I have to share this with you. I had some great fun the other weekend. A friend wrote a radio play, a comedy full of zany characters, and she wanted to record it. Her intention was to do a quality demo that might one day land on the desk of someone of influence, who’d recognise how good it is and air it widely, performed by a professional cast. And she’s a determined woman on a mission, full of great ideas, full of ability and energy.

But for now it was just a bunch of amateur volunteers with a sense of mischief who agreed to read the various parts. Some actors were more experienced than others, some more confident. But we were all up for it in a big way. And we had a talented whip-cracking director with a good ear for what sounded right. And a brilliant sound engineer who had all the right recording equipment and lots of patience.

We gathered around the long table for a read-through and the first rehearsal went ok. We understood the gist of the storyline and the characters. We immediately ‘got’ the village setting, the intrigue, the farce, the jeopardy. Some fascinating dynamics between characters. The big reveal at the end.

We gelled as a group, larked around a bit, had cake. Then the next day we recorded the whole thing.

It was a blast! What a great bunch of actors. The balance between respecting the writer’s good work and bringing our own energy and sense of fun to the piece was perfect.

My role was that of a woman who ran a dress shop and flirted with all the men. A vamp, apparently, which I looked up, and it means ‘a dangerously flirtatious woman.’

I’ve no idea why I was given that role. I’m quite humble and reserved really. But it was great fun to play the character, especially since the other actors were so talented and supportive and our rapport was good.

There was a sense of enjoyment and fun throughout. The best craic. There was one point at which one of the actors and I were nearly sent to the naughty step for laughing too much. But we knew what we were doing – we brought the early tension down to a level of calm, and the first recording went really well. The second recording was brilliant.

I have to say a huge congratulations to the writer/ director and the sound recording/ editing engineer. What great professionals and what a talent they both are. And such facilitators. They were adorable, lovely to work with. Everyone had a fabulous time.

In a few weeks we’ll all meet again to hear the recording, We’ll be genuinely falling about laughing at the dialogue and secretly cringing at the sound of our own voices, and having a great time. And being impressed with everyone’s performance and how professional it all sounds with the effects and the edits, which must have taken an age.

And we’ll have cake.

But do listen out for My Beautiful Baguette, an extraordinary radio play. It’s bound to hit the airwaves at some point in the future. It definitely deserves a wide audience.

And I wonder what we’ll be doing for our second radio play?

Watch this space.