Writing
Carolyn turned to writing several years ago, while taking time out to bring up her children. In the relatively short time she has been writing, she has already had a television sitcom commission, several pieces performed at the Battersea Arts Centre and Soho Theatre, her play, The Beautiful Couple, broadcasted on BBC Radio 4 and a musical revue at the Charing Cross Theatre.
More of her short stories are about to be published in an anthology titled Evesdropping.
Also available on Amazon. Her most recent stage play Past Forward is now published by STAGEscripts, along with her other plays.
The Beautiful Couple
BBC Radio 4 Drama, Afternoon Play, 2 October 2002
BBC Radio 4 commissioned Carolyn to write The Beautiful Couple for their afternoon play slot, starring Julia McKenzie, Ronald Pickup, Claudie Blakely and AJ Chhabra received glowing reviews in the press and was Gillian Reynolds’ choice in the Radio Times.
Marjorie (Julia McKenzie) and Dennis (Ronald Pickup) have been married for 37 years, but the spark has long gone. They book a holiday in the Spanish hotel in which they spent their honeymoon, but find the suite occupied by a young couple, she white British and he Indian.
These appear the perfect couple, but there are issues too in their relationship, which help Marjorie and Dennis start to address theirs.
Writing
Feeling the Fear and other intriguing Tales
Feeling the Fear is Carolyn’s first published collection of short stories of love, betrayal, death, family turmoil, sexual misdemeanours, friendship, sadness, pathos and even murder – a twist and a turn are never far away. It was selected to feature in Lovereading’s short story promotion. Often compared to Roald Dahl’s stories this collection of tales is sometimes moving, frequently humorous, always entertaining and guaranteed to keep you intrigued.
Between Friends
In November 2008, she wrote with Rosalind Adler, based on Carolyn’s original story line and starring Catherine Shipton had a sell-out week at the OSO. It went on to have a performed reading at Jermyn St Theatre with Carol Royle, Oliver Cotton and Catherine Shipton. Both directed by Anthony Biggs.
Sexologically Speaking
In November 2007, her quartet of short plays was a complete sell out. Producer, Julie Samuels, who came to see the production, invited Carolyn to join a music and drama project as writer with song writer David Martin and Andrew C Wadsworth (Actor/Director) to work with post grad students for the Guilford School of Music and Drama in producing Slice of Life which went on in 2008 at the New End Theatre Hampstead.
A Very Private Matter
Carolyn’s first full-length play was selected for the Wandsworth Arts Festival and had a public performance reading at the Battersea Arts Centre. Carolyn was a member of the Comedy Project who every year have their work performed at the Soho Theatre Her work included Best Laid Plans and Double Image, a stage play recently put on as a rehearsed reading for the So and So Arts Club directed by Paul Clayton.
A Bowl of Cherries
In 2012 Carolyn wrote the book which went on at Charing Cross Theatre starring Gary Wilmot.
Moving On
A comedy series was showcased at the BAC with the late Sheila Keith and Ian Talbot.
Rosie & Dud
A half hour comedy series was first commissioned by the late John Howard Davies but was later bought by Warner Sisters.
The Love of Art
Carolyn’s first play, a 30-minute black comedy was produced at the Battersea Arts Centre in a season for new writers.
Branches
Performed as part of Actors & Writers London’s “The Meeting” Competition Night, 2019.
Nehru's Bed
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2019 as part of a Showcase evening.
Heart to Heart
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2019.
Orphan Annie
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2019 as part of a Showcase evening.
Falling in Love Again
Heart to Heart
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2019.
Playing Away
Second prize winner in the Actors & Writers London’s “A Secret Place” Competition Night, 2017.
Love is a Minefield
Second prize winner in the Actors & Writers London’s “Don’t Go There” Competition Night, 2017.
Stuck in the Middle with You
Written as a television series, and two episodes were read by Actors & Writers London, 2017
Who is Sylvia?
Third prize winner in the Actors & Writers London’s “Change of Heart” Competition Night, 2016.
Double Image
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2016. Originally written as a stage play, Carolyn has now adapted it for radio.
Intrusion
First prize winner in the Actors & Writers London’s “If Only” Competition Night, 2015.
Eden's Garden
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2015 as part of a Showcase evening.
Otherwise Engaged
Third prize winner in the Actors & Writers London’s “A Knock at the Door” Competition Night, 2015.
The Fifteenth of July
Won First Prize in Actors & Writers London’s “Anniversary” Competition Night, 2013.
A Moment of Madness
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2014 as part of a Showcase evening.
On the Ledge
First prize in the Actors & Writers London’s “Desperate Remedies” Competition Night, 2014.
Tangled Vines
Read by Actors & Writers London, 2014 as part of a Showcase evening.
Changing Faces
The Beautiful Couple, The Big “A”, The Stuff of Dreams
Carolyn was invited to present four of her short plays for the East Sheen Library Author Event.
Antique Drawers
Second prize winner in Actors & Writers London’s “Silence is Golden” Competition.
The Big "A"
A short play performed at the Royal Overseas League for the Society of Women Writers and Journalists.
A Slice of Life
Carolyn wrote most of the short plays used in A Slice of Life, a musical production performed by the graduates of the Guilford School of Acting at the New End Theatre.
Puffin
Carolyn was commissioned by Nice Pictures Ltd to adapt “The Adventures of Puffin” Ursula Moray William’s 1938 best selling children’s book into a full length screen play.
Stormy Weather
Second prize winner in Actors & Writers London’s “Another Fine Mess” competition.
The Best Laid Plans
An one-hour comedy for television performed at The Soho Theatre.
The Stuff of Dreams
First prize winner in Actors & Writers London’s “Last Christmas” competition, also written as short film script with Isla Blair and Julian Glover attached.
On Thin Ice
Second prize winner in the Actors & Writers London’s “I know a bank/I had no choice” competition.
Living on the Edge
Performed as part of Actors & Writers London’s “Global Terrorism” competition night and won first prize.
Changing Faces
A 45 minute play for radio read at the BAC and the East Sheen Library Author Event.
The Outhouse
Performed at The Soho Theatre.
Double Image
A short play which was performed with The Beautiful Couple at the BAC, and then performed at The Soho Theatre and was one of the plays performed in Sexologically Speaking at the OSO Arts Centre.
The Beautiful Couple
Short Play
Overwhelmingly voted best play at Actors & Writers London’s Anniversary Showcase at the Hackney Empire, and also performed at the BAC, the OSO Arts Centre, The Royal National institute and New End Theatre, Hampstead.
“An updating of Noël Coward’s Private Lives, Carolyn Pertwee’s excellent play revolves around estranged husband and wife…”
The Independent
The Beautiful Couple BBC Radio 4
“….a powerful and gripping piece of work…. Aristotle would be envious!“
Samuel French Ltd
who both read and saw Between Friends were unqualified in their praise and hope to publish after a longer run.
“On rare occasions a radio drama will grip you so tightly that you will not care about returning late to work, that you’ll pull over in your car or simply sit down at home and forget all the chores you must complete. This is one of those occasions and you’d better have a tissue to hand as well.”
Radio Times Choices:
The Beautiful Couple BBC Radio 4
“Funny, touching, beautifully observed – with a brilliant twist at the end of every scene… a constantly surprising emotional roller-coaster.”
Gyles Brandreth
Between Friends
“The ending was one of the most exciting he’d seen in the theatre in recent years.“
John Gorrie
BAFTA winning director said of the stage production of The Beautiful Couple