We caught up with Sion Edwards, writer of Halfway, a new short form comedy which will be airing on BBC2 Wales next week as part of BBC Wales' Festival of Funny.
Since I was a young lad I have been obsessed with TV and Film. But more than any other genre I love comedy. Comedy makes me laugh... And laughing is such a pleasurable thing to do. I prefer laughing to crying that’s for sure.
During secondary school, me and my best friends would talk about sitcoms such as ‘The Young Ones’, ‘I’m Alan Partridge’ and ‘The Office’. We’d quote funny lines from the episodes we’d watched the night before. I remember dreaming of writing a sitcom, and that one day I’d write a character as memorable as David Brent, or Alan Partridge.
I studied Drama Theatre and Media at the Atrium but after leaving university I mostly worked in education. I kept sending ideas for short films and TV Shows to various schemes or production companies, but I’d rarely hear back from anyone and I started thinking that I’d never have a chance to see something I’d written filmed.
I moved back to my home town of Dolgellau and learnt to drive. In North Wales you really need a car if you want freedom… and want to regularly go to the cinema. I spent a lot of time driving up and down the A470, the road which links North and South Wales. It has some incredible views. Below Builth Wells there are loads of laybys, and in most of these laybys there are burger vans.
In November 2017 I saw the post on the BBC Writersroom Wales page about a scheme from BBC Cymru Wales called ‘Find Me Funny’. A scheme looking for ‘writers living’ in Wales and those that can ‘represent Welsh culture’. I decided then to write a script about the trials and tribulations of working in a burger van in a layby in the middle of nowhere in Wales and called it ‘Halfway’.
I worked on the idea over Christmas and, along with some bios of the characters and a treatment I submitted my script. I never ever thought I’d then receive an email a few weeks later telling me I had reached the last 8 out of 350 sitcom scripts.
I was invited to the ‘Find Me Funny showcase’, where the final eight scripts were read in the Glee Club in Cardiff by professional actors. My parents came with me as I wanted them there for support. I had never been invited to an ‘industry event’ before so it was all rather surreal. The showcase was a great experience and it was the first time I heard my script being read. I was so worried on the way down the A470 past all those laybys with burger vans in them that, that nobody would find it funny. It was pleasing then to hear the sound of people laughing at the lines I had written for the characters.
To my surprise I received the news that my script had been chosen to enter development and production. I had to read the email from Helen Perry, the Development Producer for BBC Writersroom Wales, around ten times! Then I asked to speak to Helen over the phone just to be sure. I was in a state of complete shock.
For the past few months I have been working alongside producer, Philip Moss, and director Darragh Mortell to develop the idea. The process has been hugely enjoyable and a lot of hard work as well. I’ve learnt that everybody’s who’s part of the production wants the idea to become the best it can be which is why you redraft, take notes, redraft, take notes and then continue until you have written the best script you can. Redrafting also allows for you to get to the heart of what you are trying to say in your scripts.
Being at rehearsals allowed me to hear out loud which lines needed re-writing, which lines didn’t quite work and which lines were no longer needed. I was redrafting the script up until the final day before filming began.
It was a very surreal experience being on set of ‘Halfway’, seeing the characters I had written and devised in the flesh and in front of my eyes. I was in a room with characters that prior to this had only ever existed in my head.. It was like stepping into your mind, if that makes sense. For the first few minutes on set I was walking around with my mouth open not believing what I was seeing. It was when I stepped into the burger van that it actually sank in that this was happening to me! As I drove back to Dolgellau I did become rather emotional. Something I had dreamed about had actually become real.
Subsequently I’ve been accepted onto the Comedy Room scheme. A scheme through-out the UK to nurture and develop comedy writers. Being in a room with comedians, performers, stand ups and producers is just incredible and very interesting... and funny as well! The first day of the Comedy Room was like the first day in school I was very nervous (I became even more nervous when Lily Allen passed me in the foyer of the BBC... I’ve fancied her for so long! I can’t wait now for the rest of the course and to learn from more people working in comedy.
If you told me this time last year that within the space of 12 months (from when I first read about the ‘Find Me Funny’ scheme) that I’d have a commission from BBC Cymru Wales for a sitcom, which will be shown as part of the Festival of Funny season on BBC Cymru Wales, and be part of the Comedy Room initiative by BBC Writersroom I would have thought you were mad. I might have even called you bonkers. I’m still pinching myself and expecting someone at some point to tell me it’s all a dream.
I suppose this is indeed all a dream. A dream I’ve had for so long. Something I dreamt about since being a small lad.
I know I have still loads to learn, and that nothing can be taken for granted in this industry, but having had a taste for writing, developing, a production and hearing from individuals involved in comedy, I’m eager to keep going and hopefully I’ll have more opportunities to make others laugh.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who have supported me, my friends, family and all involved at the BBC.
To those who read this, and have a desire and passion like me to write and create comedy, my simple tip for you... keep writing, keep going and keep dreaming.
I’m going to carry on writing and creating as it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and all I’ve ever dreamt about. And trust me... and I know this last sentence sounds really cheesy... but dreams do come true.
You can catch Halfway at 23.15 on Mon 22nd - Thurs 25th & Mon 29th - Tue 30th October on BBC2 Wales; and again with all episode played out as a compilation on Wed 31st at 23.15 on BBC2 Wales.
