Writers Talking is back after a bit of a break. In the new series our book reviewer Sallie Eden talks to Peter Graystone, whose book ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ was reviewed last month for Roseland Online.
After a long gap in which Covid and its aftermath interrupted my regular interviews with authors, it was a real treat to meet up with Peter Graystone to talk about his writing, his life, his passion for the theatre and, of course, his love of Shakespeare.
His life and his faith reflect his joy and interests, and his writing is both joyful and thought provoking. A conversation with Peter is very much the same.
I must start with an apology for any errors, the result of our meeting being less like an interview and more of a chat with an old friend with whom I have much in common. I fear it resulted in more laughter than note-taking.
Peter has what might be termed a portfolio life: after reading English at Trinity College, Oxford, and then obtaining a PGCE, he was briefly a teacher before joining the Scripture Union as a writer and editor. There his focus was on the place of children in church, which led to his first book, ‘Help, There’s A Child in My Church’. There followed several other books (he’s now produced twenty)
After working for Christian Aid, he became National Development Officer for Fresh Expressions for the Anglican missionary society Church Army. Fast forward to 2018 and he’s the Lay Training Officer of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark, based in the heart of where Shakespeare lived, wrote and performed.
He lives and worships in the Diocese and is a Reader in his local church and also reviews theatre for the Church Times, as well as writing highly regarded books. With titles as varied as ‘Be Happy: a 40 Day Journey to Contentment’, ‘Ready Salted’ and ‘You’re Only Young Once’ you start to get a feel for the breadth of his interests.
It’s no surprise to learn he’s a theatre lover, on average attending performances once a week for the past 45 years, so I started my questions by asking what prompted his interest in Shakespeare. He told me “I had a great English teacher who really inspired me and sowed the seed which led to my love of theatre. Aged 15, I went alone to see a Shakespeare play at the National Theatre in London. It was ‘The Tempest’, starring John Gielgud as Prospero, Arthur Lowe as Stephano and Julian Orchard as Trinculo. I was carried away into a magical world, the result of a combination of superb acting, imaginative scenery and the fantastic storm scene. I felt not just part of the audience but drawn into the whole performance and I knew then I wanted to see more.”
“What I love about Shakespeare is that he knew when to bring on a man with a sword and when to introduce comedy. People often forget the range of subjects and emotions about which he wrote: war, love, death, humour, disappointment. I think people often don’t realise – or don’t know – that Shakespeare can be very funny. It’s all there in his work.”
“As to theatre itself, I love it when I can chat to people, perhaps in the interval or after a performance and it’s maybe the first time they’ve seen that play or been to the theatre and they’ve really enjoyed it or been surprised by it.”
“I enjoy a range of productions, not just Shakespeare, and I particularly like contemporary plays in small theatres, plays that have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening now, something thoughtful and thought provoking, and because of their proximity, they can grip the audience in a way which often isn’t possible in larger venues. I also like comedy and musicals, something uplifting and joyful that can sweep me away from daily life.”
I wondered if Peter had considered going on the stage himself, but as he said “I did well in school plays, but I realised that there’s a big difference between being good in a school production and being a professional actor. I can’t imagine auditioning for parts or finding work to carry me through those times when I’d be “resting”. I use the talents God gave me in other ways.”
As a Church of England Reader, Peter’s role involves teaching and preaching, and I asked him whether his love of theatre spilled over into his sermons. He admitted “I hope it helps me to find different ways to say things. I preach in quite a theatrical way, by which I mean that I want to tell a story that emotionally engages the congregation.”
Talking to Peter it’s obvious his faith underpins every aspect of his life, as he says “I suppose I’d describe my faith as deeply and joyfully held but not dogmatic. To me, Christianity is about finding meaning, purpose, truth and destiny in a weary world, most of all, it’s something that fills me with joy, which I want to share with others.”
Moving on to his writing, I wanted to know what triggered his latest book. “’All’s Well That Ends Well’ was intended to reflect the intentional period of Lent and was something that my publisher was keen on and asked me to put forward a proposal. I initially thought the book would have only a niche appeal, but it turned out to attract a wider market. It contains a Shakespeare quote for every day. I started by writing the beginning and the end, because I could see clearly how that would work, and then I slotted in the rest. Because he wrote about topics that are relevant today, I used my knowledge of his plays to find suitable passages.”.
“People have asked me where I write. Well, I sit in the same seat, looking out of the same window, in silence, and generally set aside three hours, of which two hours are thinking time and one hour is typing. I don’t show my work to anyone before publication in case it doesn’t work out, although I occasionally fact check with a trusted friend who’s on the same wavelength.”
I asked him what books he enjoyed reading (apart from the Bible and Shakespeare). It was no surprise when he said, “I like books that take me somewhere different, where every page is a new discovery, for example, a novel that makes me laugh and then has me crying ten pages from the end”.
I wondered how much humour plays a part in Peter’s day to day life, and he admits he likes to laugh, whether it’s watching a play, or a musical, reading a book, or even in his role as a church of England reader. His writing style is very much influenced by the need to find the right way to say things, to inform and interest. Indeed, Peter’s own writing has been described as wise, funny and rich with spiritual insights, so what next? “My plan is to write something different – a work of fiction – and I have an idea bubbling under.” I was sworn to secrecy, but I can say that it sounded fascinating and, as with Peter’s other books, original and of wide appeal. Watch this space….
I feel I should end with a Shakespearean quote to say thank you to Peter for his time and for making me laugh. “If we do meet again, why we shall smile…”
*Book Reviews – August 2023 – Sallie Eden – All’s Well That End’s Well | Roseland Online