Between 4 and 8 September, New Writing North and the Royal Court will present public readings of new plays by nine northern writers at Northern Stage.
In late 2017, New Writing North came together with The Royal Court Theatre and Northern Stage to create Royal Court Writers Group: North, a new writers’ group for playwrights, which was open to playwrights based in the North of England who felt they would benefit from being pushed in their craft and the ambition of their writing for the stage.
Over three months in 2018, the nine writers undertook sessions with leading UK playwrights Stacey Gregg, Emteaz Hussain, Alistair McDowall, Simon Stephens and Tom Wells and developed their own work.
The writers and their plays are:
- Island People
By Lindsay Rodden
A play about sleeping giants, uprising women, and a dance hall at the edge of the world. - Marikana
By Karen Laws
A play about recrimination, loyalty and rape. - Man Hours
By Chris Salt
A play about boys, Burnley and betrayal. - Cheer Up Slug
By Tamsin Daisy Rees
A play about sex, slugs and the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. - Harsh Noise Wall
By Jack Nicholls
A play about limbs, brains and every member of The Fall. - Braids
By Olivia Hannah
A play about friendship, identity and hair. - Bones
By Zosia Wand
A play about a Polish headscarf, a teenage girl and a dead seagull. - Paper Tiger
By Mhairi Ledgerwood
A play about love, language, and fear. - Dear Pig
By Laura Lindow
A play about bones, bedding and bruises.
The performance schedule will be:
- 4 September at 7:30
Island People - 5 September at 6:30
Marikana and Man Hours - 6 September at 6:30
Cheer Up Slug and Harsh Noise Wall - 7 September at 6:30
Braids and Bones - 8 September at 6:30
Paper Tiger and Dear Pig
The performances are in Stage 3 and tickets are £8 for individual double bills and £5 on Tue 4 September. Book for additional evenings at just £2 per night. (i.e. see 4 plays for £10, 6 plays for £12 etc.)
The plays are directed by Royal Court Associate Directors Lucy Morrison and Sam Pritchard, and Northern Stage Artistic Director Lorne Campbell.