A SCOTTISH writer has launched a crowdfunder in a bid to turn his critically acclaimed play about the rave scene into a feature film.
Ben Tagoe’s Better Days toured the UK earlier this year, selling out and winning rave reviews with its blend of one-man show and classic dance tunes. It has a lengthy run coming up at the Edinburgh Festival, kicking off on August 4 and running right through until the end of the month.
Ben had planned to tour again in the autumn, but after encouraging talks with producers is now focusing on turning the semi-autobiographical story into first a short film or, if the crowdfunder generates enough, a proper feature film.
READ MORE: Which Scottish actors are in the new Barbie movie?
The original tour was funded the same way. Tagoe said: “The plan is to create a professionally produced short film that we can enter for festivals etc. This won’t be cheap, especially if we want to use a few of the amazing tracks from the stage show.
“If I’m doing this, everyone on the production will need to be paid proper industry rates and I really want to create something that is as well received as the Better Days show was.
“In an ideal world, I’d love to create a feature film, and if we massively exceeded the target then that would be the aim. If we hit the £30k ask quickly enough, then I will do a stretch target and see what’s possible.
“However, £30k would be enough to create an amazing short. And the plan is to show it around the country with parties afterwards.”
READ MORE: Alan Cumming announces one-man show with Glasgow date
Tagoe plans to stage special events as a thanks for those who contribute. The play was inspired by Perth and Dundee’s Rhumba Club, the iconic institution which changed the landscape and provided a new tribe and a new focus for a lot of young people.
Tagoe added: “It’s incredible to see the reaction we have had so far. Edinburgh is of course massively exciting and I hope we can tell our story to lots of people there.
“Then the idea of this being a film is just ... I never would have dreamed of it when I wrote Better Days."
Better Days is on at La Belle Angele Edinburgh from Aug 4-26.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here