First stop the Empire, next stop New York
IN JUST two days, Toowoomba man David Searston penned a play soon to appear on the Empire Theatre stage, and hopefully a stage in New York.
The Friendzone will premiere at the Empire Theatre tomorrow and Friday before he leaves for the United States on June 8.
“I always wanted to go to New York since I was a boy,” he said.
“I got talking to playwrights through Instagram and thought, ‘let’s just do it’.”
Mr Searston said The Friendzone was written in September while hopping around different cafes in Sydney during a visit to his sister.
“The first reading of The Friendzone took place in December and I have had nine different people read for six characters,” he said.
Mr Searston, 27, went to high school at St Mary’s before studying arts, majoring in theatre and modern history, at the University of Southern Queensland.
While he had written about six plays along with other writers, this is his first solo effort.
“It’s a bit nerve wracking, a bit exciting as well,” he said.
“Just seeing the actors invest all their time into this and them getting excited. Words can’t describe how good it feels.”
Mr Searston is determine to make a name for himself, and so will spend three months in the United States. He will visit his contacts and take his play to different theatres.
He hopes The Friendzone could be performed at a theatre in New York called, Kitchen Theatre Company.
Mr Searston said the Friendzone followed the lives of four friends; Tom, Sam, Bella and Zoe.
“They have been through a lot together and drank many beers together,” he said.
“Tom has a secret, he is in love with Bella. The problem is Bella loves William and has no idea Tom has feelings for her.
“Will Tom tell Bella how he really feels? Will Bella feel the same way or will she put Tom in the dreaded Friendzone?”