Great to see the Write Now One-Act Play Festival is back for another year. Such a great idea.
See the ful listings and booking details on the website
As well as eight world premiere plays, Write Now 2011, has exciting new events including MonologueSlam, a chance for performers to showcase their talent in front of industry professionals and Ten Tall Tower Tales, a rehearsed reading of tells 10 stories from 10 storeys, each five minutes long and written by Merseyside-based writers.
Write Now also has a fantastic writing forum event supported by The Liverpool Everyman Playhouse Literary Department which is free of charge.
Write Now 2011
15-23 April 2011
at The Actors Studio, Seel St, Liverpool
“2010 was a huge success” admits Festival Director Ian Moore, “and Easter 2011 will see the second Write Now Festival, another eight new one-act plays, all hoping to build upon the astonishing achievement of last year.
“We’ve got something for everyone with comedy, drama, farce, historical pieces and something for the kids in a great season of new writing.”
With so many submissions at an even higher standard than last year judging which plays were put through to performance was no easy feat. There was some fierce competition for the eight spots up for grabs.
“We were more than pleasantly surprised by this year’s submissions. Twenty of them we could have easily taken forward to the festival – the standard was just that high!”
But it wasn’t just the standard that came as a surprise to Ian and the judging panel.
“With the media painting such a doom and gloom image at the moment, with job losses and government cuts, you may think that this negativity would be reflected in the plays – but not so! We were overwhelmed by how positive the plays were, even when dealing with the big issues.”
The Plays and Playwrights
Liverpool playwrights are well represented in Write Now 2011 with three pieces, including Craig Brennan’s exploration of the contrasts between events on the Kop at Anfield and the Boer War event of the same name in The Place Where We Stand, Spion Kop.
In Excess Baggage by David P Griffiths, a farcical comedy set in John Lennon Airport two newly-weds are asked to look after an old man’s suitcase with comic results. While Huyton-born Stephanie Blakeborough’s unconventional rom-com, promises to delight. Mrs. Bojangles, the story of a retired showgirl who takes on the role of matchmaker.
Liverpool centric but not Liverpool exclusive seems to be the overwhelming feel of this festival, with submissions coming from as far away from Jersey.
Write Now is also proud to announce Liverpool born playwright Neil Walden’s Striker – a play especially for the Family Audience. Black Box Creative Communities, which runs the Write Now Festival is renowned for its youth orientated work and is delighted to bring this expertise to the 2011 festival. So be prepared for a comedy adventure for everyone aged 4 and above; expect spaceships, pirates, mysterious going-ons and a werewolf!
The aim of Write Now is to create a lasting impression and support network for new theatre talent across the North West – and the legacy of the festival is already starting to show. Following the success of I’m Ed Caesar in Write Now 2010 Nick Brelsford returns with a new production set in the Walker Art Gallery, The Bridge is an intriguing look at how art mirrors life.
Other productions also include Rocker of Ages by Kate Shaw, It Works For Us by Dick Curran, whose play Islanders recently won the MEN Best Fringe Production 2010 and Warrington-based Natalie Hickman’s comedy Monkey Nuts.
Patrons
Actress Pauline Daniels, BBC correspondent Roger Phillips and Liverpool Echo Editor Alastair Machray again support the Festival with new patron Dean Sullivan joining the growing band of professionals adding their voice to the event
Dean admits, “New writing is the lifeblood of the industry. It’s great that writers will get the chance to showcase their work as there are fewer and fewer opportunities to take risks and discover fresh talent.”
Further details about how to get involved are available at: – www.writenowfestival.co.uk