The play's the thing.

In March I will be once more attending Adamscon, an informal convention of friends and gamers in a Blackpool Hotel for the purposes of catching up with one another, and playing games.

I have the dubious honour of being asked to write a play or performance for part of the Saturday Night entertainment. Normally a witty and humourous exploration of either some aspect or genre of gaming, but normally it ends up being a cross between 'Carry on', the Lord of the Rings and a few game related jokes thrown in.

But after no fewer than 15 plays of this type including the Sir Roger series (9 of them), a zombie/superhero crossover called 'THE STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM SYRUP, BRAIN EATING ZOMBIE, PLOT TO DESTROY THE WORLD DILEMMA CRISIS', 'Claude of the Dings' about a group of gamers flicking between gaming styles and even Sir Roger: The Musical, I am starting to think that the well has run dry.

The current project, 'Darkrise to Mandelson' relies on three very important factors.

Firstly that the audience has watched or is at least aware of the BBC sunday night, easy going, light before monday, drama series 'Larkrise to Candleford'. Lots of very clean but poor 19th Century folk from a rich and a poor town or village going about their business. Hence the very subtle play on words in my little production.

Secondly, that I am able to try to think of some new crude jokes that haven't been done before, or that were in the earlier plays so nobody will remember them.

Thirdly, that I can find 4 actors and 2 actresses that can get together vaguely old fashioned outfits so they look the part.

So if any of you attendees are reading this, tell me.

And be it known that trying to keep a mixed group of thirty odd gamers with a variety of interests entertained for an hour is not easy!

And if you are interested in this forthcoming convention on the weekend of the 13th March, drop me or Mr Adams (Q&L Opposite) a line.

And finally, West Country bumpkin type accents are a must as are stuffed farmyard animals.

And did I mention beer is involved?