(upbeat music) ♪ Working hard just taking care of business ♪ ♪ In conversation who's next on her hit list ♪ ♪ And after lunch with an afternoon of business ♪ ♪ You'll make a day if you grant to all she wishes ♪ - So today we're happy to welcome professional theater writer, producer, and author Steve Wallace on to Big Blend Radio today. He's gonna be discussing his brand new audiobook. It's called Hannah, The Soldier Diaries. Now I'm gonna tell you, this is not a typical audiobook. You know, when podcasting started and the event of audiobook started, I kept thinking, can we go back to some really cool radio plays from the past? Like, that was some epic entertainment when you think way back when, right? And I think he captured this in this, just, it's amazing. As soon as you start listening to it, you are stuck in it and you just, you're in it. You're in this story of Hannah and it's a love story and it's, you know, connects with more and it's awesome. So I'm very excited to have Steve join us and I encourage you to go to the website, hannahthesoldirdiries.co.uk. All the links that we talk about are in the episode notes as always. So welcome Steve, how are you? - Hey there, I'm very well. Thank you for having me, Lisa. Delighted to be on your show. Well, happy to have you here, you know. You are in our family ancestral, you know, area of Yorkshire, England. And I love this, the fact that you can do a stage production, then put it into an audiobook and we can connect with it anywhere from around the world, pretty much, depending on the country you're in, right? But isn't that quite wonderful? - Absolutely. I think it is, yeah, it's great, this modern technology. I know sometimes it drives us all crazy, but when it works, it's fantastic. And it really, as you say, it connects us, which is wonderful. - Well, this story, Hannah, what inspired you to write it and did you write it initially thinking it would go into an audiobook and then into a play or what came first with this? - So the audiobook came first. So originally, I had this idea that I wanted to write like an album, like a long player of 12 songs that were all connected. So like song one would be, like say, the beginning of a relationship and song 12 would be the end of the relationship or the outcome of the relationship, I guess, is the better word to say. And then I thought, oh, it might be really cool to actually record some dialogue, to make the story more interesting. So I was really inspired by Jeff Wain's War of the Worlds in the way that he put that together. So he, for you guys who don't know this work, so Jeff Wain tells you this amazing story about some aliens who came from Mars. But the way he put his product together is he combined songs and dialogue in one piece. And I thought, that's really cool. I really like how he did that. So I was taken in by what he did. And I tried to use a similar kind of methodology to write Hannah. So Hannah starts off with an introduction about the story, about going to war. And then we jump straight into some dialogue. And then we have a song and then we have some more dialogue and we have a song and it repeats all the way through all the way through to right to the end. So I think Jeff Wain is probably my early inspiration for writing in this particular style. - Yeah, it's very interesting to me. In the War of the World is like an epic. I mean, that's a classic. That is, hands down a classic. And now you're making me want to revisit it. But it does feel like you're in a theater and you feel connected to Hannah immediately. What a character. And the narration is fantastic. And just, you know, you get right into that and you feel like you're right there. You feel like you're, I'm like watching a play even though your eyes are closed, you know, or maybe your eyes are open, but you cannot really work and listen to this. I'm just serious 'cause it's gossipy too. You got gossip going on. And the music is fantastic. So I think it keeps you, your ears moving, you know what I mean? It keeps you the energy up where sometimes an aerator can be kind of boring, depending on, you would definitely have the right people with you on this. - Thank you. That's very nice of you to say that. And yes, I was truly blessed to find. So the young person who does the narration and all the singing for is a lady called Zoe Wright. She's from Yorkshire, from Scarborough. And I was talking to a bunch of people and I kind of said, I've got this idea to do this story and this audiobook. And I said, I really need a really talented young female to do this recording for us. And they said, you need to get down to the local theatre because she's in a show at the local theatre. This is a true story. So we went down and we watched Zoe in the show and she was amazing. She's an all-rounder, she's a dancer, she's a singer, she's an actress. And after the show finished, me and my wife kind of hung around at the stage door as you do. And we said, oh, hey, Zoe, we thought you were fantastic and we'd want to put the show together. And we, you know, would you like to come along and do a tryout for us? And she said, yeah, sure. And she was the thought I was maybe a bit crazy. She didn't know why I was or anything like this. But anyway, we met and we went to the studio and she did a tryout. And from then it was a no-brainer. She's fantastic, she's a fantastic person. She's a lovely, beautiful person, lovely person. And a massive talent too. So really, really cool and Zoe. - You really feel like you're in her world, you know? And yet at the same time, I also love the writing where there's parts of it where she's, well, I'm not going to tell you everything quite yet. You know what I mean? There's parts of that where she's like, I'm telling you like gossip, gossip, but you're not quite best friends yet. So you have to work a little until you hear everything. - That's brilliant. - Oh, thank you. That's really nice of you to say so. - I thought that the way you've written it and you're writing a female perspective too. So have you done that before? Written female characters as the main character? - Yeah, I have. And I actually find it, I actually find it easier to write for female characters. And I think that's for several reasons. I think my grandmother was a big influence on me as a child and the origins of Hannah started, got my brain thinking when my grandmother used to tell me about the stories about what it was like for her to be home, waiting for my granddad to come home from the Second World War. And she used to tell me what it was like, you know, to be there, waiting home with my mum. She never heard from him for, sometimes it was weeks and months and sometimes she'd get a letter. So I think I was really intrigued by, I guess, what those relationships were like, you know, during wartime. So I think that was an early inspiration was certainly my grandmother and her story. And then I think another big inspiration for writing female character is my wife. Although Hannah is, I would have to say, you know, you would class it as fictitious, but there's a lot of truth in it. There's a lot of truth in Hannah, you know, in terms of relationships. And a lot of that is certainly the class, there's a lot of elements of class divide in Hannah. And that's truth, that's between my wife. So there's, although yes, you'd badge it as fictitious, largely there is a lot of truth in the story. - And we should just give a little overview about how Hannah meets Jack and how they connect. And then he has to not only is he in the military, but he's going to war. And that is when you talk about, you know, your grandma, you know, it's one thing, oh, I'm dating a soldier, but then suddenly your time speeds up because they're not gonna stick around, you know, and have a regular job in town. They're getting shipped off. And next, you know, they really are going to war. And then you worry because if you don't hear from them all the time, there's really nothing you can do about it, you know. - Absolutely, and you're absolutely right. I mean, that's why that's kind of key in Hannah. So without spoiling the story too much, that's, you know, what you've alluded to there is exactly exactly it. So Hannah, she's just come out of a rough relationship and she's kind of like happy doing what she does, you know. She's just like, she's got some friends who she hangs out with. She's got a, she's happy with a job. She's doing some university studies. So she's kind of happy with her life as she is. Then all of a sudden, this handsome young guy kind of like walks past the work and she's going like, no, no, I don't want to be interested. I really don't want to be interested, but he's making it really hard for me not to be interested. So she has to make a conscious decision about do I want to get into another relationship? You know, so there's a lot of kind of thought and should rush, shouldn't I? Even though this guy's, she's fighting, she's really attracted to him. So I'm conscious I don't want to spoil it too much. - But yeah, I know because there's other things that happen. - Yeah, but don't spoil it. - We might, yeah. - No spoilers allowed, you know, but I also want to say the music is fantastic in this too, you know, because I think there's just something about, when you're doing something audio like this, to go to the extra levels of it sounding really good, like a proper theater production, I just, I think the music came off, everything just sounds really good and is quality. And so that is, you know, you really appreciate that and I want people to know again, it's out now, everywhere like Spotify, all those different outlets, but can you give us some insight to the music? Because did you write the songs? Like, tell us about that. - Yeah, yeah, so there again, you know, I do, class myself is quite blessed really. And sometimes, you know, there's the same maybe out there that you guys know, like when stars align. And I think there was certainly an alignment to stars when we met Zoe and there was another moment when I met Nick, a guy called Nick who's from Scarborough, you know, where we live. And yeah, so I was looking for someone who had a recording studio and I found this guy online and I rang him up and I said, you know, I want to do this, I want to do this show. And he said, sure, he said, come down, we'll have a talk. And I didn't give, I'm quite a guarded person by nature. So I didn't want, I didn't sort of give too much away. So I said, tell you what, let's, let's mean you just write, have a go right in a song together, just a random song. So we spent a dance studio and we got on really well. And that was key for me about the relationship. I said, I'm going to spend a lot of time with this guy. I need to know what I'm going to get on with him or not. So we spent a dance studio, we wrote this song and it turned out fine, I really liked it. But more importantly, I liked Nick as a person and the way that he worked. So I thought this is good. So I said to him, look, let's carry on. Let's develop the show, let's make this show. So he said, sure, we'll do that. And I, so in terms of how we created the song, so generally speaking, I have an idea of how the song should go, but I can't play, I can't play, it's a shame, I'm maybe too old for this now, but I wish I could have done that. But I don't play anything. So I kind of have an idea about how the song needs to go. So it could be, so I say, oh, we're going to, it needs to be a ballad or it needs to be a bit of a rock or a pop song and I kind of go, right. So it kind of goes like this, la, la, la, la, la. And magically, he's able to transcribe my kind of la, la, la, la, la, la, and my very, very basic melodies into these fabulous songs that he's created, you know, the music. So I do all the lyrics and I do these very, very sketchy high level melodies. And me and him just seem to have this kind of like relationship where he kind of gets me and he kind of knows what I want, even though I can't play anything, but I can just manage to do this la, la, la kind of thing to him and he goes, what's something like this? And he'll play it and I go, yeah, or maybe almost. And he'll say, maybe we change it a little bit. And I go, yeah, yeah, that's it. Let's go in that direction. And yeah, we, we, yeah, that's amazing. So that's, yeah, that's not how he came up. That's the true story. That's how it happened, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So have you always been writing productions like this? Yeah, yeah, so for many years, I've had a, I guess, I guess maybe by some people's standards, I was quite late in terms of kind of writing musical theatre. I mean, I didn't maybe start till I was maybe 35 or so. But yeah, as soon as I started, I didn't want to start. I absolutely loved it. I absolutely loved, particularly the creative process as in the writing and the music and all that kind of stuff. And I love, I love producing. I love getting a show to the opening night. And then at come 7.30, when the show opens, your work is done. You can't, you're in the lap of the gods, as they say. You know, as far as you're concerned, the curtain goes back. The audience is in, the cast are ready, the show starts. And you have to just, OK, go for it, guys. And you cross your fingers, it's all going to be good. But yeah, I adore it. I adore the theatre process. Isn't it wild? Because-- and I come from a music background in performing. And it's hell, but we're addicted to the hell. I don't understand it, you know, really. Because it's the biggest challenge, and it's an adrenaline rush. But we get like this high from like anything could go wrong, that you'd-- you know, just when you think you've gone through anything that could go wrong, something will happen just to challenge you. And I don't know, we keep going back, don't we? It's wild. It's very true. That is, you know, 100%, you know, that's exactly how I feel, too. Yeah, it drives you absolutely crazy, you know, often. And you think, why are we doing this? You know, because it's insane. But there's-- I think the thing is there's more positive than negative in terms of the process. And I think that's what keeps us kind of like captivated. And I think it's that when you actually see, you know, on the stage, what everybody has put all the time and the effort into create. And you kind of-- you sit in the audience and you watch it with other audience members and you watch their reactions. And, you know, if you've got a good one and they love it, you know, it's lovely. It's like a-- it's a wonderful validation of all the hard work everybody's put in, you know, you get some really nice applause and some really nice comments. And I think that's really-- that's lovely. That's lovely to see and lovely to hear. Yeah, well, you definitely put together something quality to listen to. And the story, you're just hooked in. And I think men will enjoy this, too, not just women. Even though it's from a woman's perspective, it has male perspectives in there, too. It kind of reminds me of like a fresh approach to Greece, in a way. In regards to the love story is going to end, but then it could continue on because they did the summer, right? But this is like someone going off to war, so it's a little different. It's not high school either. But it's going through that study of relationships that we never get over studying. And we all have some form of understanding and relationship within like a relationship story, right? So I think it's very approachable for anyone to listen to and enjoy it. And I don't know, brings back some feeling, and also reminds people of what happens to not just those who serve who are out in the trenches. But what happens to the families-- and there's something we talk about on the shows a lot-- is we forget about what the families themselves go through. The wives, the husbands who are at home with the kids and trying to still create this life when your partner is rarely there, or may not come home. We don't know on this story yet until you listen to it, everyone. So I'm not going there. So you know what I mean? I think that it's really approachable for men and women, but also for those who live this kind of life, for them to relate to it as well. But in a modern way. It is like Greece in a modern way. But it's a military Greece. Can we say it that way? Sure, sure. Yeah. It's on that caliber. You're right. You're absolutely right. I mean, it's-- and I guess the thing is the feelings that you get from both sides, like you say, you get the family who are at home, who often sometimes go through feelings of hopelessness, especially when communications are broken down and they don't understand why. And then I think from Jack's perspective, who is the male character in this particular show. So in one of his sings in two or three of the songs, and in certainly in one of the songs, a song called "Bigging at the End," I think there's some really nice thought process and some really nice lyrics in there. And it's-- without there again, without giving too much away, I think he's-- even though he's a dedicated army guy, and he realizes what he's getting himself into when he signs up, I think the moment that he sees this woman, who he falls in love with almost immediately, I think if he were given a choice, he'd probably come home to her. I think his feelings are kind of that strong. And I think that's really summed up really nicely in this particular song called "Bigging at the End." So I think you're right. I think it's-- it is-- they're torn at both sides. So they're torn being away. So in this instance, Jack is away and fighting. He's torn, and then you've got Hannah, who's at home waiting and crossing the fingers that he's going to come home. So yeah, there are-- even though you described it as a spot on in terms of primarily it's from Hannah's perspective, we do actually at times kind of like give you a feeling of what Jack's going through as well while he's away. Which is important, you know, to have those sides. And then the music side, you were talking about writing them. But what about the singers and the musicianship of this? Who was doing the vocals? So Zoe, Zoe, there's Zoe primarily-- she's the lead female vocalist on all the songs. Wow. So she does the narration as well. She's amazing. And then she is. She's a fantastic actress. And then there's-- so we-- for you guys who wouldn't listen to it just yet. So there's some wrapping on a couple of songs as well. And the guy who wrote the songs with Nick, that's his son. Oh, wow. Zoe's son is actually done the wrapping on two or three of the songs as well. And we just put that in there because Jack is for all intents of purpose an affluent person from an affluent family. And we just thought, well, why shouldn't he wrap? Why should he not? And we thought that the songs lent themselves to wraps. And we thought, I think this works. I think it works. So yeah, so the guy's called Tyler, who's Nick's son. And I knew that Nick said to me that he is quite a talent. And I said, OK, let's get him in. So he came and he tried out for a couple of songs. I thought this guy is a real talent himself. So we said, yeah, OK, let's get him to wrap on a couple of these songs. And I was delighted how they turned out because it's mixed with Zoe. So Zoe kind of sings another song. So I guess to the listeners, an example I could give. And I just want to put it out there. I'm not trying to make out for one minute. Kind of this guy's level, of course I'm not. But just to give an example of how the song plays out. So the way that Eminem often writes his songs, he'll write, he'll like Stan as an example. He'll get like diodosing in the really lovely first bits. He'll get the Eminem singing the chorus bit, all vice versa. So these couple of songs that we've got in the show, they're a little bit like that in the way they're constructed. So he gets it. And also, again, going using the word approachable is good for any age or people who may not listen to rap. It fits so well that you don't go, oh my gosh, I'm listening to rap and I don't listen to rap. It goes in, and it keeps it fresh and young of what is now and current. So I think that's really important too, you know? And we always think these kinds of, let's say, plays, stories are often always World War II. We got a little on Vietnam, very few on some other battles, like the Korean War, World War I and II got a lot on Vietnam. But, you know, current day stories, modern history, it's good to cover that because we can't leave out those families and the people that were part of it, you know? So I think that's a beautiful thing is, you know, looking at current times, you know? That's awesome. Are you going to do more? Yes, yes, so the second audiobook, so the second Hannah audiobook is going to be out at Christmas December 2024, so in about four or five months. So volume two is going to be out in Christmas. So yeah, I'm really excited about that too. So yeah, there's going to be more. And then we'll see how that goes. But I think once the second one's done, that kind of, oh gosh, I don't want to say too much. All I'll say is that the second volume is going to be out at Christmas for now, otherwise I'm going to give it away. OK, so yeah, we want the second quote because it's not done. It's not, yeah, the story's not done. And so what about it being on stage for our listeners in England, anything like that for them to know about? Yeah, so Hannah, so very, very, very short story. So we did the, we were writing the audiobook and we were recording the audiobook and I turned to Nick, who's the guy who did the music. And I kind of, this needs to be on stage. And he said, really? And I said, yeah, I can see this on the stage, 100%. And generally, it was never the original intent. The original idea was that we were going to do the audiobook and we were very happy with that. But I said, no, no, this needs to be on the stage. So we finished the audiobook and then I wrote, I rewrote the script for a stage version. And I went down to see the local theatre guys and I kind of said, look, I've got this story set in, it's set in Scarborough where we live. And I said, you know, can we put it on the stage here? And they said, after, you know, this gets a bit of negotiation as all these things often play out, they said, yeah, sure. So we literally put it on in April of 2024 at the Scarborough Centre and here in Scarborough. Oh. And Zoey, Zoey who's done the audiobook, she was there. So she was the leading lady on the stage. Perfect. And we had an absolute blast. And I was so proud of everybody who took part because I'll be completely honest with you. It was everybody in the town was really supportive. But to be honest with you, they kind of, they didn't really know what it was and why would they? You can kind of say, oh, yeah, we're doing this, kind of the soldier diaries play and they go, oh, yeah, that sounds amazing. But to be fair, they had no real idea what it was. Why would they? You know, because it's all new, it's brand new. So we put it on. And the honest truth is, I was kind of like thinking, you know, I was quite confident that we'd put on a good show. I was quite confident, but I wasn't quite confident that everybody was going to show up and watch it because it was so brand new. But the ticket sales, they increased day by day by day. And people came up to me and they said to me, do you know what, we never thought it was going to be like this. We thought it was amazing. You know, we absolutely loved it. And people still come up to me in the street and go, are you that guy who put Hannah on and I get you? They said, oh my God, some people went back two, three times. Genuinely, they did, they absolutely loved it. - That's awesome. - Yeah, they absolutely loved it. And I'm so, the only people I went to, to ask for the opinion was the press. I went to the press and I kind of said, what do you think? And they said, well, have you read the newspaper? And I said, yeah, sure. I said, well, that's what we think. I said, well, really? I said, you're not trying to be nice. And they said, no, no, no, we don't do nice in this country. This is the truth. - Yes, you're right. - Listen, the English humor is straight up, even if it's, you know, it's humor. - It is, I mean, it is. - And I was so, I was so humbled by it, you know, because I'm not a, I don't really caught, you know, I know, you know, you have to tell people about what you're doing, of course you do. But I didn't, I don't go up to people in the streets and go, oh, hey, I'm the guy who wrote Hannah, what did you think? I'd never do that, I'd never do that. But if somebody wants to come and talk, ask me the question, I want to talk to him, I'll give him the time of day and I'm very happy to talk about it. And they said, we absolutely loved it. But I don't go, oh, yeah, thanks for it. I say, why did you love it? I say, what's the reasoning? Why are you telling me you loved it? And they tell me, and it's all different reasons. But one of the main things, one of the main things that people always say, and it's a consistent message, is because they said to me, you made us laugh and you made us cry and you made us want us to come back. And I said, well, there you go. I mean, I can't, what more can I ask for? - You can't, yeah, I know. - Well, it's a fantastic story and the audiobook is an amazing production. It feels like I said at the beginning, it's like you're in it. And it was so real and it's so well done. You know, from this, I know the audiobook is out, but can it be licensed out for theatrical productions across the country, around England, around the world? Is it able to do that? - Absolutely, so we're looking to, so in terms of the stage play, the stage musical, so it's going to come back to Scarborough next June for another run. And then we're talking to the theatre at the moment. So there's a chance we might be able to do it through the summer, maybe in Scarborough next year. And then, yeah, we're certainly looking at trying to take it on tour, you know, in the UK and maybe in a year or two, maybe beyond. So that, which would be really nice. So we certainly just feel this is kind of still, you know, the beginning, really. And we've got lots of big plans for her. So, and the dream, the dream is the movie, of course. We'd love to, yeah, we'd love to turn it into a movie because it kind of worked the way it's kind of written. - I think so. And I think we need more love right now. So this is a good thing. - I think you're right. We do, we sure do, and we sure do. - And, you know, we love the twists and turns of it because, you know, that's the, you know, if love had no obstacles, you know, you need the obstacles, period. It just is. - You're doing it, you're doing it the obstacles. You do, you need, you need it. - No one just gives you a golden ticket of pure love and it's all perfect. - I wish. I wish. (laughs) - That just doesn't work. But that's why we love stories like this because we can all relate in some form or fashion to these kinds of stories in life, right? And I just love it. I love Hannah as a character. She cracks me up. She is funny. She is. She's just, you know, there's just certain parts of it. I was like, oh, she's funny. I would want to sit down with her and I have a cocktail. Absolutely. You know, I want to go hang out with her and I want to go to her town. You know what I mean? You kind of feel like you want that, you know? So, yeah. I love the fact that it's an audiobook right now for folks that can't see it in theaters yet or, you know, it's a great medium to get people to really get onto it. It could be a series quite frankly. You know, in some ways, if you wanted to. 'Cause her personality is so, it's such a good character. You know? I could see it become a series. I mean, it would obviously change the initial story, right? But it would, I think her character is so well done that it could be a series that people could follow. I know you want a movie, but it could be a series. I'm just saying, would you be against that? I think it is. - No, not at all. And I was just kind of thinking that, you know, you talked about, you know, Zoe and stuff. I think if there's an opportunity, so Zoe lives local to me. So if there's ever an opportunity that you'd like to, you know, you'd like to get her on the show, she'd be very happy to do that. I'd say she's a lovely person, you know, in real life as well, you know? Even though she's a great actress, but she's a lovely person and she kind of said to me, she said, you know, which is lovely as well. She kind of said that this was kind of meant for me. And she's right. She is, I can't, I've always said to her, I can't imagine ever anybody else ever being Hannah. You know, it just seemed such a natural fit, you guys, you two together. So, you know, I was truly blessed when somebody said, you need to go to the theater and you need to go and see this young person on the stage. And I'm very grateful to that person. - She's perfect. I mean, it just is. It is, it is, you couldn't, yeah, it shouldn't be changed. I don't mess with a good thing. Don't mess with a good thing. But she's welcome on the show anytime. And thank you so much, Steve. I mean, it's just a, it's a delight and it's a wonderful story. And I want everyone to go get it and, you know, very easy these days, you know, everyone's driving, you know, turn off the news for once 'cause it really is kind of crazy out there. So maybe listen to something like this instead and go to Hannah, thesoldierdiaries.co.uk. Again, the link is in the episode notes and get it wherever you get audiobooks and it's out now and go support it. And love it so much. Thank you, Steve. - Thank you so much Lisa for having me on. Absolutely awesome. Thank you. (upbeat music) ♪ I can't get you out of my head ♪ ♪ I don't care ♪ ♪ Love is like home for you ♪ ♪ Hey, hey ♪ ♪ I got damn butterflies deep inside ♪ ♪ She's got damn butterflies deep inside ♪ ♪ I can't get you out of my head ♪ ♪ I think he's blowing my mind ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪ ♪ I got damn butterflies deep inside ♪ [BLANK_AUDIO]
