Northampton’s Royal and Derngate is to stage its fifth GenFest, part of the venue’s Generate artist development programme, which will feature showcases, new writing and workshops.
The festival, which is in its fifth year, enables artists to see their work developed and gives theatre-makers a place to test ideas or present a first tour of new work.
The opening day, Monday 7 October, will feature a showcase of up-and-coming talent from the University of Northampton on the Royal stage in One(s) To Watch.
The first half of the week includes a rehearsed reading of Matthew Gabrielli’s Ghosts of Libertalia, a new play that mixes historical drama and horror, inspired by the legends and realities of 18th century pirates, and My Sister Life, a two-hander about faith, friendship and unspoken queerness from Maria Telnikoff.
The Royal stage will host from Friday 11 October Mandem, a tale of friendship, loyalty and laughter from writer Amelia Michaels, Dumb Found Theatre’s offbeat comedy The Day I Got The Horn and a showcase of its favourite work-in-progress pieces from the past 12 months by new writing group Writing Doesn’t Have To Be Lonely.
In Lola’s Bar and online, there will be a new audio drama, Promises, from Northampton theatre company Nothing But Roaring, which runs all week.
Northampton’s Fur Coat No Knickers Theatre will present Vanilla on the Royal stage on Monday 18 November.
Further details about GenFest are available at the Royal and Derngate web site.