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Dennis Potter archive offers glimpse into mind of celebrated writer Dennis Potter archive offers glimpse into mind of celebrated writer
(3 months later)
The settings and themes will be familiar to Dennis Potter enthusiasts: suburban living rooms, hospitals, remote woods in which unsettling dramas centred on alienation, class and repression are played out.The settings and themes will be familiar to Dennis Potter enthusiasts: suburban living rooms, hospitals, remote woods in which unsettling dramas centred on alienation, class and repression are played out.
For the first time this weekend deep in Potter's forest homeland, fans will be able to view unpublished works and fragments that give glimpses into the mind of the man celebrated for television classics such as The Singing Detective and Pennies from Heaven.For the first time this weekend deep in Potter's forest homeland, fans will be able to view unpublished works and fragments that give glimpses into the mind of the man celebrated for television classics such as The Singing Detective and Pennies from Heaven.
During his lifetime Potter claimed he destroyed his drafts and unmade works, but after his death dozens of cardboard boxes crammed with his writing, much of it in his painfully neat handwriting, were found in an agent's offices.During his lifetime Potter claimed he destroyed his drafts and unmade works, but after his death dozens of cardboard boxes crammed with his writing, much of it in his painfully neat handwriting, were found in an agent's offices.
Following an extraordinary fundraising effort by residents of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, where Potter was born, the archive was secured for the area and is being painstakingly archived at a heritage centre.Following an extraordinary fundraising effort by residents of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, where Potter was born, the archive was secured for the area and is being painstakingly archived at a heritage centre.
John Cook, a professor of media at Glasgow Caledonian University, said the hunt through Potter's papers, still in its relatively early stages, had yielded treasures.John Cook, a professor of media at Glasgow Caledonian University, said the hunt through Potter's papers, still in its relatively early stages, had yielded treasures.
Among them are several drafts of a novel called The Country Boy, believed to have been started in the late 1950s. It appears to be partly autobiographical. Like Potter, the eponymous boy comes from "the Forest, the land on its own" and like Potter's, his father is a miner, his face etched with "blue coal scars".Among them are several drafts of a novel called The Country Boy, believed to have been started in the late 1950s. It appears to be partly autobiographical. Like Potter, the eponymous boy comes from "the Forest, the land on its own" and like Potter's, his father is a miner, his face etched with "blue coal scars".
It was not published but Cook said scenes and ideas from The Country Boy appeared in later Potter works including The Singing Detective, when the hospitalised protagonist has flashbacks to his childhood in the forest.It was not published but Cook said scenes and ideas from The Country Boy appeared in later Potter works including The Singing Detective, when the hospitalised protagonist has flashbacks to his childhood in the forest.
Also found was a fragment of a television play called In Memoriam, in which Potter imagined the camera "drifting down a long suburban road hedged with privet". A voiceover recites a rhyme: "To be with you in the same old way/Would be my dearest wish today."Also found was a fragment of a television play called In Memoriam, in which Potter imagined the camera "drifting down a long suburban road hedged with privet". A voiceover recites a rhyme: "To be with you in the same old way/Would be my dearest wish today."
The play was never produced but one of the principal characters in Brimstone and Treacle (which featured Sting in the film version) was a writer of verse for bereavement cards.The play was never produced but one of the principal characters in Brimstone and Treacle (which featured Sting in the film version) was a writer of verse for bereavement cards.
"What is interesting is how Potter had an idea for a scene or character and then constantly played around with it and eventually wove it in somewhere," said Cook. "With Potter nothing got wasted, he constantly recycled. It means there are hundreds, thousands of connections running through the work.""What is interesting is how Potter had an idea for a scene or character and then constantly played around with it and eventually wove it in somewhere," said Cook. "With Potter nothing got wasted, he constantly recycled. It means there are hundreds, thousands of connections running through the work."
One of the most intriguing fragments is seven pages of an untitled play set in a hospital. Blake is a "short, stocky, seedy-looking 40-year-old" man waiting in a hospital for an appointment. Nurses bustle through while "an occasional godlike doctor with his magic stethoscope" appears.One of the most intriguing fragments is seven pages of an untitled play set in a hospital. Blake is a "short, stocky, seedy-looking 40-year-old" man waiting in a hospital for an appointment. Nurses bustle through while "an occasional godlike doctor with his magic stethoscope" appears.
Casual Potter-watchers may be reminded of the setting for The Singing Detective while the keener – and there is a growing band of ever more dedicated fans – may recognise the scene from a 1969 play called Moonlight on the Highway. The aficionados might even recall that Blake is the name of a character (played by Bob Hoskins) in the less well known drama Schmoedipus.Casual Potter-watchers may be reminded of the setting for The Singing Detective while the keener – and there is a growing band of ever more dedicated fans – may recognise the scene from a 1969 play called Moonlight on the Highway. The aficionados might even recall that Blake is the name of a character (played by Bob Hoskins) in the less well known drama Schmoedipus.
A full text of an unproduced television play called Mushroom on Toast from the early seventies can also be viewed by visitors to the Dean Heritage Centre on Saturday.A full text of an unproduced television play called Mushroom on Toast from the early seventies can also be viewed by visitors to the Dean Heritage Centre on Saturday.
A wife and mother in her mid-30s "thickening a bit but attractive still" is "enduring a surprise visit from two menacing young Americans". According to Potter's detailed stage directions, written in block capitals, they look at her "with huntsman-like intensity".A wife and mother in her mid-30s "thickening a bit but attractive still" is "enduring a surprise visit from two menacing young Americans". According to Potter's detailed stage directions, written in block capitals, they look at her "with huntsman-like intensity".
It is a familiar Potter theme of the period – a lonely housewife longing to break free visited by strange representatives – with an interesting subplot about genetically modified food.It is a familiar Potter theme of the period – a lonely housewife longing to break free visited by strange representatives – with an interesting subplot about genetically modified food.
The marginalia will interest some. On the front of one work he has calculated the number of words he has written – Potter was also keen to keep track – and in another he has scribbled football results from the 1966 World Cup.The marginalia will interest some. On the front of one work he has calculated the number of words he has written – Potter was also keen to keep track – and in another he has scribbled football results from the 1966 World Cup.
Though several of the pieces have the haunting voiceovers for which Potter's work is well known, they are largely devoid of the non-naturalistic devices such as the lip-synch technique in which characters would mime to popular songs. "I suppose this is Dennis Potter before he became Dennis Potter," said Cook.Though several of the pieces have the haunting voiceovers for which Potter's work is well known, they are largely devoid of the non-naturalistic devices such as the lip-synch technique in which characters would mime to popular songs. "I suppose this is Dennis Potter before he became Dennis Potter," said Cook.
Collections officer Phillippa Turner, one of those overseeing the archiving, said Potter continued to split opinion in the Forest of Dean, which he portrayed with brutal honesty in the documentary Between Two Rivers and in his film Blue Remembered Hills. "I don't think he would mind that, it's not art if it doesn't divide," she said.Collections officer Phillippa Turner, one of those overseeing the archiving, said Potter continued to split opinion in the Forest of Dean, which he portrayed with brutal honesty in the documentary Between Two Rivers and in his film Blue Remembered Hills. "I don't think he would mind that, it's not art if it doesn't divide," she said.
When there seemed a danger the Potter archive would be sold to America, however, local people leapt into action. The community group, Voices in the Forest, together with the Dean Heritage Centre and the University of Gloucestershire worked to make sure the archive was secured for the area.When there seemed a danger the Potter archive would be sold to America, however, local people leapt into action. The community group, Voices in the Forest, together with the Dean Heritage Centre and the University of Gloucestershire worked to make sure the archive was secured for the area.
Jason Griffiths, a leading light in the Voices group, said: "The forest was an essential part of who Potter is and I think this archive will inspire a new generation of academics as well as fans and local people to look more deeply into his life and work."Jason Griffiths, a leading light in the Voices group, said: "The forest was an essential part of who Potter is and I think this archive will inspire a new generation of academics as well as fans and local people to look more deeply into his life and work."
ExtractsExtracts
The Country Boy The Country Boy
They called him "a country boy" at school despite his white face and slight, nervous appearance. The Fulham kids named him so because his speech gave him away. Swede and turnip speech. But, the newcomer found it impossible to explain, he came from a hilly, green and lovely certainly, yet coal-mining part of England, on the border of Wales. The Forest, the land on its own. Not just the country.They called him "a country boy" at school despite his white face and slight, nervous appearance. The Fulham kids named him so because his speech gave him away. Swede and turnip speech. But, the newcomer found it impossible to explain, he came from a hilly, green and lovely certainly, yet coal-mining part of England, on the border of Wales. The Forest, the land on its own. Not just the country.
Mushroom on Toast Mushroom on Toast
Book-lined living room. Janet Poole, wife and mother, mid-thirties, thickening a bit but attractive still, is enduring a surprise visit from two menacing-looking Americans — distinctly executive types — and is giving them coffee and biscuits. The two Americans, relaxed and alert, sit on opposite sides of the large room. She is not yet in the room.Book-lined living room. Janet Poole, wife and mother, mid-thirties, thickening a bit but attractive still, is enduring a surprise visit from two menacing-looking Americans — distinctly executive types — and is giving them coffee and biscuits. The two Americans, relaxed and alert, sit on opposite sides of the large room. She is not yet in the room.
Clyde (hiss): Lots of books.Clyde (hiss): Lots of books.
Jim: Too many.Jim: Too many.
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