Manchester ADP, the community of professional creatives in the North West, has set up long-term partnerships with local writers Kim Taylor, Robert Elkin and Laura Harper to develop new plays.
Each will be supported with a one-week research and development process, a dramaturg, a team of actors and a closed sharing for feedback with the aim of developing the definitive version of each script for full production in 2021/22.
Since 2015, the community has worked with more than 100 writers and staged more than 300 script-in-hand readings of new work thanks to support from Russell T Davies, The King’s Arms in Salford and Oldham Coliseum Theatre.
Offering a more long-term partnership supports writers through the next stage of the process, from first draft to stage.
Diana Atkins, Manchester ADP founder said, “we are moving into an innovative new phase, to develop three high-quality, new Northern plays.’
Kim Taylor is a freelance writer for the stage and screen whose scripts reflect interest in social issues, women’s rights and mental health struggles. She was longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2019.
Robert Elkin graduated from RSAMD in 2011. Whilst also pursuing a career as an actor, he has written for several venues.
Similarly, Laura Harper has had work performed at Royal Exchange Studio, 53Two, Studio Salford, The Dukes Lancaster, Oldham Coliseum and Hope Mill besides several other venues.