Last week Studio Salford WriteForTheStage hosted the eleventh Development Week. Over the years, we’ve hosted over 150 new pieces of writing. We’ve hosted the work of countless writers over the past six years, many of whom have used the opportunity to get feedback from our audiences before they take their work into production.
This time we hosted work from the WFTS Advanced courses from Maureen O’Neill, Len Evans, Fiona Finch, Andrew Seedall, and David Holmes; as well as work from WFTS Initro student, Johnny Temple.
Alongside the programme of new writing from WriteForTheStage, we hosted new work-in-development from Lewis Charlesworth, Andy Pilkington, Aisling Caffrey, Jayne Marshall, Robert Elkin, and David Chriscole.
The standard of work has been amazing - real promise and such a wide variety of subject areas and themes. It was a real pleasure to see the work, and we had amazing audience feedback.
Thank you to everyone who took part as writer, actor, and audience alike. We’re nothing without our audiences who so generously provide feedback to help shape the work of the future.
So, after a brilliant five days of new work, we launched the inaugural WFTS GMFringe Development Conference.
I don’t like to say the words “I feel proud”. I find it a bit cringe - but on this occasion, I feel really proud of what we achieved over the weekend.
We had workshops for writers: I ran workshops about The Functions of Dialogue and the 3-Act Structure; Stephen M Hornby (writer-in-resident for LGBT History Month, PhD student, and AD of Inkbrew Productions, GMFringe award winner, 24:7 veteran) ran a session on writing from archive; Naomi Sumner (Brush Stroke Order, reader for National Theatre, Papatango, Royal Exchange, 24:7 veteran, multi award winner) delivered a session about the first 10 pages.
Actors were treated to a talk from Alice Brockway about her PhD, exploring mental health for those in the acting profession; one-to-one Skype sessions with Pilly Bowles - a West-End acting agent; a session with multi-MTA winning writer / performer Rob Ward shared his secrets in delivering story in a one-person show; one-to-ones with Colin Conner and Nathan from Bolton Octagon sharing bespoke tips for audition technique.
For producers we delivered sessions on setting up a theatre company with WFTS veteran, Richard Douglas; and a session on applying for Arts Council funding; a production surgwry with GMFringe organisers, Zena Barrie and Lisa Connor. Zena founded the Camden Fringe festival and has years and years of experience as a producer, venue manager, and performer at the Edinburgh fringe. Lisa is a multi-MTA winning producer for Rising Moon Productions and the manager of AD of The Kings Arms Theatre.
For spoken word artists, Adam Farrer (published poet, publisher, musician, spoken word artist) and Rosa Wright (GMFringe award winner) delivered an amazing 2-day workshop on developing material and a relationship with the audience.
Debbie Manley (multo-award winning journalist, PR guru, and Salford University lecturer) gave a masterclass on marketing and PR for the fringe - sharing tips and ideas to help your message stand out amongst all the noise of social media.
Mark Simpson gave a masterclass in programming a lighting desk, operating tech for a show, and clarity on tech requirements for the GMFringe festival.
It was a really amazing weekend - and the participants got a lot from the session.
Some feedback we received:
“Big thank you to @spikal @StudioSalford @Write4TheStage @GMFringe. Development week and weekend conference were great. I learned a lot and met some smashing people. Can’t wait for the next one.” - @viaduct_theatre
”Spent Saturday @kingssalford @gmfringe Development Conference. Thanks to @naomisumner, @stephenmhornby and @spikal for the inspiring writing workshops!” - @hayleydohertyuk
“Terrific session with @spikal looking for starting points for new writing. @DevilishAccord comes away with another potential future play with a political theme.” - @DevilishAccord
“Really enjoyed day 1 of workshops @Write4TheStage #GMFringe Development Conference yesterday.
☑️"Finding Starting Points" w/@spikal
☑️"Heritage Writing" w/@stephenmhornby
☑️"The One-person Show" w/@robwardplazy
☑️"Spoken Word" w/@AdamJFarrer & @RosaBoat
Can't wait to start day 2!” - @DevilishAccord
“Excited to take part in this rare opportunity to watch and help shape new writing @StudioSalford @GMFringe tonight from 8pm.This has to be the MOST supportive and creative city for artists in England! #oneforsorrow #quidsIn #nohidingplace #MancMade” - @BrittaniaMLeigh
This video from Maureen O’Neill from @Viaduct_Theatre -https://youtu.be/r30K0SjNqOU
In other news, we’re offering 8 free registrations for the GMFringe Festival 2019 - encouraging people with low incomes to get involved. And The Hive - the ACE-support curated element of the GMFringe 2019, with mentoring from multi-award winning playwright, Tim Firth; TV’s Justin Moorhouse; and a spoken word artist tbc.
The GMFringe 2019 promises to be an amazing festival. Get involved. Registrations for the 2019 festival open on 1st December.
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