In our profile series, Tell Us In Ten, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions. From how they got their start in the industry to their favourite shows, we want to know everything.
This week on the series, we speak with Danny James King, the playwright behind Miss Myrtle’s Garden, which opens on 31 May at the Bush Theatre. Based in London, Danny’s debut play Bounty was the runner-up for the Alfred Fagon Award and received a rehearsed reading at The Tricycle Theatre (now the Kiln Theatre) the following year. A film adaptation of Bounty is currently in development with Joi Productions.
1. My route into theatre was…
I did the Royal Court Young Writer’s Program and then had the honour of being mentored by Stephen Jeffreys.
2. The thing I love most about my job is…
The amount I learn from it. If I get an idea, I start immersing myself in the subject matter and learn new things that inform my understanding of the world. With Miss Myrtle’s Garden, I’ve learnt about everything from the disparity of outdoor spaces for minorities in the UK, to alcoholism, to West Indian spirituality, to dementia.
3. My favourite show from present or past (that isn’t one I have worked on) is…
Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti in 2012 directed by Indhu Rubasingham at The Kiln (which was then The Tricycle). The sheer force of Adrian Lester’s performance really blew me away and the storyline about the first Black actor to play Othello on stage in the UK was so beautifully told.
4. A misconception about my job is…
That it’s solitary. It’s far more collaborative than people realise. As the writer, I build the world myself and tell the story, but when you bring in the director, dramaturg and actors, as well as the creative team, things tend to get built on top of what you’ve written and it’s really beautiful to see people taking ownership of your world.
5. The hardest part about my job is…
Being able to switch off from it. Inspiration strikes whenever it feels like it and the traditional things you would do to switch off, like watching TV for example, usually have the adverse effect for writers and you end up getting inspired at 11PM at night, right when you were dozing off.
6. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
Meeting the Dalai Lama while working at The House of Commons. Writing has taken me to a lot of places but that was the coolest.
7. On my days off I like to…
I like to go for long walks with my dog Boycie while catching up on my podcasts.
8. My daily work rituals include…
Coffee and fags.
9. My inspiration is…
Coffee and fags.
10. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
Honestly, it’s simple – just start. Just get it down. You can make it good later, but just get it down on the page.
Get your tickets to see Miss Myrtle’s Garden at the Bush Theatre from 31 May until 12 July.