It is unbelievably exciting that the BBC has selected Liverpool for its first ever Write Across programme. In the three years I’ve been lucky to be part of the team at the Everyman and Playhouse Theatres, I have witnessed some of the most vibrant and driven artists that I’ve ever encountered come through our Hope Street doors. Whether its coming to our writers’ room to explore some texts, being part of a rehearsed reading or sharing ideas, I am continually impressed by the vision and voice of this city’s creatives, and by their generosity in collaboration.
Much is often made in Liverpool of our famous greats, of Willy Russell, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Alan Bleasdale, and our boss actors like Stephen Graham, Kevin Harvey and Jodie Comer, but there is so much emerging talent here as well. Liverpool is a city full of writers and of audiences that love new writing. You only have to look at the plethora of groups, theatres and initiatives set up to champion and platform new voices. The Everyman and Playhouse, DaDa, Writing on the Wall, The Unity, 20 Stories High, and Royal Court studio all run playwriting and regular artist development opportunities, whilst organisations such as Homotopia, Falling Doors, Make it Write, Lantern Writers, Hope Street Theatre, The Casa, Liverpool Theatre Festival, Naughty Corner and many more produce and develop writers, all feeding into a rich theatre ecology of new and exciting work. For a relatively small city, you are spoilt for choice with venues and companies bringing exciting new stories to life at every scale.
Write Across Liverpool is an unprecedented opportunity for fifteen local writers to access the incredible resources and teachings of the BBC Writersroom and have their work considered on a national platform. In playwriting, we always talk about how there is universality in specificity - and a Liverpool lens on the world brings with it a unique perspective. This is a diverse and dynamic city, with a hundred stories to tell and which deserve to be heard. The application process is straightforward. You don’t need to have been commissioned before or have previous experience of writing for TV. You need to have a passion for television, a sample of dramatic writing and some time to respond to a set creative task. The deadline (10th March) is fast approaching and you miss out on 100% of the chances you don’t take - so be sure to get those applications in!
Find out full details of Write Across Liverpool including how to apply (deadline noon on Thursday 10th March 2022). For help and advice with your application join our final drop-in session on Weds 2nd March from 5.30pm on zoom, no need to pre-register.
