Now in its sixth year, Write Now, the new writing festival at The Jack Studio Theatre presents three full length plays, seven shorts, discussions and workshops.
Write Now 6 runs from 9 to 30 May showcasing three new plays from writers associated with the south east London region.
This year's winners are:
- rock paper scissors by Olga Nikora which will have a full production opening on 19 May.
This play by Eastern European-born, New Zealand-raised Nikora explores kinship and identity through the story of two brothers who can only agree on one thing: neither wants to be known as a Romanian gypsy. - Talking To Alice by Lucinda Burnett
One of two runners–up, Talking To Alice, will have a staged reading. It concerns Adam who finds himself in the care of trainee social worker Harriet; this plays looks at friendship, mental health and the costs of caring as they are pushed to breaking point. - Dog Country by Joseph Wilde will also have a staged reading.
Having been teenagers together in 2001 they meet again in 2011. Through the lives of Hotspur, Germ and Pigeon, Dog Country looks at the generation of young people who tried to become adults in the worst possible decade.
Seven short plays on the theme of "Lead Us" launch Write Now 6; each will have two staged readings on 9 May. Examining what a real leader looks like, or not, the pieces are drawn from national and international submissions.
Write Now Shorts are:
- Footprints by Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson
- Four Interrogations by Maximillian Singh Gill
- Queens of the Realm by Ian August
- Roleplay by Nick Myles
- The Catch by Tom Harvey
- The Soldier by Chris Paxton
- True Grit by Judy Upton
Write Now 6 takes place at The Jack Studio Theatre from 9 to 30 May. The running order is:
- Shorts – 9 May
- rock paper scissors by Olga Nikora – 19 to 30 May
- Talking to Alice by Lucinda Burnett – 12, 14 and 16 May
- Dog Country by Joseph Wilde – 13, 15 and 16 May
Following the new writing festival in June comes film-noir melodrama Madame X adapted by Simon James Collier from the original play La Femme X by Alexandre Bisson (23 June to 11 July). Madame X is presented by Okai Collier Company, twice nominated for the Empty Space… Peter Brook Award.