Andy Edmeads (Drama 2007) with writing partner, Susy Payne.

Alumnus helping himself to success

A pilot sitcom written, directed and filmed by a drama graduate has had its first public screenings.

Help Yourselves is set in a charity shop and follows the working and personal lives of its volunteers and long suffering customers. In the first episode the manager is trying to find ways to stop the shop from going under. It was co-written by Andy Edmeads (Drama 2007) with Susy Payne.

The project has been three years in the planning and received funding as a Kick Starter project.

The first free public viewing was held in Camberley, Surrey where the pilot was made and as a means of thanking the many people and businesses of the town who had helped Andy and Susy with the project. The event raised over £100 for local charities.
It has since been shown in London to an audience which included TV and comedy professionals.

Andy said: “This project has been absolutely fantastic and the final edit has come out better than Susy or I could have dreamed. It's been hard work juggling writing, filming, Susy having a baby, work and all the stresses of a free shoot can bring. But it's also been the thing I have been most proud of doing and the feedback from the audiences in Camberley and in London have been incredible. We've had some initial interest from the producer of Miranda, some independent production companies, a satellite channel and BBC Radio 4 so now we have more hard work to do by getting our pilot out further so we can get a full series made.”

 

Date: 29 October 2013