I’m often (well, never, actually) asked where the name Chilling Out Theatre came from. Well the following message Ingot on Facebook messenger last week explains all:
‘Hi there Peter. I hope you don't mind me contacting you like this 'out of the blue' via Facebook, but I'm wondering if you might possibly be able to help me solve an almost 30 year mystery! Allow me to explain.... My name is Ade ***** and many, MANY years ago (c.1995), a school pal and I set up a film production company called ********** Pictures Ltd. We were 17 at the time and it was chiefly so that we could get ourselves invited to London Movie Premieres at Leicester Square and the like..., but as time went on and the idea of possibly having to do a 'proper job' began to scare us more and more, we started to embrace the idea of actually looking to produce something. To cut a long story short, our London PO Box would be inundated with scripts from various agencies, most of which I will confess were absolute drivel - the sort of thing the monkeys would churn out on their way to eventually typing out Shakespeare.... Anyway, there was ONE which has stuck in my head all this time and I have a vague, VAGUE feeling it was called 'Chilling Out' and it was by one Peter Briffa. Could this be you...? Having recently been made redundant after 25 years as a Drama teacher, I had some spare time on my hands, so decided to indulge in some Googling down Memory Lane.... When I came across your website, and saw the 'chillingout....' handle, it felt too much of a coincidence not to be so. I cannot remember too many of the details about the plot - it has been almost 30 years since I last saw it - but I do remember something about a guy discovering a severed head, frozen in an ice box/in a freezer. Or am I completely making this up? I would be hugely, HUGELY indebted to you if you were able to put me out of my misery/curiosity after all this time and help put to bed my nigh-on 30-year 'Was it....?' Thank you for taking the time to indulge me here and my very, very best to you, either way. With kind regards, ***’
I replied:
‘It was actually a full body! But yes, that was mine. I had expressions of interest from three different companies, selling it to one who led me a merry dance, involving no money and endless rewrites. It is one of the scripts I intend to take another look at. But I am pretty chuffed that you actually remember it. Do come to the play if you fancy it, best, Peter’
I hope he comes.
