I'm thrilled to have been selected for the Stage Write New Writing Programme at Liverpool's Royal Court Theatre!
It's such a fantastic programme, and the theatre has an incredible commitment to new writing, having exclusively produced new writing since 2017. They don't just talk the talk - they actively engage new writers to ensure that a wide range of new voices are given every possible opportunity to share their work with audiences.
The other thing I love about this theatre is their ongoing commitment to producing new comedy writing! I've applied for countless writing schemes in the past, and it seems like everyone who got selected for them had very serious, very personal, worthy pieces about a whole range of very serious subject matters. There's a place for that, of course, but comedy so often gets neglected. Not at the Royal Court! I felt confident sending in an application and writing sample where I felt I could really sell myself as a comedy writer. Everyone at the theatre should be given huge credit for remembering that there are TWO masks, not just the sad one!
The programme starts in the new year, and I really can't wait to get started. I'm having a ball on my Comedy Writing Masters course, where I'm writing lots of fun things for TV and radio, but theatre has always been my first love, and having the opportunity to write something for stage under the guidance of the brilliant team at the Royal Court Theatre is beyond exciting.