It's strange how things often change entirely from what you originally intended. 'Gray' came from just that. An idea born from the desperate realisation that my steampunk-themed play, 'Steam Beast' is too far-fetched for my budget. This still being my imaginary budget that will somehow pay for equipment and venue hire in one of Bath's busiest times of the year for creative people - The Bath Fringe.
      Though I would normally champion the idea of the risk 'Steam Beast' presents to myself, I would have no idea how to finance something that large. A play that fantastical would have to be grand on some scale, my student loan and part-time job barely cover my lifestyle as it is. I might have to grow a fond attachment to VERY watery soup before the year's out..
     Though talking about making a Steampunk play with people was exciting, I simply don't believe I could deliver on it. Yet. Were 'Steam Beast' my only creative project this year, I could of course dedicate all spare time towards it. Unfortunately, University, with all it's conflicting deadlines, means I lack the time, rather than the motivation or desire to create 'Steam Beast'.
     And so 'Gray' was born, after I realised my pipedream for 'Steam Beast' had amounted to nothing more than a headache the night before my portfolio was due, and very little work to show. That amount of work was sorely reduced by the untimely demise of a HDD which had all of my most recent Uni deadlines in up-to-date forms. Including said portfolio for 'Steam Beast'. So, after a rash email to several tutors about my predicament, I was told in a calm reply to work on my portfolio over the Christmas holidays. Which I have done. Kind of..
     The title of 'Gray' comes from the titular character from the notorious 'The Picture of Dorian Gray', by the equally infamous Oscar Wilde. I plan to modernise the tale, simply because modern dress, or at least that of the past ten or twenty years (I'll come back to that) is considerably easier and cheaper to source than period costume from when the novel was set. Also, despite it's age, and style of language, I feel within Wilde's piece are a great many timeless aspects. Not all of them are original, granted, but Wilde joined said themes together, and helped what I consider to be a timeless piece of Gothic literature.
     A character concerned only with public and self-image Dorian Gray represents an aspect of society which is well-copied but rarely addressed. Those often untalented few, who seek fame and fortune for simply being themselves; becoming willing objects of social farce and topical debate for profitable gains. I forsee Dorian Gray becoming one of these people, and entering into their sordid world; oblivious and naive at first, but becoming the worst example by the play's end..
    Also, I would like a good deal of time to pass within the play, so envision it starting within the 1980s, ending in the present day. My concerns with my concept is that there may not be enough local interest in a piece such as this, so I will be changing the initial location of novel from in and around London to entirely in the Bath area. Though some aspects of this may or may not work, I have from now until the end of January to audition for actors, whilst simultaneously developing the play.
      Whether this is what I finally create I am unsure of at this point. From past experiences, I've found forcing a play down a pre-determined design makes the piece itself seem forced - some of the greatest things ever created in theatre, cinema and television have all been accidents, after all. Though I hope 'Gray' isn't remembered as an accident or an overall mistake in my (hopefully) long career, I can only risk creating it. As Charlie Kaufman so beautifully said:
