Tag: theatre

January 31, 2026

Year’s End, Looking Back and Forward

A book, a musical, and the loss of a parent

From Substack, December 1, 2025

My year’s end posts are often celebratory. This one is bittersweet.

I made significant professional strides in 2025, both in my writing career and in my day job. Personally, a lot of things have gone well.

I also lost my dad this year, after traveling back and forth to the U.S. a few times to see him in the hospital. And my cousin died very recently; he wasn’t much older than I am.

A New Book

My poetry collection The Heart Decided to Move came out this year with Read Furiously’s One ‘n Done series. I had a lot of fun writing and illustrating this book that tells the story of my move to the UK, travels, and moments of daily life as an immigrant.

Mikey Belcher did a lovely interview with me on his Substack that goes into detail on the book’s themes, and I gave some workshops and readings in both the UK and Canada to celebrate the book’s launch.

A Musical

This May, Joan: The Musical, which Hannah Doyle and I co-wrote, was performed in the Brighton Fringe. It told a story of an older woman, left behind by both an ex-husband and the passing of time, who travels to another world Alice in Wonderland-style and undergoes challenges to get her confidence and power back. Our first two shows had a sold-out run, so we ended up doing an encore performance.

It was amazing to see such a big production onstage. I dreamed of writing a musical and having it performed as a kid, and now I’ve done it. The show had good reviews and was an exciting, intense experience that I learned a lot from. I’m grateful to our team – director Summer and actors Geraldine, Justin, Lauren, and Dean, along with the fantastic team at The Actors – for making this show shine!

Volunteering Endeavors

I took on two big volunteer tasks this year. I was on the committee to plan Mensa’s annual European gathering in Cardiff this year, which happened in August. I helped organize activities and also gave a writing workshop.

I also acted as a juror for the British Fantasy Awards’ Best Independent Press award. I ended up reading 20 books for this, which was both exhausting and rewarding. There are so many great independent SFF presses in the UK; this work left me optimistic that the genre is in good hands.

Other Things

The Whispers in the Earth anthology came out this year, featuring my Canadian ghost ship tale along with 19 other folklore-inspired stories from around the world and beautiful linocut illustrations.

I had a short story published in the NonBinary Review’s Solarpunk issue.

I also recently got promoted to Senior Editor at Mindtools and am excited to see where that role takes me.

I have more books planned, starting with a romance novella that will be launching next year!

I’ve done my best in 2025, and I intend to do the same in 2026. I think my dad would be proud.

May 20, 2025

Joan: The Musical – Success and Encore! Plus Book News

It’s an exhilarating feeling, watching in the audience as actors embody characters you created, speak words you imagined, and belt out music you created.

But my co-writer Hannah Doyle and I weren’t the only ones getting chills during the opening weekend (May 3-4) of Joan: The Musical in the Brighton Fringe. Some of the audience members shared that it made them cry. Others left quoting the lines and humming the tunes.

I couldn’t have imagined a better weekend for Joan, where BOTH DAYS SOLD OUT!

Except for this – we were offered an opportunity to do a THIRD performance! It’s now happening on Monday, May 26, at 6 pm, once again at The Actors in Brighton.

Grab your ticket now for the May 26 performance of JOAN: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/joan-the-musical/

Joan had some wonderful reviews.

From Brighton on the Inside:

It’s truly magical when the stars align and you end up seeing something that takes your breath away. Joan The Musical by Melanie Bell and Hannah Doyle is a triumphant tale about a woman’s dwindling confidence and her journey of self-discovery. A tale of despair and sadness, followed by joy and karma. With sequins, hot pink leggings, squats and box breathing. All set to an amazing original musical score.

From View from the Gods:

This is a sweet-toned musical about self-affirmation, new discovery and magical singing that works. Lyrics and songs are the kind you’d hear in a Southwark Playhouse musical: easy melodies, wittily syncopated around witty lyrics… They’ve clearly proved themselves as a writing team, and it’ll be fascinating to see where they go next.

Co-writer/producer Hannah Doyle and lead actress Geraldine Afifi spoke about the show on an episode The Brighton Babbler podcast, which also includes one of the songs! You can listen to it here.

We’re now looking for opportunities to develop the show beyond the Brighton Fringe. Feel free to be in touch if you know of any possible connections!

Book Events and News

The book launch for my new poetry collection The Heart Decided to Move went well, and I’m in the process of setting up more readings and events. For my next one, I’m coming to CANADA!

Poetry Reading at The Flying Canoe Bookstore

1-110 Roseberry Street, Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada
June 6, 2-4 pm
Join me for a poetry reading, book signing, and snacks at a gem of a bookstore that offers “a space where anyone can feel safe and free to let their geek flag fly”!

Reading at *The Heart Decided to Move* book launch

My copies of the Whispers in the Earth: World Folklore Reimagined anthology arrived and they’re so beautiful! The book features 20 folklore-inspired stories, including one of mine, and hand-printed linocut illustrations. There may still be a few copies available on The Broken Binding’s website, so check here if you’re interested in ordering a paperback or a hardback with sprayed edges!

Whispers in the Earth anthology, with the linocut illustration for my story

My poem “In Which Much Has Changed” has been (re-)published in issue 49 of QWERTY magazine, the “No” issue, along with other innovative poems and stories. You can order one here if you like.

And in final book news, a recommendation! I had the honor of giving some preliminary input on the English edition of Monika Orski’s book about leading highly intelligent people – which can be trickier than it looks! And the book is out now.

The Art of Herding Cats

Part 1: Learning by Doing Leadership
By Monika Orski

Leading highly intelligent individuals can be both an immensely rewarding and challenging experience. When those individuals are also volunteers, the complexity of leadership increases even more.

In this thought-provoking book, a former national chair of Mensa Sweden shares valuable insights and practical lessons drawn from years of experience leading within one of the world’s most intellectually gifted communities. With Mensa being a largely volunteer-driven organization, it offers a rare environment to explore leadership in its most nuanced and challenging form, also know as herding cats.

You will learn about leadership by sugar, explanations adapted for the fast thinkers, and how a character from a children’s book can help. Plus some other things you might not yet know that you want to know. There are even some attempts at humour.

Ideal for leaders, managers, and anyone working with high-performing or highly autonomous teams of professionals or volunteers, The Art of Herding Cats guides you through doing the mostly impossible and how to enjoy it.

You can purchase a copy here.

Whew, that was a lot! I’ll catch you next time, when I’ve hopefully had time to catch my breath!

April 9, 2025

Happy Book Birthday!

My poetry collection The Heart Decided to Move is out in the world now!

“A poignant exploration of self-discovery, The Heart Decided to Move captures the author’s transformative journey as she takes the life-changing step of relocating to a new country. Through letters, poetry, and reflective prose, the work weaves together a tapestry of language, emotion, and identity. Each piece invites readers to explore the complexity of what it means to leave behind one’s homeland in search of a true sense of belonging. Follow Melanie Bell as she experiences moments of culture shock, surviving a pandemic in her new home, and joyful moments of worldly travel, all told in snapshots filled with humor and heart.”

You can order your copy here or wherever books are sold!

Or, if you’re in Brighton, come along to the book launch on April 19!

Poetry Book Launch: The Heart Decided to Move

April 19, 6-8 pm, The Queery

In 2017, Canadian author Melanie Bell moved to the UK on an ancestry visa. Her new poetry collection, The Heart Decided to Move, shares the story of that journey, from moments of culture shock and cross-cultural delight to surviving a pandemic in an unfamiliar place. The book incorporates illustrations, prose, and travel poems from far and wide.

Join us to celebrate the launch of this collection and pick up a signed copy!

Tickets here

In further news, the Whispers in the Earth: World Folklore Reimagined anthology is out, featuring my Prince Edward Island ghost ship story, among a collection of 20 tales inspired by myths and legends from around the world, and illustrated with beautiful linocut prints!

The editor, Gabriela Houston, is also a prolific fantasy author. Her latest novel, The Bone Roots, is a haunting, beautiful read featuring Slavic folklore, motherhood, fox thieves, and gods. I read an ARC and thought, “I wish I could have written that!” So, if you’re looking for something new to read, check it out!

Rehearsals for Joan: The Musical continue in preparation for performance in the Brighton Fringe on 3 and 4 May. My co-writer Hannah Doyle and lead actress Geraldine Afifi just did an interview about the show on The Brighton Babbler podcast which also includes a song from the show, “Little Bird.” You can listen to it here!

If you’re local, come join us and see it live next month!

72-year-old Joan has it all. A glittering past as a West End dancer, a chocolate-box maisonette in Seven Dials, and fantastic hair. There’s one thing she doesn’t have, though: the power of self-belief.

Bruised and scorned by her ex-husband’s wayward ways, Joan tumbles down a rabbit hole that brings her face to face with her tattered confidence. Can Joan find her way back to the surface? Or is she destined to languish in the depths of self-care hell?

Joan: The Musical will take the stage at The Actors in Brighton on 3 and 4 May, at 1.30pm. You can get your tickets here!

March 3, 2025

A Workshop, Book Launch, and Musical Rehearsal

I have a lot on the horizon, starting with a follow-up to my last workshop at The Queery. Participants expressed interest in doing some facilitated writing exercises, which will be happening this month.

Upcoming Events

Writing Exercises

Come join me for Writing Exercises on Saturday, March 15, 6-8pm at The Queery (46 George St, Brighton)!

Join local author Melanie Bell for a series of writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing!

Following her last creative writing workshop and interest in more exercise-based work, Melanie will bring a range of writing prompts and activities for attendees to work with. Whether you’re a curious beginner or an experienced wordsmith, come join us and get ready to explore!

Tickets here

The Queery is also hosting the launch of my poetry book in April!

Poetry Book Launch: The Heart Decided to Move

April 19, 6-8 pm, The Queery

Tickets here

Joan: The Musical Rehearsals

Joan: The Musical has a full cast and director, and yesterday, we all met for our first rehearsal! We’ll be working together intensely for the next couple months in preparation for our May 3-4 performances in the Brighton Fringe.

Everyone got along well, and it was great to see their talent and enthusiasm coming together!

Here are some of the action shots:

Joan: The Musical will take the stage at The Actors in Brighton on 3 and 4 May, at 1.30pm. You can get your tickets here!

February 10, 2025

Announcing – Joan: The Musical!

In September, my writer friend Hannah Doyle and I started brainstorming ideas for a play for the Brighton Fringe. After several months of work, it’s approaching reality, and will take the stage this May.

Announcing Joan: The Musical!

Joan: The Musical will take the stage at The Actors in Brighton on 3 and 4 May, at 1.30pm. You can get your tickets here!

See you at the Fringe!

January 26, 2025

Writing Workshop, Online Readings, a Fringe Show, and More!

I’ve got a few writing updates for you all!

Writing Workshop/Reading February 1 in Brighton

On February 1, I’m holding a writing workshop and author reading at The Queery in Brighton, from 7-9pm! The Queery is a lovely community space, and some of my books are on sale there. You can sign up here for the event.

Come join us for a fun and engaging writing workshop and author reading at The Queery! Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to hone their craft. Get ready to participate in hands-on activities, receive feedback from fellow writers, and gain inspiration. Facilitator and local author Melanie Bell will also share a reading from her work. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with fellow writers and immerse yourself in a supportive creative community!

Online Readings

I have two new online readings available!

I contributed a reading to the British Fantasy Society’s Online Library. You can watch me reading “On the Other Side,” a short story about a magic box from my collection Dream Signs, here on YouTube.

The video from my reading with Strong Women, Strange Worlds is also on YouTube now. I’m reading from another Dream Signs story called “Like Mother, Like Son,” from the perspective of a sentient AI whose creator doesn’t realize he’s sentient. You can watch a video of the whole event here and hear the other readers, too!

Personal Essay on HuffPost and BuzzFeed

In 2020, inspired by others’ writing on body shaming and the snap judgments people make about each other’s appearances, I wrote a personal essay for Huffington Post about being petite and the downsides of getting mistaken for a literal child. My essay went viral at the time (the dramatic title was not my idea!).

Just before Christmas, it got reposted on Huffington Post and picked up by BuzzFeed and elsewhere. I’m glad that my words resonated with others who experience similar judgments and misperceptions. And, welcome to any new readers who found me this way!

Joan: The Musical

Last year, my friend and collaborator Hannah Doyle and I wrote an hour-long musical. Now, we’re in the process of casting and preparing for a performance in the Brighton Fringe.

Joan: The Musical will be playing at The Actors in Brighton on 3 and 4 May at 1:30pm. Here’s our show’s poster, summary, and casting call for two roles. If you’re interested in auditioning, feel free to get in touch!

December 16, 2024

Celebrating 2024

2024 was the year, I decided: the year I was going to commit to my writing. I made a schedule and put in the hours. Now I’m looking back on the results and feeling just a little bit proud.

Things I Finished

I’ve had a few anthology publications.

Early in the year, my story “Like Mother, Like Son” was published in House of Zolo’s Journal of Speculative Literature, Vol. 4. My poem “Directions to the Underworld” appeared in Augur Magazine, and my story “Picking Hazelnuts With the Devil” was published in the Brighton NightWriters’ anthology Echoes of Light.

My story based on Prince Edward Island ghost ship folklore, “Ghost Ships Passing in the Night,” was selected for a beautiful illustrated anthology, Whispers in the Earth: World Folklore Reimagined. I’ve connected with a lovely community of writers through this project, including a Kickstarter launch event and meeting several participants in Glasgow at Worldcon. The ebook is out for the original backers, and the print edition will be out sometime in the new year.

I’ve also enjoyed some success writing scripts. Morley College Radio recorded a performance of my short radio drama Plan A. I participated in the Liverpool Fringe’s 24 Hour Play Fest, co-creating a play called Between Brighton Rock and a Hard Place with a talented team. It was a fun, adrenaline-fueled event where I wrote the script into the night, and the director and actors practiced and performed the play the following day.

I reworked my website and social media presence.

I also republished a second edition of my short story collection, Dream Signs, which had gone out of print.

Things I Participated in

Networking and events have been a big part of my writing year, too.

I attended New Writing South’s Playwrights Industry Day, my first Worldcon, the London Festival of Writing, a London Songwriters retreat in the Peak District, and a writers’ retreat in Kenya. I joined writing-related online communities and the British Fantasy Society, and continued connecting with writing communities both online and off.

I read at the Echoes of Light launch, at Strong Women, Strange Worlds’ QuickRead event and Holiday Extravaganza.

I had a thoughtful interview with Gabriela Blandy about my book on the Enneagram personality model and hosted a creative writing workshop to raise money for Survivors’ Network.

I got more involved with the local queer community, donating books to the Ledward Centre and selling them at the Queery.

I’ll be doing more writing workshops and events in the new year.

Projects in Progress

I’ve had a few pieces of good book news.

My poetry collection The Heart Decided to Move is forthcoming from Read Furiously in April 2025. It focuses on my experiences moving to the UK and incorporates prose pieces and illustrations.

My novella Worth Working For is forthcoming in 2026, so I have two new books lined up!

I’m in the process of casting a short musical I co-wrote with a talented collaborator, for performance in the Brighton Fringe in May 2025. Stay tuned for more about it!

I also finished multiple drafts of a cozy fantasy novel. Stay tuned for more about that, too!

Prioritizing my writing (while maintaining my professional job) has been a good move. I had no idea what I’d be able to do in a year. I’m surprised by how much it turned out to be, and how much confidence I’ve found in the process of focusing my time on what I love.

It’s been a good year. May 2025 be another one!

December 6, 2023

The Collaborative Process of Making a Play

Three actors prepare to take their (fictional) IQ test.

This month, I’ll have a play performed at London’s Tower Theatre for the second time. It’s been a massively collaborative process to get it there!

Last year, my short play The Pictures of Dora Gray was one of five chosen for the Writers’ Room showcase, featuring new writing from the Tower Theatre’s playwriting group. I’ve been a part of that group for two years now, meeting monthly. I’ve learned an immense amount from the experience, and it’s been great fun!

My fellow playwrights have gone on to produce, to direct, and to have full-length productions put on. Dora Gray was performed twice – at the showcase, and at the Barons Court Theatre’s scratch night. It was wonderful to see two different casts’ and directors’ takes on it. And the Writers’ Room showcase was the Tower Theatre’s most successful show of the year.

So, last year was great. Onward to this one! The creative team added new elements to the process this year, extending the development and rehearsal time.

The showcase includes four plays, and we all had dramaturgical input. We got to see earlier drafts of the plays at a preview night, limited to the creative teams working on them. Then I worked with the director and assistant director to further develop my script.

My short play An IQ Test for my Birthday went through several rounds of edits as we honed in on story arcs and worked to make the dialogue reflect, as clearly as possible, the unusual scenario of strangers meeting to take a group exam.

One directorial suggestion was to use improv to flesh out some of the scenes. So, I shuttled back and forth to London for rehearsals. The cast members, each of whom brought a new dimension to their character, acted out their own versions of my scenes. The director recorded their improvised lines, and we drew on them while editing the script.

It was a lot of work, and a lot of working together. Last year, I handed in a script, went to one rehearsal, and then saw the final play onstage. This time, I felt almost like part of the cast. I went to a dress rehearsal of the four plays last weekend, and it was magical to watch them all come to life together.

The play is stronger for all that collaboration. It will be performed from December 12-16, along with the other plays in the Home-themed showcase. You can get your tickets here. I can’t wait to see it shine!

October 9, 2023

New Play and Chasing Harmony Book Tour

Lots of good writing news lately. September was my book tour to celebrate Chasing Harmony’s one-year anniversary, following shortly after its ebook release. What a whirlwind!

From August 28 to September 22, a variety of book blogs hosted guest posts, excerpts, gift card giveaways, and reviews for my YA novel. You can catch up with the tour stops here! I had fun writing about everything from the cover design process to my research and forthcoming books.

Last year, I had a short play performed in the Tower Theatre Writers’ Room showcase. I’ve stayed involved with the Writers’ Room this year, and am delighted to have a play chosen for performance in the showcase again!

It couldn’t be more different. Last year’s play was a dark, feminist Dorian Gray-meets-Faust story about art and death. This one is a comedy called An IQ Test for My Birthday, directed by Ragan Keefer:

Callie gets a surprising birthday present from her father. An appointment to take an IQ test. Upon her arrival she meets a straightlaced journalist, a hard working mum and her energetic daughter. All are here for the same thing, to pass the test for their own personal agendas. Will they pass? Will their nerves get the best of them? A play that deals with themes of family, acceptance, and pride.

The Writers’ Room Showcase this year has the theme of “Home” and features four brand-new short plays that explore the theme from different angles. They’ll be onstage from December 12-16 in London.

“Home: A place? An ideal? An emotion? Tower Theatre writers explore a range of ideas suggested by this richly evocative little word in an exciting programme of short plays. Come along and see some ground-breaking new writing!”

There’s more information on the showcase here. I hope to see some of you in the audience this winter!

February 13, 2023

Onward, 2023!

2022 was an intense year. I’m not sure what to expect from 2023 yet. So far, I’ve found joy in learning Spanish on Duolingo, which feels more like a game than an education, and in exploring the pebble beaches of my new home.

I’m revising my NaNoWriMo novel, working on another novel, and continuing to engage with interesting peer groups, including the NaNo group and the Tower Theatre Writers’ Room.

I set a one-word intention for myself last year: “outward.” It’s easy, as a writer and introvert, to spend my time “inward,” but I can only accomplish things in the world if I venture out into it! I didn’t do too bad a job of it, either, if I dare say so.

My mostly-speculative short story collection Dream Signs came out at the end of 2021, and I’ve heard from readers who continue to enjoy the stories. Sadly, it went out of print when the publisher went under, so I’m looking into options for re-release. A few print copies are still available online as of now.

My young adult novel Chasing Harmony came out in July 2022. It’s the coming-of-age story of a musical prodigy. The main character, Anna, is bisexual, and the book featured on Reads Rainbow’s lists of July-December 2022 LGBT releases and Contemporary releases. I had an author interview with the queer website Autostraddle and wrote about the process of confronting the shadow through writing a book for the Conscious Living Center. I was delighted to see Chasing Harmony make CLMP’s end of year list for children’s and YA books of 2022!

In 2022, I published my poem “FetLife” in the Spoon Knife 6: Rest Stop anthology and my dark fantasy short story “Home Bound” in Cossmass Infinities. I wrote for DIY MFA about how to write a coming of age story and a novel with alternating timelines. My colleague Jonathan Hancock and I did an interview for my workplace, Mind Tools, about what it’s like to be published authors. And I wrote some book reviews, including a review of Kevin Mahon’s Radio Ireland for the Miramichi Reader (which also reviewed my book Dream Signs).

This National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November, I finished a draft of a manuscript I’d been working on and started another. The power of this event lay with the peer group I found. The local WriMos did writing sprints in person and online and urged each other forward. I didn’t think I could write 50,000 words in a month – but, reader, I did it!

To cap off the year, I saw my short play The Pictures of Dora Gray performed twice! First, it was included in a scratch night at the Barons Court Theatre. Then, it was included in the Tower Theatre Writers’ Room’s December showcase, along with four other fantastic plays by members of the group. It was an emotional experience to see two casts perform something I’d written in my living room, and to witness the wonderful direction, music score, and acting that brought my play to life over the holidays.

This year, I’ll continue to put myself out there – while respecting my inward nature, too. Onward, 2023!