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Tape 1 Unedited:
Sue Townsend talks about her working routine and describes how she used to use the fear of letting people down as a motivation.
She mentions writing the Adrian Mole book on the kitchen table with family about but prefers solitude.
She talks about writing in longhand, writer's block, future achievements, her life pre-success (multiple takes)
The Interviewer, Chris Challis asks all his questions in isolation, with the camera pointing at him (multiple takes)
Overhead shot of Sue writing on foolscap; shot of her editing a typed manuscript.
The camera settles on various objects in the room - a box of cigarettes balancing on bottles of anti smoking tablets, some of her books, mole ornaments on a shelf, Adrian Mole in different languages, photos etc.
‘Atmos track’ is recorded.
Tape 2 Unedited:
Chris Challis reads from the diary entries of Nigel Mole, aged 14 and three quarters published in a now defunct arts magazine. He then introduces Sue Townsend, who describes how the diaries came into being (multiple takes)
Sue goes on to talk about Adrian’s tragic character; the changes success have brought to her life; her intention to write further Mole books; the American response to the books; the plays she’s writing to encourage people to come to the theatre.
The Interviewer, Chris Challis asks all his questions in isolation, with the camera pointing at him (multiple takes)
‘Atmos track’ is recorded.
Tape 3 Unedited:
The author talks about the first play she wrote for the stage ‘Womberang’; her writing style and writing for the Phoenix Theatre & the Royal Court.
She describes the public response to her play ‘The great Celestial Cow’ for the Joint Stock Company.
Sue explains how her experiences with the NHS fed into her plays ‘Dayroom’ and ‘Womberang’.
She goes on to talk about her sense of justice, being angry; capitalism; the power of books and plays.
The tape ends with her concerns about adult literacy. She touches on the poor level of journalism in today's tabloids and newspapers, books as her salvation; the kids she knew who couldn’t read and she taught to read, her play ‘Are you sitting comfortably’.
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