Studio Salford Development Week is now over, and what a week it was. We had seven brand new pieces of writing from this term’s WFTS Progressing and Advanced courses - all read in front of hugely appreciative audiences who gave feedback to each writer to help with the development of their work.
I also had the opportunity to try my new play out, “boyfriend stroke husband” which was a great chance to hear my script out loud in front of an audience. I got some really helpful feedback which has already helped me shape the next draft of my script. I’ve been approached by a producer wanting to work with me for the production, and there were several other producers who expressed interest in working with other writers from WFTS with the aim of getting the work off the page and into production.
So, it’s been a hugely successful week of great new work.
As well as work from WriteForTheStage, we hosted a wonderful piece of experimental theatre from Lea Fante called Talk To Yourself - a haunting exploration of abortion in a dystopian future.
We also welcomed Stefanie Moore who presented the first public reading of her piece, Blue Lines. Stefanie is the winner of the duologue prize from this year’s ACE-supported Greater Manchester Fringe Festival commissioning round. We’ve placed Stefanie alongside world-famous Tim Firth, who is helping develop the script, ready for production during this year’s Greater Manchester Fringe Festival.
Thank yous
We no longer receive funding from Arts Council England, so Development Week really has become a labour of love. I’d like to thank all of the writers, actors, directors, and producers whose passion helps make this event possible. Without the wonderful actors from Manchester ADP, without the wealth of talent trying their work out in front of an audience, there would be no Development Week; so thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who helps to make this ongoing initiative a massive success.
But, of course, without our audiences, there would be no feedback and empty rooms to perform to. So a huge, warm thanks to everyone who attends; crammed into our little studio space at the wonderful Kings Arms Theatre.
A huge thank goes you to The Kings Arms and their staff for giving us the space to bring this work to life, and for the ongoing welcome and support.
So, after a wonderful week, celebrating new writing, we move onto the new term for the WriteForTheStage courses.
WriteForTheStage courses
We run several levels - suitable for brand new writers and experienced writers, alike. The Intro course starts on Tuesday 19th March and runs entirely online.
The online course is fully interactive, using Zoom.us to deliver the session.
We work through a series of exercises designed to “mine the imagination” - discovering what you want to say by just writing it down, overcoming the “editing” brain; just splurging on the page and letting things develop organically.
It’s a great process. Finding a starting point is always difficult, but developing it into something more substantial is harder. We work through exercises that help to get the ideas out of your head, continually developing them until you’ve got your first ten pages.
Everything written through the Intro course has the opportunity to be included in a showcase at Studio Salford Development Week.
Past participants
Writers who have been participated in the courses have had work performed at Royal Exchange, Contact Theatre, Oldham Coliseum, Kings Arms, Hope Mill, The Swan in Dobcross, Bread and Roses Theatre (London), 53Two, and two writers have been supported and their work developed by Graeae Theatre (London).
They’ve had month-long runs at Edinburgh Fringe, shows at Greater Manchester Fringe, had at least four ACE-supported productions of work developed during the course, become producers, readers for National Theatre, writing tutors, and been invited onto the Playwright Development programme at Liverpool Everyman.
Their work has been included at countless festivals including 24:7, BAME festivals in London, and published independently of WFTS.
Previous participants of the WFTS Producers course have gone on to create their own production companies - including Richard Douglas‘ Agrippa Productions, who staged Marina and the Clone last year, with a stellar cast, including Nathan Morris, who went on to play Milo Entwistle on Hollyoaks, see video below. Marina and the Clone was developed through the WFTS Advanced course.
Richard Stringer set up Great Expectations Theatre and staged Runaway at Greater Manchester Fringe in 2016, starring Ryan Clayton, who went on to play Josh Tucker on Coronation Street. Richard’s latest piece, The Cycle, was developed through WFTS WritersLAB and is going into full production at The Kings Arms Theatre on 20th-22nd March. Tickets and more info here.
Read more about past participants:
Dan Ireland-Reeve talks about his publication and inclusion in GMFringe
Phil Charles talks about his production of The Black Eye Club at The Bread and Roses in London (play developed in WFTS Advanced)
Sarah Cassidy talks about Bleeding With Mother
Karen Little talks about her book, inspired by work produced at WFTS Intro, nominated for a literary prize
Ben Felix (WFTS alumni) stages rehearsed reading at GMFringe 2016
John FK Hoyle talks about the publication of Trigonometry Elliot Hughes talks about the publication of Standard: Elite from GMFringe Will Travis talks about the production of Monopoleyes (developed through WFTS Developing) Parallel by Laura Lindsay started life as a Playwright’s Challenge at Development Week Laura Harper talks about being part of Take Back - a piece she wrote at WFTS Intro Michael Rumney talks about his WFTS experience So, if you’re wondering whether you writing is for you, there’s only one way to find out.
We’re no longer restricted to just participants in Greater Manchester. As long as you have a decent broadband connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone capable of sending and receiving video and audio via either a built-in camera or a web-cam, then you have everything you need to develop your ideas into a tangible piece for the theatre.
Check out The WFTS Podcast to find out more.
Bookings are open and places are strictly limited.
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