Martin JP Green

Let’s start with an article of faith: I believe books should be entertaining before they try to be anything else.

 

“Amuse your reader and he will think you a trivial fellow,” said Somerset Maugham.  “But bore him in the right way and your reputation is assured.”

 

I’m prepared to take the risk of being considered trivial rather than ‘serious’. And in any case, being entertaining is something that ought to be taken seriously.

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I did a degree in English. That was a mistake.

 

Books became a chore for many years. But once the hangover had worn off, I started to knock off short stories and pantomimes.  

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I got adventurous with ‘Pantos Plus’ like 'Little Red Riding West', and 'Puss in Boats', where innovation rather than tradition predominated. 

 

The panto theme ultimately gave way to more orthodox plays, several of them set in Sheffield.

 

There are nineteen titles in total.

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  Straight-up Pantos
 

• Jack & the Beanstalk

• Aladdin

• Cinderella

 

  Pantos 'Plus'
 

• Dick Whittington
  Set in Sheffield and featuring Henderson’s Relish and Charlie Peace.

• Beauty & the Beast
  A country House drama with a strong PG Wodehouse flavour.

• Babes ‘n the Hood
  Gangland intrigue with more than a nod towards Guys and Dolls.

• Little Red Riding West
  A Western with all the traditional ingredients plus a wolf.

• Snow White & the Seven Deadly Sinners
  Vampire antics in deepest Transylvania.

• Humptius Dumptius
  Scotland, harried by the all-conquering Roman Empire, fights back. 

• Ma Baker & the 40 Thieves
  Starsky and Hutch have nothing on Joe Graft & Telegram Chan!

• Mother Goose in Space
  Star Wars meets Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.