Margaret Perry: I wish I’d known…

I wish I’d known… Our series of interviews with theatre makers sharing their experiences of working in the industry

MGCfutures speaks to Writer and 2017 Bursary recipient, Margaret Perry

When did you decide on your current career path?

In 2014 I decided to move to London after university to try to become a playwright. The first money I ever got for writing was from MGC Futures in 2017.

What prompted your decision?

I always wanted to write, and I discovered at university I might want to write plays. London seemed like a place where I might find a way into that. 

What was the biggest challenge you faced in the beginning?

Carving out time to write around my day job. I made a lot of sacrifices, especially often the sacrifice of FUN. And at the time, it often felt like those sacrifices might come to nothing. A space for fun is also important and sacred! 

What has been one of the greatest rewards?

That feels like too reflective a question in a way, I’m still so early in this career and I never feel like I’m in some kind of secure place reaping any sort of reward as such. I just feel happy and grateful to be writing full-time and to get to work with incredible collaborators. And hope that it may continue.

What advice would you give the younger you just starting out?

Be patient. When you think you’ve waited long enough and nothing’s happened and you don’t know how much longer you can keep going, keep going more. Stop Googling writers you admire to figure out how old they were when they achieved what they’ve achieved and comparing yourself to them and getting depressed when they’re younger and more successful than you. (Actually, also stop doing that now). Don’t forget about the rest of your life. It matters just as much. It probably matters more but it doesn’t feel like it at the start – it feels like becoming a writer is the only thing that matters. Remember people in the industry are just people and you’ll find the ones you connect to, just like in the rest of life. Meetings don’t have to be stressful. You’re not on a gameshow. Meetings are just chatting and seeing what happens. Don’t forget to enjoy the wins. It’s also okay to mourn the losses. There’s so much luck at play. Stay in it. But don’t forget to also take a little break and be kind to yourself.