There is a certain amount of theatricality to copywriting and marketing, so it isn't really surprising that performing is one of my main leisure pursuits.

One of the offshoots of this is that I often get pulled into helping out with associated activities, such as publicity and producing programmes. Sometimes this can get a bit much, as it requires all the attention and effort required for commercial marketing, but without a matching budget.

At the moment, I am helping to publicise a production of Hi-de-Hi at the Landmark Theatre in Ilfracombe, Devon from Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th May 2007 – I also play one of the leading roles.

The setting of the show – Maplins holiday camp in a seaside town in the 1950s – creates marvellous publicity opportunities and we were able to stage some dazzling photos at a local hotel, while tomorrow we are touring the locality on an open-top double-decker bus from a nearby holiday camp.

The media love this. One photo occupies the whole of the front page of the North Devon Journal's 'What's On' section with six more photos and a press release I wrote printed verbatim inside. I have also given a radio interview on our local commercial station, while West Country ITV are hoping to film the bus tomorrow for its local television news.

While I believe good writing is essential, identifying interesting content and producing arresting images and photos are also crucial. I suppose it's the fact that everyone is doing this for enjoyment rather than a fee that proves how much exposure can be obtained with a bit of thought and planning.

Hi-de-Hi!

Robert Zarywacz