In Conversation with Alistair McDowall
Alistair McDowall is “interested only in writing plays that absolutely have to be plays, that fully exploit theatre’s unique potential as a live, collective experience” (The Independent). He returns to the Royal Court with his new play, The Glow, winner of the 2018 Pinter Commission, which opens in January 2022 in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs.
His previous work at the Court includes all of it, X and Talk Show (Open Court).
Welcome back to the Court, Ali, last time you were with us was for all of it in February 2020. I know you’ve probably been asked this many times but, how was your lockdown?
My daughter was born one week before lockdown one so it’s been a strange year all round. I felt lucky we managed to sneak all of it in before everything happened and luckier still that my first show back is at the Court as well.
Speaking of all of it, The Glow will be your fourth play here at the Court. What is it about this theatre that keeps you coming back?
The Royal Court is my artistic home. I’ve never felt as supported and looked after as I have working here. I’m given enormous encouragement here to be ambitious and grow as a writer. I’ve also run quite a few writing groups over the years so it’s not just about my work. It still feels wonderful coming here and having people stop and say hello on the stairs.
The Glow was initially programmed for our (eventually-postponed) 2020 summer season and it’s so exciting to see the production finally going ahead. How are you feeling about the prospect of this play being brought to life?
Mostly just hoping we manage to get on with as little disruption as possible! I’ve been writing this play for years, so the very idea of sitting and watching it with an audience still seems like a fantasy.
What’s your writing style, and does it change from play to play? We’ve heard you wrote a lot of The Glow in the dark(!)?
I mostly write everything in the dark. I’m so easily distracted that I tend to write by hand, with the blinds drawn. It’s quite a depressing way to work but at the moment it’s the only way I get results.
The Glow by Alistair McDowall plays from 21 Jan – 5 Mar, to book please visit here.
Photo credit: Johan Persson