Well, it's time to reveal the full timetable for Development Week 8. It's a really great timetable of new writing and we're bringing back our ever-popular eclectic cabaret, Embryo.
Most events are free, but I'd really advise booking in advance. The performances are held in the bijoux Studio at The Kings Arms (apart from Embryo, of course, which is in the main space!) and they fill up pretty quickly.
I'm really excited to be giving the work developed through the WriteForTheStage courses a good airing - there's a great array of fascinating stories emerging from the work the students are producing, so it's sure to be a really enlightening week of new work. I'm also really excited that there we're also presenting work from established local playwrights Jayne Marshall, Will Travis and Ian Winterton, as well as some really exciting work from emerging playwrights Adam Whittaker, Daniel Thackeray, Anne Fortune and Leigh Hayes. As well as those, there's work from alumni from previous WriteForTheStage courses Sarah Cassidy (Bleeding With Mother), Richard "RP" Douglas (Barbara The Zoo Keeper) and Naomi Sumner (Pass, One Flesh) who's work is also published by WriteForTheStage Books.
Embryo tops off the week on the Sunday, giving bite-size portions of brand new work in development. Previous Embryos have seen work from countless actors, writers, directors, film-makers, poets, spoken word artists, comedians and musicians that are now making their living (for your entertainment) out of the craft they honed at our eclectic cabaret. In the past you will have seen Neil Bell (Peaky Blinders), Warren Brown (Luther), Steve Evetts (Rev., Pirates of the Caribbean, Looking For Eric), Rob James-Collier (Corrie, Downton Abbey) amongst many many other actors of stage and screen tread the boards at Embryo, as well as work-in-development by Cathy Crabb, Stella Grundy, Richard Vergette, Rob Johnstone, Ian Winterton, Gerry Potter, Ian Townsend amongst the vast array of writers.
Development Week is a very exciting prospect as an audience member - it's all about your input. At each performance the audience is handed a feedback form and your opinions go towards the further development of the work, going directly to the artists, so you can really make a stamp on the work you see in the future.
And if that isn't enough, there's an opportunity to try out a bit of playwriting for yourselves with workshops for writers and a producer's workshop aimed at developing the skills required to get a piece of work off the page and onto the stage.
If you're interested in a WriteForTheStage course, take a look at the website. We've got levels for all stages of experience from Intro to Advanced and Developing, all the way through to Producing. The next term starts in October and, thanks to the lovely Arts Council England, you'll find that they're offered at a very affordable price.
The full timetable for Studio Salford Development Week 8 can be found at
I really hope you can make some of the events on offer during the week. The whole week runs at the great Kings Arms Theatre , 11 Bloom St, Salford M3 6AN. Most events are FREE and there's a great bar offering some great guest ales, an excellent array of wines and softs drinks, as well as some of the best bar food that Manchester can offer.
