New-writing company Fifth Word has set up Fifth Word Playwrights, a free playwriting group for people living in or with a strong connection to the East Midlands.
The group will run from November 2024 until summer 2025 in partnership with Derby Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse. There will be support from literature development agency Writing East Midlands and In Good Company, the professional creative and business development programme for Midlands theatre-makers.
Up to 15 writers will form the group, offering “a range of perspectives and breadth of voices”. The writers will each create a new play, telling stories that matter to them. Extracts will be performed in summer 2025.
Anyone who signs up for Fifth Word Playwrights will get ten free workshops led by playwright Zodwa Nyoni, guest sessions and talks by people working in the industry.
Eligible writers must live in the East Midlands or have a meaningful connection to the region and be over 18. Fifth Word Playwrights is open to those new to playwriting as well as playwrights with up to two professional productions who want to develop their skills.
Laura Ford, Fifth Word’s artistic director, commented, “the struggle for regional provision means there’s a real danger of the next Sonali Bhattacharyya, Moira Buffini, James Graham or Mufaro Makubika being lost to East Midlands stages.
“Never has there been more need to demonstrate the true meaning of community. Fifth Word is deeply proud to be uniting with Nottingham Playhouse and Derby Theatre to extend their existing offer to nurture new writing talent and to ensure that our work together has a lasting impact”.
Applications should be made at the Fifth Word web site by Monday 30 September.