Hampstead Theatre announces two new playwriting initiatives

Hampstead Theatre has announced two new online-based playwriting opportunities to go alongside its existing initiatives.

The first, Writing the Bigger Picture, is a paid playwriting programme, led by multi award-winning TV and theatre writer Mike Bartlett (BBC’s Doctor Foster, BBC Life, King Charles III). It will be an 8-week programme starting in March for up to 10 writers from across the UK who wish to further develop their writing for larger scale productions. They will need to have had at least one play produced previously. Mike will lead both group workshops and mentor playwrights on a one-to-one basis. The programme will end with the sharing of a group written play. Each participant will be paid £1000. The application process is now open and more information can be found at the website below. The deadline for applications is 18 February 2021.

The second new project is called Ignite, a free youth project for 13-17 year olds living in Camden, which will start in March. The project will be led by Director Lizzie Manwaring (Hampstead Theatre Resident Assistant Director, 2019-2020) and supported by Davina Moss (Literary Manager). This will end with the sharing of a short film from the devised work of all participants in summer 2021.

Also happening at the theatre is the continuation of its current group Inspire, who will be coming to the end of their year-long programme this spring with a rehearsed reading of their first full-length play online to an invited industry audience.

The theatre’s open script submissions remain open all year-round.

Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of Hampstead Theatre, Roxana Silbert, said: “Now more than ever we need to support our communities and our industry to sustain ourselves against the devastating impact of this pandemic.

“I am delighted to announce today two new initiatives at Hampstead that I hope will provide a collective space for some joy and creativity this spring as well as offering a framework for experience and further opportunity.

“We are so pleased to have Mike Bartlett join us to lead this unique new writing programme, which aims to support talented writers whose experience has been limited to studio spaces to explore ways of approaching writing new plays for large stages.

“Likewise, we are so pleased to launch our new youth project within our local community.  Whilst a lot of the world has been driven indoors and online out of necessity, it feels more important than ever to connect with our neighbours and especially a generation isolated during such formative years.  IGNITE will offer a creative space for expression and experimentation and forge voices of the future.”

For more information and to apply, please click here.