The tenth
anniversary of Dennis Potter's death this year will be commemorated
by the Voices in the Forest festival, which features a week of events
culminating in a day of celebration on Sunday June 27.
Potter
is arguably the most famous Forester of his generation.
Born
in 1935 in the village of Berry Hill near Coleford, the son of a
coalminer, by his death in 1994 he had dominated British screen
drama for almost three decades.
From
the age of 26 he was afflicted with Psoriaic Arthropathy, a disease
which combines the symptoms of skin disease psoriasis and arthritis.
Prior
to this he had pursued careers in journalism and politics, but his
illness forced him to withdraw from the public eye.
Writing
Potter
decided to concentrate on his writing, first rising to prominence
in 1965 when four of his plays were transmitted in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s respected
Wednesday Play slot, which was dedicated to cutting-edge contemporary
drama.
His
non-naturalistic style was partly a reaction to what he described
as the "dreary" drama of the time.
Potter's
plays featured surreal touches such as characters breaking into
song (Pennies From Heaven, which made a star of Bob Hoskins) and
children played by adults (Blue Remembered Hills).
 |
| Michael
Gambon in The Singing Detective |
Influential
During
his career he wrote 28 plays, including The Singing Detective, Brimstone
And Treacle and Lipstick On Your Collar, which provided actor Ewan
Macgregor with his first major starring role.
In
February 1994 Potter was diagnosed as suffering from pancreatic
cancer.
Against
the medical odds he survived another four months to complete his
works Cold Lazarus and Karaoke, which, in an unusual colloboration,
were broadcast on both Channel 4 and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½1.
Festival
You
can learn more about Potter and the Forest of Dean at the Voices
in the Forest community festival.
Work
is already under way with schools and community groups to produce
new work for the week-long festival, which will include talks, music
and screenings.
| Voices
In The Forest |
| Venue |
Beechenhurt,
Forest Of Dean |
| Date |
Sunday
June 27 |
| Info |
|
|
This
year sees the tenth anniversary of the death of the writer Dennis
Potter, a coalminer's son from the Forest whose life will be celebrated
at the Voices In The Forest festival.
