Crimson Eyes -
The Walking Play
New Media Writing Prize 2025
.Great news ! Crimson Eyes - The Walking Play has been shortlisted for the New Media Writing Prize, for which there is a public vote. You can listen to the Walking Play here and, if you like it, please vote for it in the public vote competition here too.
The Story
Crimson Eyes - The Walking Play is an innovative and immersive experience where listeners use their smartphone and ear buds / headphones to meet Phoebe - a fictional street-homeless woman - at a pre-arranged location at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields in London.
Phoebe tells listeners of her story - of how she became homeless and what it’s like to live on the streets - whilst listeners "accompany her" on one of her one-hour “Walks”, on a pre-defined route through the West End of London.
The Meeting Place is outside the Tandoor Chop House, 8 Adelaide Street WC2N 4HZ - right opposite a real Homelessness Resource Centre called The Connection at St. Martin's in the Fields. The route is::
St Martin’s in the Fields - The Strand - Charing Cross - Embankment -
Fleet Street - St. Paul’s
Along the way, Phoebe points out places of interest and relevance to her life - e.g. the Arches where she sleeps; the “feeding station” where she gets free food from volunteers; the park where she spends lots of her time; and the Police Station where she’s spent plenty of nights in the cells !.
It’s a great way to walk in the shoes of a homeless person, and experience a little about their life on the streets – as well as enjoying a lovely walk past famous landmarks, through wonderful parks and along the Embankment.
One of the aims of Crimson Eyes -The Walking Play is to dispel some of the myths and stereotypical views held by some people about street homelessness. It illustrates how a stable, comfortable person can spiral into misfortune and misery, ending up on the streets.
But be prepared - it’s a grim, gritty tale that combines real-life misery with spates of humour and irony. Phoebe also uses some choice language !
Alan teamed up with talented actor Isabel M. Patterson to help produce and to voice the part of Phoebe - and to also help devise the route. Isabel has performed in a range of stage productions and has worked extensively as a screen actor.
“We had a lovely day in London working out the best route to set the play and timing how long it takes to get between Phoebe’s different places of interest to best make the experience work best” said Alan.
Isabel said “Working on Crimson Eyes with Alan, to adapt his brilliant monologue into a Walking Play, has been a really eye-opening and creatively rewarding process. When I first read the script, I was struck by Phoebe's sense of humour that came through Alan's writing - and her enduring spirit through the events that had taken place in her life. I enjoyed voicing Phoebe and bringing her complexities to life”.
Alan was interviewed about Crimson Eyes - The Walking Play by BBC Essex Presenter, Rob Jelly, on his early evening show in February 2024. Rob also played a 5-minute first-hear clip from the play.
So, if you have an hour or so to spend when you’re next in London, why not meet up with Phoebe and take a walk with her.
Crimson Eyes – The Walking Play can be downloaded from the link at the top of the page.
The Route
Phoebe
