Through the Dragon’s Eye

Hello there!

I talked last week about nostalgia and a Nursery Rhymes video. I was staying with my friends Callum – for whom I copied said video – and Sami, who mentioned a children’s programme she remembered, called Through The Dragon’s Eye. Because nostalgia flicks a tiny switch when someone else recalls something you do, my eyes lit up at this: “I watched that too!”

In fact, I watched several of those kinds of mini-series at primary school. They included educational sections around the story, and at a certain time every school year, we’d watch a new episode every Friday morning. We’d then have accompanying worksheets to complete. The first one I remember was set during the blitz, and followed a group of young evacuees. The next year it was about endangered birds and illegal egg collectors (this one turned me into a young birdwatcher), and the next was called Through the Dragon’s Eye. The story began with a group of kids looking at a mural of a dragon in their school playground. When the dragon, Gorwen, winks at them, they step through his eye and into another world, which is in danger from the evil Charn. It turns out they’re the only ones who can save it -by using their reading skills. It’s a wild ride.

We talk a lot in storytelling about the moment the protagonist and audience are pulled from one world into another. Whether it’s Harry into the Wizarding World, or Luke into the Rebellion, or Bilbo (and later Frodo) out of the Shire. John Yorke describes this moment as a journey into the woods, which is also the title of his book on stories. Perhaps it was the power of storytelling, or perhaps watching a video was simply preferable to an actual lesson, but I was so captivated by Through the Dragon’s Eye that I actually wrote to Nintendo to ask them to make it into a game. I described the moves each character could do – like throwing their backpack at enemies – and that the final level would require you to play as Gorwen, who was the only one capable of shielding the toxic breath of the evil Charn, using his wings (obviously). Mum helped me photocopy some of my worksheets at the library, so I could cut out pictures of the characters and stick them onto the letter, to help make my case. When I posted it, I wondered if they’d actually make it and – if they did – if they might give me a free copy of the game as payment for the idea (that’s how it works, surely?).

I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but this was my first ever fan letter, and an attempt to bridge two worlds I loved. Nor was I aware that Through the Dragon’s Eye was not just a title, but a narrative device. It’s something I spent a lot of time thinking about last week, in regard to Fanboy: how might this show set up its world and protagonist for an audience, and where could it take them in order to tell the story?

When we make theatre, we put a lot of things out into the world not knowing what might come back. I’m not sure I really expected Through the Dragon’s Eye to be made into a Super Nintendo game, but I did get a response to my letter, and some free merchandise, which felt almost as good! I said I would do a sharing of Fanboy at the end of last week, not knowing who would turn up or what I’d have to share. In fact, some brilliant people turned up, with encouraging, thoughtful responses, and good questions (which I can’t answer yet, but which are fizzing away in my mind). We talked about investment – the kind of energy, time and emotion you put in to something like a fan-letter – or indeed, as a creator of something that you hope will attract fans – and the expectations and realities of this investment. I also got the unique feeling I always have in Exeter – of home, even when I’m a guest. Every show I’ve ever written or devised has been wholly or partly made in that city, and I cannot thank the Phoenix enough for hosting last week.

This week, I’m carrying on with the show at another venue that’s close to my heart: New Diorama Theatre. I’ll also be performing 15 minutes of it at Brainchild’s HATCH on 28th November, which will be Fanboy’s last public sharing of 2019. Some great people are sharing some really exciting things, so come along if you’re in London.

That’s all for now, thanks for reading!