Audience members seeing The Turn of the Screw on Saturday 18 and Tuesday 21October at the Torch Theatre will be in for a treat as prizewinning author, Brian John and Artistic Director, Chelsey Gillard along with Tim Howe, Senior Manager Youth and Community are invited to the stage for post-show evening talks.

Brian John from Newport, Pembrokeshire’s talk at the Torch Theatre (18 October) called The Angel Mountain’s Saga ... Echoes and Shadows coincides with the silver jubilee since the launch of the publication of his first novel in 2000, in which Mistress Martha, his first heroine was created.

“My talk will explore the boundary between what’s real and what’s imagined. Stories get better every time they are told, so a little black dog in a local anecdote will eventually become a massive black hound with drooling fangs!  We’ve got to trust stories in good faith, as they appear, whether they be folk tales, or about dragons, fairies, goblins or corpse candles.  We humans are driven by what I call the elaboration imperative,” said Brian,  who will open the floor to questions.

Brian, who is actively involved in environmental and community organisations,
has led an extremely interesting life. He studied at Haverfordwest Grammar School and at Jesus College Oxford, where he read Geography, obtained his D Phil degree for a pioneering study of the Ice Age in Pembrokeshire. When he was a student he led two University expeditions, to Iceland and Greenland, and thinks it is a minor miracle that he survived. He then worked as a field scientist in Antarctica and spent eleven years as a Geography Lecturer at Durham University. He has travelled widely, mostly in cold places.

Brian has published hundreds of articles and around 90 books, and among his publishers are Collins, Pan, Orbis, Aurum Press/HMSO, Longman, David and Charles, Wiley and Edward Arnold. His published output includes university texts, walking guides, coffee table glossies, and books on popular science. Many of his titles have been published by Greencroft Books and have been of particular interest to readers in Wales - tourist guides, books of local jokes, walkers' handbooks, and titles on local folklore and traditions. Then came the Angel Mountain Saga. The eight novels have received wide acclaim for their narrative skill, their strong sense of place, and their historical authenticity. Much to Brian's surprise, the Saga has been a runaway success, and the heroine, Martha Morgan, has become a cult figure.  In November 2012 Brian published "Ghostly Tales from Pembrokeshire" - which became a Christmas best-seller and continued to be very popular until stocks ran out.

To conclude, Brian said: “Do I believe in ghosts? I tend to believe what people say as a matter of preference. I don’t think people generally go around manufacturing things.  Some people are more sensitive and tuned in than others, and they clearly experience things others do not.”

Tim and Chelsey’s talk (21 October) called ‘Director Discussions’ will be equally as informative, as Tim explains:

“Our post show talks are a great way to learn more about Torch Theatre productions. Get a peek behind the scenes into the inner workings of the process it takes to get us from page to stage. Come and ask Chelsey all the things you’d like to know about the creative choices behind The Turn of the Screw.”

The Turn of the Screw will be performed on the Torch Theatre stage until Saturday 25 October. Tickets: £18-£28. BSL performance: Tuesday 14 October. Places will be limited for the post show talks.

Book tickets via the website torchtheatre.co.uk / Box Office: 01646 695267.