Interview: David Pollard, writer of The Ripple Effect

David Pollard, playwright

The Ripple Effect is a brand new play coming to the Eastern Angles Centre in Ipswich next month. We were delighted to be able to interview its writer, David Pollard - part of the East Anglian writing collective, Four by Four - about this latest work and his life in Suffolk…

So, David, tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born in Hounslow, West London 75 years ago. I retired to live in Hereford and became immersed in community drama which is my main interest - I’ve acted and directed, and worked backstage and in the technical gallery.

Now I’m based in Suffolk.

I’ve always wanted to write and it was community drama that finally got me started. I’ve written and published a number of plays - one acts and full length. Likewise I’ve written short stories and a couple of novels - the latest is called ‘Mindworm’.

What is your writing process?

I’d say I’m a slow burn - I write in my head until the story seems to burst out spontaneously, then it’s head down until it’s there on paper.

I write mainly at home where it is quiet - I value absolute silence - and where I have an office and a desktop computer.

What was your first play as a writer and how did it go?

My first play was a one act about an actor who morphed into a pantomime horse. It was titled ‘Nobbo’ and it was performed several times by Our Star Theatre Company back in Hereford.

The Ripple Effect is to be my debut in Suffolk.

What is your favourite musical or play?

It’s impossible to choose just one. I think my favourite that I directed has to ‘Summer of the Seventeenth Doll’ by Ray Lawler. My favourite role has been Torvold in Ibsen’s ‘Dolls House’. I’m also a big fan of Chekhov and nurse an ambition to one day stage ‘The Cherry Orchard’.

Tell us about the East Anglian writing collective, Four by Four.

Four by Four is a collaboration of four East Anglia based playwrights which started in 2008. Our objective was - and still is - to bring our work to the stage by lending our contacts and theatre making talents to the task. ‘The Ripple Effect’ is our second production of a full length play in 2025, following the successful staging of David Howgego’s play ‘Hound’.

What inspired you to write ‘The Ripple Effect’?

I have been fascinated by the way a minority in society can impose fraudulent schemes upon the masses. Thinking about the Piltdown Man affair and other similar frauds or hoaxes led me to reflect on our present day relationship with the truth. This then led me to speculate about the consequences suffered by those who support or, by inaction, condone such frauds.

I wrote ‘The Ripple Effect’ as a warning about the impact of discovered untruths on our society.

So, what is the story about?

The Master of Bracegirdle College has plenty of problems. There’s no money, there’s an unpaid tax bill and his brother the bursar is incompetent. To cap it all a research student has found a long buried secret that will destroy the venerable College, and is set on revealing it to the world. Then there are the Americans who could be the financial saviours of Bracegirdle - if only the Master can prevent the secret getting out, keep the maverick student quiet and weedle the cash out of the Americans.

Tom Miller (played by Seb Ranson) surprises his tutor Helen Reeve (played by Elixabeth Elliot).

How do you cast the play?

Using the community theatre grapevine and approaching actors that I have worked with who look like they could be a good fit for a role.

How long do you rehearse?

Typically we rehearse over a period of eight weeks - two rehearsals of two hours per week. The key is to get off the book early in the process -acting only starts when the books go down.

So, how are rehearsals going?

So far, I’m very pleased with how the rehearsal process is going. I shouldn’t be surprised since I knew going in that I had been blessed with a stellar cast.

Do you get nervous on opening night?

Of course - whatever capacity I’m involved in a production. Nerves are good - they keep you on your toes.

How do you hope that audiences will respond?

The audience is crucial to the presentation of a play - the actors need an audience to make the magic happen. I’ll be interested to see/hear the audience reaction and how they contribute to the effect.

When and where can we see it?

‘The Ripple Effect’ will play from Thursday, September 25 to Saturday, September 27, with performances at 7.30pm plus a matinee at 2pm on Saturday. We are at TheStudio@EasternAngles, GatacreRoad, Ipswich IP1 2LQ.

Tickets are on sale now.

What does the future hold?

I have a couple of projects in the pipeline, including a comedy/farce ‘Everybody’s Sweetheart’ which went down well at a play reading group recently. Currently I’m deciding on the way forward…

So, watch this space!

Our thanks to David for chatting with us. You can find details for The Ripple Effect and a booking link HERE.