For the past 30 years David Nairn has enjoyed a professional directing and acting career that has taken him to the four corners of the earth. He has worked in every major theatre and province in Canada, as well as theatres in the US, Hong Kong, Brazil, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. He in currently artistic director of Theatre Orangeville in his native Canada. The Bermuda Musical and Dramatic Society (BMDS) invited him to be the judge of this year’s ‘Famous for 15 Minutes’ playwriting competition. Here he shares his observations about the event with Lifestyle’s Nancy Acton.

What did you think of the standard of play writing?

>The six plays which were the finalists in the competition were all superb. The calibre of writing displayed in the competition was world-class. If these playwrights continue to create such vibrant works of art, I’m sure we will one day be enjoying the fruits of their labours in theatres around the world.

Was selecting the finalist a difficult decision?

To say that the selection process was difficult is an understatement. I agonised over the decision for quite some time before making the final selection. I remain confident that ‘Grass is Greener’, written by Deborah Pharoah, fully deserved the Best Play accolades it received.

Was seeing the plays performed part of your decision-making process?

No. I arrived in Bermuda already having selected the winner. That way the decision could not be based on production values, directorial visioning, or the individual talents of the actors involved.

What qualities were you looking fo

The play needed to stand on its own merits. The writing had nowhere to hide!

What made the winning play stand out from the other finalists?

It simply leapt off the page at me as I read it for the first time. The crisp and vibrant dialogue brought the characters vividly to life. The plot was clever and provided original insight into the lives of the two female characters. I’m sure that the plot will resonate not only with Bermudian audiences but with audiences everywhere.

Were the finalist plays perfect as written, or could they use more work?

All of the plays would still benefit from some constructive editing, and I hope that the playwrights will continue to hone their craft by further examining these latest works.

What advice do you have for emerging or established playwrights?

My advice to them remains the same: keep writing, each and every day. Embrace the discipline of the discipline. Playwrights need to be fearless and courageous — just open your heart and keep the words flowing.

What do you think of the competition, and the BMDS?

I wish that some professional actors that I work with demonstrated the same degree of passion, talent and dedication that one finds in evidence within the BMDS theatre community. BMDS is truly inspirational. I hope to initiate a similar creative venture as ‘Famous for 15 Minutes’ at my professional theatre in Canada.

Was this your first trip to Bermuda?

No, I co-starred with Norm Foster in a production of his play, ‘The Long Weekend’, which was presented at BMDS three years ago. So this was a wonderful opportunity to not only visit an Island and theatre community that I admire greatly, but also to renew old friendships.