Patrick, from Coleford, told The Journal: “In 2016, alongside a group of like minded friends and aged just fifteen, I set up my own theatre company, Black Hound Productions, never expecting to do anything more than our tiny first production!
“We rehearsed in Victoria Park, Bath, under the streetlights in October, and performed in November at the Royal High School. Crazily, here we are six years later!
“You may recognise us as the company who created “At the Going Down of the Sun” which played at the Radstock Museum to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War.
“Last year, the company and I were recognised as the Best Young Creative 2021, for our work during the pandemic, which included a full scale Christmas show, ‘Bea and the Winter Winds’, at the Merlin in Frome. The production raised £1,800 for the Theatrical Guild through a 24hr Theatrical Livestream.
“This year however, we are setting our sights on one of our craziest ambitions yet, taking a show to the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
“The Fringe is a world-renowned Arts festival which takes place in Edinburgh every year, and this year celebrates it’s seventy fifth anniversary.
“It is a goal of many artists as it has been the springboard for many famous creators over the years, such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) and the TaskMaster TV show!
“This year, Black Hound Productions are going to the Fringe with not just one, but two pieces of contemporary theatre created by myself and the company. The first, “Alright?’ played at the Merlin in February 2020 and is a one man exploration of mental health, offering an honest and often hilarious insight into growing up struggling with the way you are feeling.
“The second piece, “Seeds of Memories” is an uplifting and wistful look at grief, something which seems to be all around us at the moment.
“After losing my grandfather in 2020, I revisited some poems I had written about him, and have moulded these into a modern folk story exploring the magic of memories.
“The two pieces will first play at the Merlin Theatre, Frome on 20th July, before heading to the Fringe in August. However, to get there we need your support. It is an expensive endeavour to tour to the Fringe, covering venue costs, accommodation, travel, advertising, insurance and so much more. We have launched an online fundraising campaign through GoFundMe and will soon be hosting events around the local area, including Quiz Nights and a Cabaret at the Merlin in Frome on 18th June. Tickets for both the Edinburgh Previews and the Cabaret can be found on the Merlin Theatre website.
“We are also touring another production in May to venues in the South West. As well as individual donations, we are also looking for sponsorship from businesses!
“Please, if you can, come along to support our events or donate to our fundraiser! It would mean the world to us to have the support of local people as we take the next steps in achieving our aspirations.”
To find out more about Patrick’s endeavours and the company, visit their GoFundMe page: http://ow.ly/1Mz750J8PvQ