new talent a chance. The theatre as we knew it might be dead, but ‘theatre’ has far from snuffed it.”

Dylan Thomas Theatre
Gloucester Place, Swansea

I would like to give a huge thanks, to both Karen Struel-White, for the invitation and PT Rose, who provided the answers in the exclusive interview.