麻豆约拍 Writers FeedKeep up to date with events and opportunities at 麻豆约拍 Writers. Get behind-the-scenes insights from writers and producers of 麻豆约拍 TV and radio programmes. Get top tips on script-writing and follow the journeys of writers who have come through 麻豆约拍 Writers聽schemes and opportunities. 聽2023-08-24T09:27:04+00:00Zend_Feed_Writer/blogs/writersroom2023-08-24T09:27:04+00:002023-08-24T09:27:04+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/61e27b9f-8acf-40f9-b0d4-f0b72270abd7麻豆约拍 Writers<div class="component prose">
<p><strong>Dugsi Dayz</strong> is the recipient of the <a href="https://popcorngroup.co.uk/awards">Popcorn Writing Award</a> 2023, winning 拢3,000, support from the production company and 麻豆约拍 Writersroom.</p>
<p>Written by Sabrina Ali, this hilarious and authentic exploration of friendship between Somali girls is a joyful and rebellious snapshot of British Muslim culture.</p>
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<p>The winner and finalists were announced at a ceremony at The Gilded Balloon Library Bar on Thursday 24th August at 12.30pm where all nominees and performers were present. The award was presented by Charlotte Colbert, Natalie Denton of the Popcorn Group as well as Jess Loveland of the 麻豆约拍 Writersroom and awarded by <a href="/blogs/writersroom/entries/e8e06ac4-f9b3-4ef0-95fe-a4af87e53c68">last year鈥檚 winner Karim Khan of Brown Boys Swim</a>.</p>
<p>Sabrina Ali says, <em>"Winning the Popcorn Award leaves me truly speechless. Just a year after writing Dugsi Dayz, I never imagined I'd be at the Edinburgh Fringe, let alone accepting the Popcorn Award. This achievement owes everything to my incredible directors and cast who breathed magic into Dugsi Dayz. Thank you all for making this journey unforgettable."</em></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0g8m4gr.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Sabrina Ali holding the Popcorn Award for New Writing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 with Jess Loveland (麻豆约拍 Writersroom), Charlotte Colbert and Natalie Denton (Popcorn Group)</em></p></div>
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<p>The Popcorn Group partnered once again with 麻豆约拍 Writersroom for this year鈥檚 awards, offering valuable one-to-one meetings with each of the longlisted playwrights with members of the 麻豆约拍 Drama Commissioning team.</p>
<p>Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing at 麻豆约拍 Writersroom commented, <em>"It's been a real delight for 麻豆约拍 Writersroom to collaborate with the Popcorn Group on the Popcorn Writing Award for a second year. The calibre of plays on the longlist is truly remarkable and the bold originality of the work captures the mission of this new writing award. We want to congratulate this year's winner, Sabrina Ali, for her tender, funny and joyful play,<strong> Dugsi Dayz</strong>. Huge congratulations are also due to our three shortlisted finalists for their brilliant and inventive work. The 麻豆约拍 Writersroom team are looking forward to meeting and getting to know all the talented writers on this longlist over the coming months."</em></p>
<p>Charlotte Colbert from the Popcorn Group said, <em>"The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a pure celebration of human storytelling in all in wondrous diversity and originality. It is a world away from the formulaic algorithmic narratives 鈥 a platform for risk-taking new voices which the Popcorn Group is so happy to support in a small way. All the submissions blew us away, but we wanted to especially congratulate the winner and finalists of this year鈥檚 award: Dugsi Dayz, Lie Low, The Brief & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria and Public 鈥 The Musical."</em></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0g8m6s7.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Winner and finalists for the Popcorn Award for New Writing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 with members of the Popcorn Group and 麻豆约拍 Writersroom teams</em></p></div>
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<p><a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">The Edinburgh Festival Fringe</a> is a vital springboard for the careers of up-and-coming talent in the arts having in the past launched the careers of creatives such as Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Rachel Weisz. <a href="/blogs/writersroom/entries/4a1c82c9-fbd0-4411-adcf-8000b69553ed">The award longlist</a>聽celebrated new writing from across the Fringe, showcasing the breadth of talent available at this year鈥檚 festival.</p>
<p>The prize fund of 拢6,000 is shared amongst the winner and finalists which include a range of daring, thought-provoking and high calibre new writing from Pleasance, Underbelly and Traverse.</p>
<p>Ciara Elizabeth Smyth鈥檚 <strong>Lie Low</strong> is the first finalist. A dark comedy about a woman, Faye, who鈥檚 having trouble sleeping following a break-in at her home, a wild, dark and hilarious new play, directed by Ois铆n Kearney, that offers a theatrical exploration into the human brain.</p>
<p>Joseph Cullen and Sasha Wilson鈥檚 <strong>The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria</strong> is the second finalist with an energetic production exploring the suspicious circumstances of the King of Bulgaria's demise, how 50,000 Jewish people were saved from deportation and death, and how the world forgot all about it. The ensemble performs Bulgarian and Jewish folk tunes live while sharing this unique story from 20th century European history.</p>
<p>Stroud and Notes鈥 <strong>Public 鈥 The Musical</strong> has received a special mention, with this witty and sensitive new musical created by queer-led theatre collective Stroud and Notes. Through catchy bops and heartfelt ballads, Public 鈥 The Musical runs the gamut of contemporary concerns. It candidly explores gender identity, the clogged world of toxic masculinity, allyship, the climate crisis, social media and more as these four strangers have their patience pushed to the limit.</p>
<p><strong><a href="/blogs/writersroom/entries/4a1c82c9-fbd0-4411-adcf-8000b69553ed">See the full Popcorn Award 2023 longlist</a></strong></p>
<p>聽</p>
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2023-08-04T08:51:28+00:002023-08-04T08:51:28+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/4a1c82c9-fbd0-4411-adcf-8000b69553ed麻豆约拍 Writers<div class="component prose">
<p><a href="https://popcorngroup.co.uk/">Popcorn Group</a>, a film, television, and theatre production company founded by filmmaker Charlotte Colbert, has again partnered up with the 麻豆约拍 Writersroom and eight renowned Edinburgh theatre venues to shortlist the best of new writing coming to this year鈥檚 <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Fringe Festival</a>. Ranging from musicals exploring gender identity and sexuality, to horrors about existence and surreal political dramas, the award seeks to celebrate new writing which plays with and pushes the theatrical form.聽</p>
<p><a href="https://popcorngroup.co.uk/awards">The Popcorn Writing Award</a> champions fearless new writing, distinctly unique voices who contribute positively to public debate while being engaging and entertaining. With a prize fund of 拢6,000, it also offers the longlisted writers access to 麻豆约拍 commissioners and the work we do at 麻豆约拍 Writersroom in nurturing talent into the screen industry.聽</p>
<p>Past winners and finalists of the award have gone onto be commissioned by major broadcasters in television and film; including Bryony Kimmings, who has recently had her project <a href="https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/the-rapture-ruth-madeley"><em>The Rapture</em> greenlit with the 麻豆约拍</a> and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8071096/">Claire Rammelkamp</a> who is co-writing the series, <em>Immaculate</em>, with Anna Maxwell Martin (<em>Motherland</em>). <a href="/blogs/writersroom/entries/e8e06ac4-f9b3-4ef0-95fe-a4af87e53c68">Last year鈥檚 winner, Karim Khan</a>, of <em>Brown Boys Swim</em>聽has seen his show transfer to London and is in development to become a TV series after a bidding war between several production companies.</p>
<p>Members of 麻豆约拍 Writersroom along with the Popcorn team have created a longlist of the 20 plays below out of hundreds of submissions this year. We will now pull together the shortlist and announce the winner towards the end of the fringe. 麻豆约拍 Writersroom and Popcorn Group, meet each writer on the longlist, with the view to offer support throughout their career.聽</p>
<p>The eight partnering venues this year are: <a href="https://assemblyfestival.com/">Assembly</a>, <a href="https://gildedballoon.co.uk/">Gilded Balloon</a>, <a href="https://www.pleasance.co.uk/">Pleasance</a>, <a href="https://www.summerhall.co.uk/">Summerhall</a>, <a href="https://www.thespaceuk.com/">TheSpaceUK</a>, <a href="https://www.traverse.co.uk/">Traverse</a> and <a href="https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/">Underbelly</a> with <a href="http://www.greensidevenue.co.uk/">Greenside</a> joining for the first time this year.聽</p>
<p>Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing for 麻豆约拍 Drama and 麻豆约拍 Writersroom commented, <em>麻豆约拍 Writersroom is delighted to partner with the Popcorn Group for a second year. This year鈥檚 longlist is incredible, and we can鈥檛 wait to get up to Edinburgh to immerse ourselves in the fantastic new writing there. We very much enjoyed meeting last year鈥檚 longlisted writers and look forward to developing connections with this talented collection of writers.</em>聽</p>
<p>Charlotte Colbert and Natalie Denton from Popcorn Group commented, <em>The Fringe is one of the best events of the year. It is so wonderful to connect with the incredible talent who showcase their bold and fearless work there each year. The festival is a pure celebration of creativity and such a wonderful platform for new voices as well as audiences who always leave energised and inspired</em>.</p>
<p><strong>See the 20 Longlisted plays below</strong></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0g4tkcy.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Karim Khan, 2022 winner of the Popcorn Award with members of the team behind the award (L>R: Natalie Denton, Charlotte Colbert, Karim Khan, Lydia Leonard, Nainita Desai)</em></p></div>
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<p>The Popcorn Award 2023 longlisted plays are:聽</p>
<p><strong><em>24, 23, 22聽</em></strong>by Doug Deans, Underbelly</p>
<p>It鈥檚 just an ordinary day. At the beginning of the day, Fran is late for work. At the end of the day, Brendan is bleeding out in the street. Time flows forwards and spirals backwards. Fran progresses through the worst day of her life. Brendan rewinds through his last day alive. Soon they鈥檒l meet in the middle, and we鈥檒l find out what has happened to him, and what will happen to her.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Asexuality! The Musical</em></strong> by Rebecca McGlynn, Gilded Balloon</p>
<p><em>Asexuality!</em> is an autobiographical musical comedy about transgender playwright Rebecca McGlynn鈥檚 pre-transition life. The story follows Robert, an asexual man navigating a hypersexual world. Through music and comedy, he explores sex, romance, love and loss鈥 and, eventually, HER true gender identity.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Before The Drugs Kick In聽</em></strong>by Mike Lemme, TheSpaceUK</p>
<p>A 62-year-old in an insane asylum closes her eyes and becomes a 28-year-old stand-up comedian. But not just any comedian, a comedian who had the potential to become the greatest of all time. A tribute to the mothers society wrote off as crazy, instead of giving them an opportunity to live.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Bitter Lemons聽</em></strong>by Lucy Hayes, Pleasance</p>
<p><em>Bitter Lemons</em> takes the form of two intersecting monologues following the lives of two women: a grieving goalkeeper and an ambitious investment banker, as they both face the biggest professional pitch of their lives. When they both fall unexpectedly pregnant, their lives shift in parallel and collide in unexpected ways.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Dugsi Dayz聽</em></strong>by Sabrina Ali, Underbelly</p>
<p>Four students, Salma, Yasmin, Munira, and Hani are in detention on a Saturday afternoon, but the reason remains a secret. During a power outage, they share folktales to break the ice. As they bond, they discover surprising similarities.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Green Fingers聽</em></strong>by Adam Sowter, Flo Poskitt and Ben Tansey, Pleasance</p>
<p>A deliciously Dahl-esque treat, about a boy born with gunky green hands. But is there more to these fingers than mayhem and mess? Maybe the answers lie within the mysterious school garden... <em>Green Fingers</em> is a magical, musical story exploring ideas of accepting yourself, and engaging with the natural world.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>GUSH聽</em></strong>by Abby Vicky-Russell, Assembly</p>
<p><em>GUSH</em> by Abby Vicky-Russell is a one woman show about the dynamics of a father and daughter relationship, and how they change in the aftermath of a rape. Abby Vicky-Russell plays a fictionalised version of her own father 鈥 a plumber who has come to the theatre to fix a leak so a dance troupe can perform their piece. The show then devolves into a piece of character comedy in which the plumber breaks out of his previously closed off demeanour and explores the most difficult situation he鈥檚 ever faced. <em>GUSH</em> is a feminist comedy that prioritizes accessibility, hilarity and truth without villainising anyone.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Her Green Hell聽</em></strong>by Emma Howlett, Summerhall</p>
<p>A one-woman-monologue inspired by the true story of Juliane Koepcke, the teenager who survived a plane crash and a fall of 10,000ft in Peruvian Amazon in 1971. It explores our fraught power struggle with nature, and is as much about the rainforest鈥檚 fight to survive as it is Juliane鈥檚.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Hive聽</em></strong>by Ariella Como Stoian, Assembly</p>
<p>The demolition site of a 70s housing estate, reluctant Megacorp conservationist and single mum Ria has been called in to sort a hive. It's halting redevelopment, messing up the bottom line. But Ria's teenage kid Salve was just suspended. And the site manager hints at something more... unusual. More sinister.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>In Everglade Studio聽</em></strong>by Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller, Assembly</p>
<p>In 1974 London, three musicians and their manager seal themselves inside an underground recording studio to complete an original Americana album overnight. As artistic, social, and racial tensions flare, the atmosphere grows thornier, the music grows stranger, and Everglade Studio鈥檚 mixture of creativity and claustrophobia demands its pound of flesh.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Involuntary Momslaughter聽</em></strong>by Abigail Paul, Greenside</p>
<p>The unique perspective of surviving narcissistic abuse through humour and wisdom can be a compelling and potentially therapeutic experience for many.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Kill The Cop Inside Your Head聽</em></strong>by Subira Joy, Summerhall</p>
<p>Spoken word and performance artist Subira Joy explores their experiences being targeted by the police as a Black, queer and trans person in the UK. Combining striking visual imagery with powerful language, this new work examines the impact of the police in our communities and how we internalise their role to repress and suppress ourselves into submission. Tracing narratives of police encounters while centring themes of violence, gaslighting and abuse of power, this work exposes how we impede our liberation when confronted by our inner cop.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Lady Dealer聽</em></strong>by Martha Watson Allpress, Summerhall</p>
<p>For Charly, every day is the same. They used to be different, when there was Clo, but there isn't Clo anymore and she doesn't want to dwell on that. She just wants to chug coffee, blast Beastie Boys and deal drugs. Simple. But when Charly suffers a power cut, she's forced back into the real world; a world of knockoff Morrisseys, disapproving mothers and, ultimately, a world she has to navigate alone.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Lie Low聽</em></strong>by Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, Traverse</p>
<p><em>Lie Low</em> is a dark comedy about a woman, Faye, who鈥檚 having trouble sleeping following a break-in at her home. Desperate to shake her insomnia, she enlists the help of her brother, Naoise, to try a form of exposure therapy. But Naoise has a devastating secret that's about to explode.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Nan, Me & Barbara Pravi聽</em></strong>by Hannah Maxwell, Summerhall</p>
<p>An epic tale of love, loss and explaining how to use the microwave. In 2021, Hannah Maxwell moved back to the home counties to care for her recently bereaved grandmother. But this show isn鈥檛 about that. It鈥檚 about France鈥檚 Eurovision star Barbara Pravi, who鈥檚 just lovely. In between cooking, cleaning and Countdown, Maxwell escapes into an intensifying fantasy of ballroom dances, heartfelt ballads, fluent French and definitely-not-creepy plots to engineer a meet-cute with a random foreign celebrity.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Public 鈥 The Musical聽</em></strong>by Stroud & Notes, Pleasance</p>
<p><em>Public 鈥 The Musical</em> is a pop/rock show where strangers Laura, Andrew, Zo, and Finley, find themselves stuck for an hour in a gender-neutral public toilet. Through head-bopping songs and</p>
<p>honest, comedic dialogue, they tackle sticky conversations, and confront their biases, exploring the power of human connection in a changing world.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Strategic Love Play聽</em></strong>by Miriam Battye, Summerhall</p>
<p>So they鈥檝e both swiped right. Now they鈥檙e meeting for the first time. Facing each other. As if that鈥檚 a normal thing to do. Welcome to your hot date. With acid wit, Miriam Battye takes a scalpel to modern romance, interrogating what we really talk about when we talk about love.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>Super聽</em></strong>by Matthew Radway, Pleasance</p>
<p>On Hollywood Boulevard, a group of actors are posing as famous characters for photos with tourists. Right now it's 100掳, Batman has just punched Robin in the face and the whole thing is about to be on TMZ. Captain Jack has fainted and Catwoman is screaming. It's all gone wrong.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>The Brief Life & Mysterious Death Of Boris III, King of Bulgaria聽</em></strong>by Sasha Wilson & Joseph Cullen, Pleasance</p>
<p>This play is about the heroic rescue of the Jewish Bulgarians during WWII by their king, country and the tenacity of Bulgaria. <em>The Brief Life & Mysterious Death of Boris III, King of Bulgaria</em> follows the king through the political maze and to a critical moment of choice, where he stands up for what is right.聽</p>
<p><strong><em>waiting for a train at a bus stop聽</em></strong>by Mwansa Phiri, Summerhall</p>
<p>Chilufya鈥檚 name 鈥 meaning 鈥榯he lost one鈥 鈥 makes perfect sense as lost is how she has felt most of her life. Struggling with low self-esteem and a waning sense of self she finds herself being drawn into a controlling relationship. A gripping story about cultural identity, mental health and coercive control.</p>
<p>聽</p>
<p>The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Edinburgh in the last of week of August.</p>
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2023-06-08T10:00:00+00:002023-06-08T10:00:00+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/44918163-7ae9-4fc1-8fd7-89adc63d5c6bLaura Horton<div class="component prose">
<p><em>For the second year here at 麻豆约拍 Writersroom we're joining up with the <a href="https://popcorngroup.co.uk/awards">Popcorn Award</a>, which celebrates the best new writing at the <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Fringe</a>. One of last year's finalists, Laura Horton, explains what it has meant for her and her writing.</em></p>
<p>Entries for this year's Popcorn Award are open until 10am on 23rd June 2023.</p>
<p><strong><a href="/writersroom/opportunities/popcorn-award/">Popcorn Award - eligibility criteria and entry details</a></strong></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstbdq.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0fstbdq.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Breathless (image credit: Chris Vaughan)</em></p></div>
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<p><em>Breathless</em> started as a short play. <a href="https://twitter.com/BenLyonRoss1">Ben Lyon Ross</a> at <a href="https://theatreroyal.com/">Theatre Royal Plymouth</a> offered me space in their <a href="https://theatreroyal.com/the-lab-2023/">Lab theatre</a> in 2021 to present three 20-minute pieces. I鈥檇 already written two, one as part of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMiniaturists/">Miniaturists</a> and the other, <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceArtsCentre/status/1288542222422552576">Giddy Tuppy</a>, adapted from the first small commission I鈥檇 been given from <a href="https://space.org.uk/">The Space</a> theatre to write a play for zoom in 2020. I needed a third and it made sense to me to write a monologue. The previous year I鈥檇 written a big surreal ensemble play about hoarding disorder, it was due to have a reading at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bunker_(theatre)">The Bunker</a>, but then the pandemic hit and that space sadly closed. I knew as an unknown writer no one would ever stage it; I also knew I wanted to write a semi-autobiographical piece about the sliding scale of hoarding behaviours. I initially called the piece Suffocating Stuff and we presented it as a Triptych, fundraising to pay for the creative team. I was keen to develop all the pieces, but the reaction to Suffocating Stuff was so visceral I knew I had to focus on that first.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstg62.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0fstg62.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0fstg62.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstg62.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0fstg62.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0fstg62.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0fstg62.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0fstg62.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0fstg62.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Breathless (image credit: Chris Vaughan)</em></p></div>
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<p>Ben Lyon Ross encouraged me to apply for the <a href="https://trust.pleasance.co.uk/content/edinburgh-national-partnership">Pleasance Regional Partnership</a> which I was delighted to be selected for. The partnership supports you to take work to the Fringe, giving you a good slot, some financial support as well as a lot of in-kind help and encouragement. I鈥檇 been to the festival many times as a freelance publicist, but this was the first time taking my own work. I鈥檇 started fundraising and knew I needed to produce it myself as I couldn鈥檛 afford to hire anyone. I was fortunate that Theatre Royal Plymouth then decided to give me the remainder of the money I needed to support the play in Edinburgh. I loved pulling the creative team together, buying the set, art directing the marketing images - it was incredibly eye opening. I always knew theatre producers worked hard, but I have so much more understanding of what鈥檚 involved now.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstjls.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0fstjls.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0fstjls.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstjls.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0fstjls.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0fstjls.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0fstjls.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0fstjls.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0fstjls.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Breathless (image credit: Chris Vaughan)</em></p></div>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/nic_connaughton?lang=en">Nic Connaughton</a> at the <a href="https://www.pleasance.co.uk/">Pleasance</a> kindly circulated the details of the <a href="/writersroom/opportunities/popcorn-award/">Popcorn Award</a> and I promptly sent off the script for Breathless and a 50-word summary. We found out on the first day of the Fringe that I was longlisted (<a href="/blogs/writersroom/entries/345f63cb-fa8f-477a-aa07-cabb617360f3">see the 2022 longlist here</a>), it was an incredible boost for me and definitely helped market the show in what is a remarkable, but incredibly competitive and gruelling month. We were really fortunate that Breathless seemed to strike a chord, winning a <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/take-part/awards/theatre">Fringe First</a> and being shortlisted for <a href="http://www.holdenstreettheatres.com/index.php/HST-Fringe-Programs/Edinburgh-Fringe-Award/holden-street-theatres-edinburgh-fringe-award-criteria">Holden Street</a> and the <a href="https://www.mhfestival.com/news/859-manic-street-creature-wins-the-2022-mental-health-fringe-award">Scottish Mental Health Awards</a>. As the only writing competition at the Fringe though I think the Popcorn Award is tremendously important. The Popcorn team also held a drinks reception where I met the rest of the longlist and they kept in touch with us all. The awards then bookended the festival and were a glorious way to finish. <a href="/blogs/writersroom/entries/e8e06ac4-f9b3-4ef0-95fe-a4af87e53c68">Being in the final three</a> meant the world to me, it also opened so many doors I would never have been able to find myself. I had a meeting with the 麻豆约拍 Drama Commissioning team, who were just marvellous. I had over twenty meetings with television production companies, and a lot of touring interest.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstmz9.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0fstmz9.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Breathless (image credit: Chris Vaughan)</em></p></div>
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<p>Following the Popcorn Awards Breathless went on a mini South West tour with the support of <a href="https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/">Arts Council England</a>. The Space awarded me support to run a digital project, <a href="https://www.thespace.org/commission/hidden-by-things">Hidden by Things</a>, to support our aims in digital audience development. Breathless was programmed at <a href="https://sohotheatre.com/">Soho Theatre</a> for two weeks with an <a href="https://offies.london/madeleine-macmahon-breathless-soho-theatre-offies-2023-newnoms-solo-perf/">Offie nomination</a> and was selected for <a href="https://www.59e59.org/programs/brits-off-broadway/">Brits off Broadway at 59e59</a> for three weeks where it was a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/theater/breathless-review.html">New York Times Critic鈥檚 Pick</a>. I was selected to be on the <a href="/writersroom/our-groups/voices/">麻豆约拍 Writersroom Voices</a> South programme and that has been invaluable in supporting me on my journey to write for television. I hope I know the group of people and mentors I鈥檝e met on this course forever; they are the best. I鈥檝e also been working on a number of new plays, one on the <a href="https://www.criterion-theatre.co.uk/what-we-do/new-writing">Criterion writer鈥檚 group</a>, which I really would urge playwrights to apply for.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstqvq.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0fstqvq.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Laura Horton (credit: Flavia Fraser Cannon)</em></p></div>
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<p>I would absolutely recommend writers with shows at the Fringe enter the Popcorn Awards. The Popcorn team are just wonderful, they鈥檝e stayed in touch and been so kind to me. You鈥檝e nothing to lose and everything to gain by throwing your hat in the ring. I spent so many years doubting myself and not applying for things, and don鈥檛 get me wrong, I have an enormous rejection folder, but I鈥檓 so glad I stuck with it as the doggedness is finally paying off.</p>
<p><strong><a href="/writersroom/opportunities/popcorn-award/">Find out more about how to apply for this year's Popcorn Writing Award at the Edinburgh Fringe</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Applications close at 10am on 23rd June 2023</strong></p>
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2022-08-25T13:43:28+00:002022-08-25T13:43:28+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/e8e06ac4-f9b3-4ef0-95fe-a4af87e53c68麻豆约拍 Writers<div class="component prose">
<p><strong>Brown Boys Swim</strong>聽was today announced as the winner of the Popcorn Writing Award 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe. Written by <a href="https://saylescreen.com/clients/karim-khan/">Karim Khan</a> (a recipient of Riz Ahmed鈥檚 Left Handed Films and Pillars Fund inaugural fellowship and an alumnus of the The North Wall鈥檚 ArtsLab programme), this lyrical coming-of-age tale looks at the pressures that surround young Muslim men today.</p>
<p>Considering how systemic racism and societal pressures push certain people along a relentless current, Brown Boys Swim examines how we can be prevented from being and understanding our most authentic selves. This exhilarating play looks deeper at the communities who are consciously and unconsciously forbidden from spaces like pools 鈥 where the strange looks and other micro-aggressions they receive are possibly a sign of something more insidious.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0cwdqqv.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Karim Khan with the Popcorn Award 2022</em></p></div>
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<p>This year, the <a href="https://popcorngroup.co.uk/">Popcorn Group</a> partnered for the first time with 麻豆约拍 Writersroom, offering valuable one-to-one meetings with each of the longlisted playwrights with members of the 麻豆约拍 Drama Commissioning team.</p>
<p>Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing at 麻豆约拍 Writersroom commented, <em>鈥淚t has been a real privilege and pleasure for 麻豆约拍 Writersroom to partner with the Popcorn Group on the prestigious Popcorn Writing Award for the first time this year. The quality of all the longlisted plays has been outstanding, and the range of stories and issues explored through the writing nothing short of inspiring. We want to congratulate this year鈥檚 winner Karim Khan, on his subtle, nuanced, and funny play looking at the experiences of young Muslim men coming of age today. Huge congratulations also go to the three shortlisted finalists for their brilliant, thought-provoking work. We can鈥檛 wait to meet all the talented longlisted writers over the next couple of months and chat to them about their work and writing ambitions.鈥</em><br /><br />The judges for this year鈥檚 awards included Bridgerton鈥檚 Luke Thompson (Hamlet, Almeida and West End; King Lear, West End), Olivier Award-winning producer Francesca Moody MBE (Fleabag, West End), globally celebrated portrait artist Jonathan Yeo, award-winning comedian Jack Rooke (Big Boys, Channel 4), star of stage and screen Lydia Leonard (Ten Percent!, Amazon/AMC; Wolf Hall, RSC), BAFTA and two-time Emmy and Ivor Novello nominated composer Nainita Desai, and award-winning director and artist, Charlotte Colbert, BIFA-nominated producer Jessica Malik (She Will, Funny Woman), Development Executive Natalie Denton and members of the 麻豆约拍 Writersroom team led by Jessica Loveland.</p>
<p>Francesca Moody MBE said, <em>鈥淏rown Boys Swim is a beautiful and tender piece of writing full of heart. Dynamic and original. A story I鈥檝e never seen on stage and one that I was delighted to read and then watch on stage. I loved it.鈥</em></p>
<p>The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is vital for launching the careers of up-and-coming talent in the arts, and the Popcorn Writing Award champions new voices from all over the world. Not only does the Popcorn Group award the winner a prize fund of 拢3,000, but also offers the three shortlisted finalists a share of a remaining 拢3,000.聽The shortlisted plays included a range of daring new writing from Pleasance, Summerhall and Traverse.</p>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ThePopcornGroup/status/1562800676308021249">Image of actors from plays shortlisted for the Popcorn Award for new writing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022</a>
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<p>Awarded 拢1,500, Jenna Fincken鈥檚 one-woman thriller <strong>Ruckus</strong> is the first finalist. Sending a shiver down your spine with its visceral sound design and exploration of coercive control, each moment of the play has been inspired by real women and real stories. Presented by the award-winning Wildcard at Summerhall, we see how a loving relationship can sometimes be anything but, and how the side effects of coercive control kill up to three women every week in the UK.</p>
<p>From Plymouth Laureate of Words Laura Horton and playing at the Pleasance, <strong>Breathless</strong> is the second finalist, and recipient of 拢1,000. This funny, honest and stylish exploration of the knife-edge of hoarding asks: what happens when the things we covet hide us from ourselves? Opening up to new experiences in her late-thirties, Sophie is exploring long repressed sides of herself. When a secret she鈥檚 keeping from those she loves, and even from herself, threatens to unravel it all, she has to make a choice. Who or what will she decide to give up?</p>
<p>At Traverse Theatre, <strong>Happy Meal</strong> by Tabby Lamb transports audiences to the quaint days of dial-up and MSN in a funny, moving and nostalgic story of transition. From teen to adult, from MySpace to TikTok, from cis to trans, the world premiere of this online show irl is a joyful queer rom-com where Millennial meets Gen Z and change is all around. Happy Meal is the final finalist for the award, winning 拢500.<br /><br />Popcorn Group commented, <em>鈥淏rown Boys Swim is a vital and moving play. It is the epitome of what we look for with the award 鈥 we鈥檙e overjoyed for Karim! The standard of work at the fringe has been nothing short of extraordinary this year and it has been particularly hard to narrow down the longlist to 4 plays: it just shows how vital Edinburgh is for new writing and we鈥檙e delighted to play a small part in highlighted such brilliant work of Karim, Jenna, Laura and Tabby. They have written some wonderful pieces and we are excited to see what they do next."</em></p>
<p><strong><a href="/blogs/writersroom/entries/345f63cb-fa8f-477a-aa07-cabb617360f3">See the full list of twenty plays longlisted for the Popcorn Award 2022</a></strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="/writersroom/opportunities/popcorn-award">Find out more about the entry criteria for the Popcorn Award and the partner venues</a></strong></p>
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2022-08-04T13:29:08+00:002022-08-04T13:29:08+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/345f63cb-fa8f-477a-aa07-cabb617360f3麻豆约拍 Writers<div class="component">
<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0cr44v2.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0cr44v2.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Top row (left to right) Francesca Moody, Jonathan Yeo, Luke Thompson, Lydia Leonard Bottom row (left to right) Charlotte Colbert, Jack Rooke, Nainita Desai</em></p></div>
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<p class="Default">Popcorn Group have announced this year鈥檚 judging committee along with their longlist of new plays for the Popcorn Writing Award. Partnering for the first time with 麻豆约拍 Writersroom, Popcorn offers a prize fund of 拢6,000. Opening the door for emerging writers, 麻豆约拍 Writersroom are reading all of the longlisted plays and members of the 麻豆约拍 Drama Commissioning team will offer valuable one-to-one meetings with each of the playwrights.聽</p>
<p class="Default">Judging the award this year will be <em>Bridgerton</em>鈥檚 <strong>Luke Thompson </strong>(<em>Hamlet</em>, Almeida and West End; <em>King Lear</em>, West End), Olivier Award-winning producer <strong>Francesca Moody MBE </strong>(<em>Fleabag</em>, West End), celebrated portrait artist <strong>Jonathan Yeo</strong>, award-winning comedian <strong>Jack Rooke </strong>(<em>Big Boys</em>, Channel 4), star of stage and screen <strong>Lydia Leonard </strong>(<em>Ten Percent!</em>, Amazon/AMC; <em>Wolf Hall</em>, RSC), BAFTA and two-time Emmy and Ivor Novello nominated composer <strong>Nainita Desai</strong>, and award-winning director and artist, <strong>Charlotte Colbert</strong>.聽</p>
<p class="Default">The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is vital for launching the careers of up-and-coming talent in the arts, having been a springboard for the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Rachel Weisz. After two years of cancellations and setbacks, the Fringe is returning with a bang this year to bring theatre back to the forefront of the festival circuit.聽</p>
<p class="Default">Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing commented, <em>鈥溌槎乖寂 Writersroom are delighted to be partnering with the Popcorn Writing Award for the first time in this exciting year for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It has been a real privilege for the 麻豆约拍 Writersroom team to read the longlisted plays and immerse ourselves in the work of these talented emerging voices. We are looking forward to returning to Edinburgh this month and seeing the writers鈥 words brought to life on stage.鈥</em>聽</p>
<p class="Default">Popcorn Group commented, <em>鈥淲e are thrilled to be back with the Popcorn Award this year and to be able to champion these wonderful emerging writers bringing their unique voices to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.鈥</em>聽</p>
<p class="Default">Francesca Moody MBE said, <em>鈥淧opcorn Group have been instrumental in championing emerging writers despite the continuing challenges that the pandemic has bought, and the Popcorn Writing Award provides a much-needed platform for creatives.鈥</em>聽</p>
<p class="Default">The Popcorn Award 2022 longlisted plays are:聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Assisted </em></strong>by Greg Wilkinson, The Space UK</p>
<p class="Default">Jordan and Connie want their next-generation AI voice assistant 鈥 Alivia 鈥 to make their perfect lives just that little bit better. But what happens when the technology starts to take control? A funny and searching exploration of love and domesticity in the near future.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Blanket Ban </em></strong>by Davinia Hamilton & Marta Vella, Underbelly</p>
<p class="Default">鈥淪ometimes, I鈥檓 afraid of this play.鈥 Malta: Catholic kitsch, golden sun, deep blue sea, Eurovision 鈥 and a blanket ban on abortion. Propelled by three years of interviews with anonymous contributors and their own lived experience, actors and activists Davinia and Marta interrogate Malta鈥檚 restrictions on women鈥檚 reproductive freedom. Winner of the Edinburgh Untapped Award 2022.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Breathless </em></strong>by Laura Horton, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default">What happens when the things we covet hide us from ourselves? <em>Breathless </em>is a funny, honest and stylish exploration of the knife-edge of hoarding, from the joy to the addiction and suffocating shame. From Laura Horton, Plymouth Laureate of Words, own experience of clothes hoarding.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Brown Boys Swim聽</em></strong>by Karim Khan, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default">Mohsen and Kash are gearing up for the biggest night of their lives 鈥 Jess Denver鈥檚 pool party. Except they can鈥檛 swim. Fierce, funny, and brimming with heart, Karim Khan examines the pressures faced by young Muslim men in this exhilarating new play about fitting in and striking out.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Caste-ing聽</em></strong>by Nicole Acquah, Summerhall</p>
<p class="Default"><em>Caste-ing </em>explores the experiences of three black actresses using beatboxing, rap, song and spoken word. An entertaining and rhythmic showcase of the realities, structures and pressures of the acting industry, and how black women navigate these situations.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Cassie and the Lights </em></strong>by Alex Howarth, Underbelly聽</p>
<p class="Default">When Cassie's mother disappears, the teenager wants to care for her sisters on her own. Is she the right person to be a parent now, or should she let foster parents adopt her sisters and create a new family? Based on real-life events and interviews with children in care and with live music, <em>Cassie and the Lights </em>examines our ideas of what makes a family.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Daddy Issues </em></strong>by Anna Krauze, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default">Natalia is a Polish immigrant and an unsuccessful painter who works on a sex line, getting calls from older men seeking a 鈥済irlfriend experience鈥. Nat shares insights of her work, slowly revealing details of her own affairs with men, her emotional baggage and troubles of navigating one's life where dreams are overshadowed by family traumas carried from childhood into adulthood.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Godot is a Woman </em></strong>by Silent Faces, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default">Since Samuel Beckett wrote <em>Waiting for Godot</em>, he and his estate have notoriously challenged 鈥 often legally 鈥 non-male companies that wish to perform it. In <em>Godot is a Woman</em>, Silent Faces playfully explore authorial copyright, gender barriers in the arts and the cultural significance of Madonna鈥檚 1989 album, <em>Like a Prayer</em>.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Happy Meal </em></strong>by Tabby Lamb, Traverse</p>
<p class="Default"><em>Happy Meal </em>is a joyful queer rom-com. Travel back to the quaint days of dial-up and MSN, and meet two strangers on their journeys to become who they always were. A funny, moving and nostalgic story of transition. From teen to adult, from MySpace to TikTok, from cis to trans.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>How to Build a Wax Figure </em></strong>by Isabella Waldron, Assembly</p>
<p class="Default">Bea鈥檚 older neighbour was her first love, her first cigarette, her first prosthetic eye. When Bea is invited to the Wellcome Collection to speak about her expertise making glass eyes, she must unpack her mentor鈥檚 effect on her work to find who and what she really loves.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Look at Me, Don鈥檛 Look at Me </em></strong>by Rash Dash, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default">A cabaret-style two-hander in which Lizzie Siddal and Dante Rossetti join us in the modern day to hash out the finer details of their artistic life and toxic relationship through dialogue and song with the aid of a synth and a piano.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Manic Street Creature </em></strong>by Maimuna Memon, Summerhall</p>
<p class="Default">A modern day love story, this show takes the audience through the euphoria and distress of two people dealing with their own and each other's mental health. Ria is working hard to complete a new album, but the more she progresses, the more she鈥檚 drawn back to the darkness of her past.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><em><strong>Poles: The Science of Magnetic Attraction </strong></em>by Amelia Pitcher, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default">The Science of Magnetic Attraction is a dark comedy about stripping, loneliness, and the stigma of monetising your body. One night, seemingly by chance, Cora runs into her estranged BFF-turned-GF-turned-ex, before embarking on a mission to prove that she doesn鈥檛 push people away, she attracts them.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Ruckus </em></strong>by Jenna Fincken, Summerhall</p>
<p class="Default">Lou is a primary school teacher who鈥檚 aware the audience are watching her. She wants to show them exact moments in her relationship, breaking down the progression of coercive control. From establishing love and trust, isolation, monopolising perception, inducing debility and exhaustion, enforcing trivial demands, punishments, rewards, threats and degradation.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Surfing the Holyland </em></strong>by Erin Hunter, Underbelly</p>
<p class="Default">When a wide-eyed American moves to Tel Aviv, how does she navigate the wild waters of the Middle East? She learns to surf! Colourful characters, comedy songs and one woman鈥檚 search for chutzpah, blending bighearted storytelling, electrifying ukulele riffs and fearless physicality. A fast-paced solo show, exploring female empowerment.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Svengali </em></strong>by Eve Nicol, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default">A promising young woman rises to supernatural heights on the tennis court under the hypnotic thrall of a master coach. Mentor and protege battle for dominance 鈥 on the courts and off. A one man show performed by one woman, <em>Svengali </em>explores an erotic dynamic of power and control.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>The Beatles Were a Boyband </em></strong>by Rachel O鈥橰egan, Gilded Balloon</p>
<p class="Default">Violet's scared walking home. Daisy fights to make the streets safer. And Heather? She's just over it. How do you stop male violence when you can't even see how far its roots go down? <em>The Beatles Were A Boyband </em>is an urgent and unapologetically feminine response to misogyny.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>The Mistake </em></strong>by Michael Mears, The Space UK</p>
<p class="Default">An urgent new drama about the first atomic bomb. Through the lives of a brilliant Hungarian scientist, a daring American pilot and a devoted Japanese daughter, <em>The Mistake </em>explores the dangers that arise when humans dare to unlock the awesome power of nature 鈥 dangers that continue to this present day.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>Who Murdered My Cat </em></strong>by Roann Hassani McCloskey, Assembly</p>
<p class="Default">Are we reliable narrators of our own stories? What if those stories are never interrogated and redefined? An intense subtext for what is a one-woman show, both hilarious and heart wrenching, about being gay, Muslim and growing up in Wembley in the 90鈥檚. Oh, and a murdered cat.聽</p>
<p class="Default"><strong><em>You鈥檙e Safe Til 2024: Deep History </em></strong>by David Finnigan, Pleasance</p>
<p class="Default"><em>Deep History </em>looks at six key turning points in the history of humanity since the last ice age. That deep time story is placed against the story of the 2019-20 Australian bushfires. 75,000 years of human history meets 75 hours of escalating danger on one New Year鈥檚 Eve.聽</p>
<p>The winners will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 25th August at The Gilded Balloon Library Bar.</p>
</div>
2022-06-21T14:58:01+00:002022-06-21T14:58:01+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/f520053a-81dd-4fda-b243-ecba1eb78519The Popcorn Writing Award<div class="component prose">
<p>Popcorn Group set up the <a href="https://popcorngroup.co.uk/awards">Popcorn Writing Award</a> in 2019 as the first award of its kind at the聽<a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Fringe</a> which solely celebrates the writer. We wanted to champion new writing at the fringe with the writing at the heart. The award includes a prize fund which provides the writer with financial space and time to write their next piece of work so that they鈥檙e able to build on the success of their last.</p>
<p>This year we are partnering with <a href="/writersroom/">麻豆约拍 Writersroom</a> for the first time and as part of that collaboration, 麻豆约拍 Writersroom have generously agreed to every shortlisted applicant getting a one-on-one session with a representative from the 麻豆约拍 Writersroom team. We hope that this will further help to develop these writers and for most of them, give them their first introduction to the screen industry.</p>
<p>Once we have the scripts we go through the process of reading and shortlisting. A shortlist is then delivered to our brilliant committee who come from all walks of life. Past committee members have included: Golden Globe winner Ruth Wilson, Tony-winning Enda Walsh, Oscar-winning Gonzalo Maza and BAFTA winner Wunmi Mosaku as well as columnist Fatima Bhutto and editor Penny Martin.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0cg8mjs.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Bryony Kimmings, winner of the Popcorn Writing Award at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019 (Photo credit: Euan Cherry)</em></p></div>
<div class="component prose">
<p>Previous winners have gone onto to do so much with their careers. 2020 Finalist <strong>Matilda Ibini</strong> was chosen as a <strong>Screen Daily Star of Tomorrow</strong> in the same year, 2019 Winner <strong>Bryony Kimmings</strong> has gone onto write for screen as well as performance, most notably co-writing <em>Last Christmas</em> with Emma Thompson and 2019 Finalist <strong>Claire Rammelkamp</strong> was part of 麻豆约拍 Writersroom's Comedy Room development group.聽</p>
<p>We have already had a record-breaking number of scripts in this year but there is still time until the deadline of <strong>Friday 24<sup>th</sup> June at 10am</strong> to get yours in.聽</p>
<p>All plays submitted will be considered provided they are:</p>
<ol>
<li>A new piece of writing which has not had a significant run before the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe. (A significant run is deemed as no more than 7 performances or a play that was shown online.)</li>
<li>A play that is being produced at this year鈥檚 2022 fringe at one of the partnering venues:</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Assembly</li>
<li>Gilded Balloon</li>
<li>Pleasance</li>
<li>Summerhall</li>
<li>Traverse</li>
<li>The Space UK</li>
<li>Underbelly聽</li>
</ul>
<p>Please send your piece of new writing and a 50 word summary of your play<strong> to your respective venue</strong> with 鈥淧opcorn Writing Award 2022// Title of Play // Writer鈥檚 Name // Venue Associated鈥 in the subject heading.</p>
<p>Further details of this year's awards event will follow.</p>
</div>
2019-08-30T14:21:36+00:002019-08-30T14:21:36+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/0681d29f-1633-4e6c-9e44-399589d4d2cdChris Cantrill<div class="component prose">
<p><em>Chris Cantrill is a comedian and writer from the north west. He鈥檚 one half of critically acclaimed sketch duo, The Delightful Sausage along with comedy partner Amy Gledhill. As part of a <a href="/blogs/writersroom/tags/edinburgh-fringe">short series of blog posts about performing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe</a> we asked Chris to sum up the experience and pass on any advice for anyone who is thinking of giving it a try.</em></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m2004.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p07m2004.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p07m2004.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m2004.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p07m2004.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p07m2004.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p07m2004.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p07m2004.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p07m2004.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>The Delightful Sausage (Amy Gledhill and Chris Cantrill) in Ginster's Paradise</em></p></div>
<div class="component prose">
<p><strong>How many times have you done the Fringe?</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=%22The%20Delightful%20Sausage%3A%20Ginster's%20Paradise%22">Ginster鈥檚 Paradise</a> is the third show which Amy and I have taken to <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">the Fringe</a> as <a href="https://www.thedelightfulsausage.com/">The Delightful Sausage</a>.</p>
<p><strong>When were you first involved and why did you decide to do it?</strong></p>
<p>I did my first Edinburgh run in 2015 with a show called 鈥榃elcome to Tiddleminster鈥. I鈥檇 been performing stand up for a few years at that point and have always wanted to work on longer-form projects. A handily timed redundancy gave me the time and capital to finally take the plunge.</p>
<p>Amy first went to Edinburgh in 2014. She did a two-hander* in the back of a sports bar, separated from the rest of the pub by a curtain. When she was performing the staff would crank up the volume on the telly!</p>
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<div class="component prose">
<p><strong>What considerations do you have to make before taking it on?</strong></p>
<p>The biggest consideration is undoubtedly the money. Even if you鈥檙e doing it on the 鈥榗heap鈥, you鈥檝e still got to consider accommodation, food, drink and production costs. The reality is that most performers don鈥檛 make money from their shows, especially when they鈥檙e starting out. That means you have to brace yourself for a tough September.</p>
<p>I鈥檓 also a dad to a young lad. We鈥檝e been doing Sausage shows ever since he was born and each time it gets a wee bit harder to leave him for the month. My partner becomes a single parent. I really couldn鈥檛 do this without her support.**</p>
<p><strong>What are the positives and negatives?</strong></p>
<p>The fringe is an amazing experience. The best bit is getting to perform, learn and hone your act every day. You鈥檙e also surrounded by fantastically talented friends and there鈥檚 always some mind-bending show to catch. There鈥檚 also a chance it can open up exciting opportunities for the future.</p>
<p>That said, at times it can all be incredibly overwhelming. You鈥檒l experience extreme highs and lows, often in quick succession. I find you can often feel very lonely, even if you鈥檙e surrounded by people. There鈥檚 also no guarantee that you鈥檒l have a good time. You can work hard and plan but at the end of the day you could end up playing to nobody for the month.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m1v2h.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p07m1v2h.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Chris Cantrill (credit: Andy Hollingworth)</em></p></div>
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<p><strong>Would you recommend it to new writers and performers?</strong></p>
<p>For me personally, doing the fringe has been one of the most valuable experiences I鈥檝e had as a writer and a performer. My 2015 solo show was on almost every level, a failure. However, the lessons I learnt have been invaluable and the first Sausage show benefited from that experience.</p>
<p>It鈥檚 also one of the best ways to improve at what you do rapidly. You get to do 20+ shows (plus all the extra spots and stuff) which really helps you develop.</p>
<p>That said, I do think an hour-long show is something you should work towards before committing the investment. I think broadly, most acts do their debut after they鈥檝e been performing a few years.</p>
<p><strong>Any advice for first-timers?</strong></p>
<p>If it鈥檚 your first Edinburgh then you鈥檙e most likely inexperienced, lacking a reputation or any sort of following. You鈥檒l be up against people who鈥檝e been doing it for years and big-name celebs.</p>
<p>That probably sounds incredibly depressing. But the question you should be asking is; what do you got?</p>
<p>When we did our first Sausage show we realised that what we had was:</p>
<ul>
<li>Time</li>
<li>Organisation</li>
<li>Lots of jokes</li>
</ul>
<p>So, if you don鈥檛 have thousands of pounds for PR and production companies you need to take responsibility for that stuff yourself. Research who鈥檚 best to contact and do it in good time.</p>
<p>The festival is a huge gamble. The main thing you have direct control over is the show itself so make sure you鈥檙e not going up there half-cocked. When the festival is finished, you just want to know you did everything that was within your power to do.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m1v6v.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p07m1v6v.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Amy Gledhill</em></p></div>
<div class="component prose">
<p><strong>Do you make any money from it or is it more about profile?</strong></p>
<p>After three consecutive years, we鈥檙e now in a position where we鈥檙e probably breaking even. That said, we do have a penchant for waxing anything which looks even vaguely like a profit on nightmarish costumes.</p>
<p>Overall, we view it like a trade expo. You鈥檙e there to showcase yourself, so often the financial opportunities come later in the year, if you play your cards right.</p>
<p><strong>What has your experience been like this year and how did you decide on your show?</strong></p>
<p>We鈥檝e had a pretty wild year. Following last year鈥檚 fringe, we鈥檝e been selected for the <a href="/writersroom/about/comedy-room">麻豆约拍鈥檚 Comedy Room</a> scheme and experienced writing for broadcast for the first time. Amy has also won the 麻豆约拍 <a href="/writersroom/successes/caroline-aherne-bursary">Caroline Aherne bursary</a>.</p>
<p>The truth is, we鈥檝e just not bloody stopped. It鈥檚 amazing and we鈥檙e incredibly grateful but it has been very full on. This gave us an idea for our show which has oddly made it the most personal one yet .</p>
<p><strong>Has your experience of the Fringe changed over time?</strong></p>
<p>Absolutely! Over the last few years of playing the fringe we鈥檝e gone from playing to single-figure audiences in a venue that was almost certainly just a corridor with a lamp in it to playing Edinburgh鈥檚 coolest venue (Monkey Barrel comedy).</p>
<p>Putting bums on seats isn鈥檛 the challenge it used to be but each year we鈥檝e tried to scale up the production which comes with its own challenges. We鈥檝e got costumes, videos, animations and sound design all going on which means we鈥檙e working with a larger team than ever before.</p>
<p>We鈥檝e also been doing it long enough that we know all the hiding places where you can get away from the crowds!</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m202q.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p07m202q.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p07m202q.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07m202q.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p07m202q.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p07m202q.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p07m202q.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p07m202q.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p07m202q.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>The Delightful Sausage (Image Credit Andy Hollingworth)</em></p></div>
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<p><strong>Do you think the Fringe itself has evolved?</strong></p>
<p>It feels like it gets bigger and bigger every year. It鈥檚 a huge commercial juggernaut and it feels increasingly hard to have a good fringe without pulling out all the stops.</p>
<p><strong>What are your other top tips for getting your work out there and noticed?</strong></p>
<p>Here are the lessons we鈥檝e learnt over the last three years***:</p>
<ul>
<li>Ask people for things! I think this might be the secret of the universe. If you want something, ask for it clearly and professionally. This is probably incredibly obvious to people but it鈥檚 taken me a long time to figure it out.</li>
<li>Work hard! There are tons of talented people out there but it鈥檚 the ones who consistently work hard that gain traction.</li>
<li>Get another pair of eyes on it! Standup is often a solitary affair which you figure out in front of an audience. With a show, it鈥檚 really useful to get an outside perspective. This involves trusting someone with your half-baked ideas and being ready to receive notes.</li>
<li>Research! Don鈥檛 fire off emails to busy people without knowing they鈥檙e the right person to contact and what you want to say. I would argue that it鈥檚 more valuable to target people than sending out blanket emails.</li>
</ul>
<p>*Most shows at Edinburgh are an hour. Newer comedians often split this time doing a half hour each.</p>
<p>**And let鈥檚 be honest, money.</p>
<p>***Distilled to save you thousands!</p>
<p><a href="/blogs/writersroom/tags/edinburgh-fringe">Read more blog posts about the Edinburgh Fringe</a></p>
<p><a href="/writersroom/about/comedy-room">Find out more about our Comedy Room writer development scheme</a></p>
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2019-08-16T16:34:06+00:002019-08-16T16:34:06+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/e6bf3839-2d30-4282-b59f-41a983bd6cacMary Flanigan<div class="component prose">
<p><em>In the second of our <a href="/blogs/writersroom/tags/edinburgh-fringe">series of blog posts</a> from writers and performers at this year's <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Fringe</a> we spoke to comedian (and member of our Belfast Voices development group)聽<a href="https://twitter.com/ourladyofflan?lang=en">Mary Flanigan</a> about why she is back for her third year and how to make the most of the experience.</em></p>
</div>
<div class="component">
<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07kw26d.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p07kw26d.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p07kw26d.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07kw26d.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p07kw26d.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p07kw26d.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p07kw26d.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p07kw26d.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p07kw26d.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Mary Flanigan</em></p></div>
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<p><strong>How many times have you taken part in the <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Festival Fringe</a>? When were you first involved and why did you decide to do it?</strong></p>
<p>This year was my third performing stand-up at the Fringe, this year for two weeks. Like a lot of stand-ups, I was drawn to the Fringe because performers I admired had done it, because performers I wanted to see were there, and because I wanted to talk about comedy until 5am in damp Edinburgh smoking areas.</p>
<p><strong>What are the positives and negatives?</strong></p>
<p>The things that drew me to the Fringe originally are still my favourite things about it 鈥 the community, the atmosphere, the bizarre acts you might never see at normal gigs but who are out there and who will make you radically rethink comedy. The negatives are the flipside 鈥 to be at the Fringe is to be constantly convinced all of your friends are having a better time at a cooler show without you, that you are always about to miss something that will somehow be The Thing To See. And of course, you have the running calculator in your head of how much every fun chaotic second is costing you.</p>
<p><strong>What considerations do you have to make before taking it on?</strong></p>
<p>The main consideration everyone makes is how much the Fringe costs (brochure registration, accommodation, print, transport) but I would recommend first-timers to also take time to unwind, decompress. Try not to be aware of whether other people are making money and focus on whether your show is the best it can be.</p>
<p><strong>Do you make any money from it or is it more about profile?</strong></p>
<p>For me the Fringe has been less a money-making enterprise and more a comedy training ground. If you push yourself, you can gig more than 10 times a day and each gig makes you better (yes, even the awful, waste of time gigs you do to one unsmiling bartender).</p>
<p><strong>What has your experience been like this year?</strong></p>
<p>I used to be so focused on getting to the Fringe I forgot to actually enjoy it while I was there. But this year I took time to watch more comedy and had an incredibly enriching time intellectually (while having an incredibly enpoor-ing time in all other respects). If you鈥檙e still at the Fringe, stop and smell the roses 鈥 the damp, smoky, really expensive roses.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ourladyofflan?lang=en">Follow Mary on Twitter @ourladyofflan</a></p>
<p><strong>Follow Mary on Instagram聽@mazflaz</strong></p>
<p><a href="/blogs/writersroom/tags/edinburgh-fringe"><strong>Read more blog posts about the Edinburgh Fringe</strong></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="/writersroom/northern-ireland/development-groups">Find out more about our Belfast Voices groups</a></strong></p>
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2019-08-15T13:55:57+00:002019-08-15T13:55:57+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/1a2488fd-7241-4a07-8780-d00cc32130e9Kevin P. Gilday<div class="component prose">
<p><em>Thinking of taking a show to the聽<a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Festival Fringe</a>?<br /></em></p>
<p><em>We spoke to several writer/performers from our development groups across the UK to get the low-down. First up,聽<a href="https://www.kevinpgilday.com/">Kevin P. Gilday</a>,聽</em><em>writer and spoken word artist (and part of our <a href="/writersroom/scotland/scottish-voices">Scottish Voices</a> development group) who shares his experiences, good and bad, of taking shows to the Fringe, and his advice for anyone who is thinking of taking a show there.</em></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07kr328.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p07kr328.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p07kr328.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p07kr328.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p07kr328.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p07kr328.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p07kr328.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p07kr328.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p07kr328.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Kevin P. Gilday</em></p></div>
<div class="component prose">
<p><strong>How many times have you taken part in the <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Festival Fringe</a>? When were you first involved and why did you decide to do it?</strong></p>
<p>This is my fourth time taking a show to the Edinburgh fringe. The first time was in 2014. I honestly didn't even think about it, it just seemed a natural progression. I had a one hour long show, why not take it to Edinburgh and see what the world made of it? (Not a lot, it turns out!).</p>
<p><strong>What considerations do you have to make before taking it on?</strong></p>
<p>There's a definite time commitment but also a financial one. Do you have the time to develop, write, rewrite, test, rewrite, rehearse, rewrite and preview a piece before you even get there? Because if you don't then it's not going to hit the ground running and you'll be giving yourself a significantly lower chance of breaking through.</p>
<p><strong>What are the positives and negatives?</strong></p>
<p>The positives are that you're putting yourself in the biggest shop window in the world in terms of the performing arts. You can be recognised to be the genius you are. The negatives are that there are another 4000 people who are thinking exactly the same thing and a massive infrastructure of competing interests waiting to swallow your money.</p>
<p><strong>Would you recommend it to new writers and performers? Any advice for first-timers?</strong></p>
<p>I think I would recommend it as long as they go in with their eyes open. It can be an incredible experience that really enriches you as an artist but it can also be a disaster - and you have very little control over it if it does. My advice to first timers would just be to lower your expectations. You're most likely not going to have a sell-out, award-winning show first time round. But you can certainly improve a lot as a writer and performer.</p>
<p><strong>Do you make any money from it or is it more about profile?</strong></p>
<p>I've never made money from it and I'm probably not going to again this year. It's mostly about the profile, yeah. I hate the term, but it is about building that 'brand' of who you are and what makes you unique.</p>
<p><strong>What has your experience been like this year and how did you decide on this year鈥檚 show?</strong></p>
<p>My experience has been much improved this year. I'm working with <a href="https://www.assemblyfestival.com/">Assembly</a> and part of their <a href="https://www.assemblyfestival.com/blog/programming-disruption">Disruption series</a> of shows in association with <a href="https://www.hightide.org.uk/">High Tide</a>. This has added to my chances of getting those reviewers in and getting those much needed start ratings. My show 'Suffering from Scottishness' has been in development for a while now. From the start of the process I was aiming for a fringe run and thankfully my timeline was right and we had the show in a great place for the start of the festival.</p>
<p><strong>Has your experience of the Fringe changed over time? Do you think the Fringe itself has evolved?</strong></p>
<p>I've definitely relaxed and allowed myself to enjoy it more, to take the (perceived) failures less personally and to enjoy the victories a little more. If anything I think it gets more competitive every year. There seems to be an exponential growth (based on money) that just never stops.</p>
<p><strong>What are your other top tips for getting your work out there and noticed?</strong></p>
<p>I think a great PR person is the key. I've been very lucky this year to have a great team behind me. It just makes getting those interviews, previews and reviews that much easier. When those start coming, and of course when you have a great show, then you start to get a bit of momentum and the whole thing begins to feel a bit more doable.</p>
<p><strong><a href="/writersroom/scotland/scottish-voices">Find out more about our Scottish Voices</a></strong></p>
<p><a href="/blogs/writersroom/tags/edinburgh-fringe"><strong>Read more blog posts about the Edinburgh Fringe</strong></a></p>
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2017-08-30T11:34:37+00:002017-08-30T11:34:37+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/ab04fa16-4657-4a82-9073-370bfc2eab8cLou Conran<div class="component prose">
<p>When I lost my baby, in April last year, I wrote <a href="http://standardissuemagazine.com/health/maybe-baby/">an article</a> about the process of 鈥楳edical Management鈥 (the procedure I had to undergo) as I鈥檇 never heard of it before. It wasn鈥檛 until I had to go through it myself that friends then told me their experience with baby loss. When the article went out I realised just how many people go through it on a daily basis, and just how little it鈥檚 talked about.</p>
<p>In November, I was approached by an actress who had read it, and asked if she could perform it at a Mothers' festival in Manchester. I was a little reticent at first as it鈥檚 such a personal story. However, after I鈥檇 agreed and gone to watch her performance, I realised the impact of my story and just how important it is to talk about it and it was from then that I began to craft <a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lou-conran-i-love-lou-c">my Edinburgh show</a>, using the structure of the article, which had taken months to put together as it was still very raw</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05dpnrv.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p05dpnrv.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Lou Conran's show for the Edinburgh Fringe 2017</em></p></div>
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<p>The one thing that had come from readers, was how they had been moved, but how they had enjoyed the humour in the piece, and being a comedian, I was in a unique position to be able to tell my story using that humour. Comedy is such an important genre. Yes you can tell jokes to a (hopefully appreciative) crowd, but to be able to tell a tragic story, using comedy is a challenge, but has more of an impact, and can hopefully reach more of an audience. I don鈥檛 think any subject is out of bounds in comedy, if it鈥檚 done respectfully and in the correct tone.</p>
<p>My mum鈥檚 first reaction, when I told her what I was doing, was 鈥淗ow on earth are you going to make that funny?鈥 (Except with a few more swear words). That was the initial worry, but I knew I could do it. The tragic event wasn鈥檛 funny and never will be, but the events surrounding the build-up, and afterwards were and that鈥檚 what the show concentrated on. It was an Edinburgh show, advertised in the comedy section, and so therefore that is what I had to do, write a comedy show. I was worried people would think I was being flippant, but I was never going to do that, this awful thing had happened to me, and so I was never going to make light of the event itself.</p>
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<em>Watch an interview with Lou for 麻豆约拍 Radio 4's Woman's Hour</em>
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<p>Initially I had too much material, which is a great problem to have. I had to cut it down. I鈥檇 been to a talk with <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writers-lab/be-inspired/jimmy-mcgovern">Jimmy McGovern</a> earlier in the year, and he said, with regards to editing, 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 miss it, then it was never meant to be there.鈥 And that was invaluable advice as I realised that there were bits I had added in, just to bulk out the show, and once I鈥檇 taken them out, I had the decent bones of the show, and I could then start looking at it for areas to put more jokes in.</p>
<p>The section about the event itself was hard to tackle. I didn鈥檛 want to give too much detail but there had to be enough to inform. And the responsibility, knowing that鈥檇 I鈥檇 probably get people in the audience that had had a shared experience, was incredibly daunting as I didn鈥檛 want to upset, or offend them, I just wanted to share my own story. I had a responsibility to them, but more importantly to myself. If I was going to be talking about the event on a daily basis I had to make sure that I wasn鈥檛 going to make myself ill in the process. In this case less is more, and it seemed to work.</p>
<p>The feedback, and <a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lou-conran-i-love-lou-c">the reviews</a> were very positive, and I鈥檝e had people thanking me for talking about it. So it鈥檚 been a really worthwhile experience. I鈥檓 just wondering how the hell I top it for next year!</p>
<p><em>Lou has also written about her experience for</em> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jul/17/comedian-lou-conran-baby-loss-standup-edinburgh-festival-fringe-interview">the Guardian</a> <em>and spoke about it on</em> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08p5l42">麻豆约拍 Radio 4's Woman's Hour - Listen here</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08p5l42">The Woman's Hour website has links to organisations which provide support for miscarriage and baby and infant loss</a>聽</p>
<p><a href="https://www.louconran.com/">Visit Lou Conran's website</a>聽</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/about/comedy-room">Lou Conran is a graduate of our Comedy Room writer development scheme</a>聽and on the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/new-talent-hotlist/hotlist">麻豆约拍's New Talent Hotlist 2017</a></p>
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2017-08-21T15:16:13+00:002017-08-21T15:16:13+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/77e0db85-9bed-4806-ad83-116c0f6c698cTash Marshall<div class="component prose">
<p><em>Tash Marshall is a graduate from our <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/about/comedy-room">2016 Comedy Room writer development group</a>聽and on the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/new-talent-hotlist/hotlist">麻豆约拍's New Talent Hotlist 2017</a>. She brings her first play <a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/half-breed">Half Breed</a> to the <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">Edinburgh Fringe</a> this month where it's been getting some great reviews. We caught up with Tash to find out more about the development of the show and why the Edinburgh Fringe is such an exciting place for new writing.</em></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05cyysl.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p05cyysl.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p05cyysl.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05cyysl.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p05cyysl.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p05cyysl.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p05cyysl.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p05cyysl.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p05cyysl.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Tash Marshall</em></p></div>
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<p><strong>What was the origin of your play Half Breed?</strong></p>
<p>Half Breed started as a poem which I would read on spoken word nights. The play is loosely based on my experiences of growing up in rural Wiltshire. It examines the complexities of being half black in a predominantly white area, where casual racism and ignorance confronts you every day. I built the poem into a play through <a href="http://www.talawa.com/productions/half-breed-at-edinburgh">Talawa Firsts</a> and the <a href="http://sohotheatre.com/whats-on/half-breed/">Soho Theatre</a>'s young writers' group.</p>
<p><strong>How did taking Half Breed to Edinburgh come about?</strong></p>
<p>My play is co-produced by Soho Theatre and Talawa Theatre company, who offered me the opportunity of talking my play to the Edinburgh Fringe festival. It's always been a dream of mine to do it. I feel really blessed to be here with a play I feel so passionate about and backed by people who believe in me.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05cyzjg.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p05cyzjg.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Tash Marshall in Half Breed</em></p></div>
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<p><strong>What was your experience of the Fringe before this year and how does it feel different now?</strong></p>
<p>I first came to Edinburgh Fringe festival years ago, fresh from graduating from drama school. I was in a play called '<a href="https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/229561-thugz-n-tearz/">Thugz and Tearz'</a> (my character died in the first scene). I remember our living accommodation was cramped so me and my friend had to alternate sleeping under a table for a month... it was an experience!</p>
<p>So yeah as you can imagine Edinburgh this time around is... flipping different! I'm on stage longer than the first scene, playing my whole village, speaking on topics I would have never dared to before. And... I'm not sleeping under a table! Amen! I never thought I would be doing this again, let alone with my own show. So I'm just making the most out of this experience.</p>
<p><strong>What鈥檚 good about the Fringe as a showcase for a writer or performer?</strong></p>
<p>The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the largest arts festivals in the world, there's a real buzz about being here. It's an amazing opportunity for writers and performers because it gives you a platform and exposure. You also get such a wide spectrum of people coming to see your show. People come internationally, production companies and people within the industry come seeking out new talent, theatre lovers, people that never go to the theatre as well as fellow fringe artists. You meet and connect with so many different types of people, in a way that you wouldn't normally anywhere else. It's amazing... and busy! Great opportunities can come from the Fringe that can further your career. As a new and emerging artist you have the ability to establish yourself. You learn so much, the experience will only make you stronger at your craft.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05cz04s.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p05cz04s.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p05cz04s.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05cz04s.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p05cz04s.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p05cz04s.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p05cz04s.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p05cz04s.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p05cz04s.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Tash Marshall in Half Breed</em></p></div>
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<p><strong>Are their any pitfalls about the Fringe for writers to be aware of?</strong></p>
<p>For any writer who takes their show to the Edinburgh Fringe there is always an element of risk, because there's no guarantee how things will pan out. You might not get the audience in or the reviewers. Funding your show coming to the Fringe can be a big gamble financially to some people, meaning that not everyone who would like to do this can. You could have the most amazing show but it just might not get the recognition it deserves.</p>
<p>However at the same time I think there's no guarantee for anything you do in life, so if you have faith in your writing take the risk!!! Because the pay off is sweet.</p>
<p><strong>What do you hope will come out of it?</strong></p>
<p>I hope my play Half Breed creates a conversation, I hope people leave my show feeling something, seeing something they connect with or learning something new. It's important and necessary to acknowledge that these very real and relevant issues still exist in day to day life. I want to expose peoples' minds to those untold truths, those hidden truths, those forgotten voices.</p>
<p>This is my first play! So I hope I continue to grow as a writer and performer (I still have loads more stories I want to tell) and continue doing what I'm passionate about...</p>
<p>...also I would love to tour Half Breed around rural areas and towns and of course take it back to the West Country.聽I'm also really looking forward to taking Half Breed to Soho Theatre in London next month.</p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05740jz.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p05740jz.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p05740jz.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p05740jz.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p05740jz.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p05740jz.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p05740jz.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p05740jz.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p05740jz.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Tash Marshall (front) in our Comedy Room writer development group 2016 with Script Editor Andrew Ellard (l)</em></p></div>
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<p><strong>What other great stuff have you seen at this year's Fringe?</strong></p>
<p>I loved '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/hot-brown-honey">Hot Brown Honey</a>', '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/soweto-gospel-choir">Soweto Gospel Choir</a>', '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/fall">The Fall</a>', '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/mixed-brain">Mixed Brain</a>'- I still want to see loads more shows like '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/woke">Woke</a>', '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/evening-with-an-immigrant">Evening with an Immigrant</a>', '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/shape-of-the-pain">The Shape of the Pain</a>' '<a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/girls">Girls</a>' etc etc!</p>
<p><strong>What was it like being part of 麻豆约拍 Writersroom's Comedy Room?</strong></p>
<p>I have really enjoyed being a part of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/about/comedy-room">Comedy Room</a>. It's a great opportunity for writers wanting to write for television. You learn so much, and are given lots of opportunities that will help you grow in your craft and potentially build upon your writing CV. No matter what level you're at it's worth applying, I feel really grateful for all the knowledge I gained and the people I met through the Comedy Room.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/marshalltash?lang=en">Follow Tash on Twitter</a></p>
<p><a href="/events/egvgfx">All about the 麻豆约拍 at the Edinburgh Festivals聽</a></p>
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2014-08-20T13:24:39+00:002014-08-20T13:24:39+00:00/blogs/writersroom/entries/6199f35f-ea3c-3c79-871a-272e629665f1Luke Barnes<div class="component prose">
<p><em>Editor's note: Luke Barnes is the writer of two plays at this year's Edinburgh Fringe: <a href="http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/416468-beats-north/">Beats North</a> (a double-bill with Ishy Din) and <a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/bottleneck">Bottleneck</a>, returning to the festival following an acclaimed premiere in 2012. He explains why <a href="https://www.edfringe.com/">the Fringe</a> has meant so much to his career and why it is a uniquely exciting destination for new writing.</em></p><p>I鈥檓 writing this as I鈥檓 packing my bag to return to Edinburgh for the first time since 2012. Back then I was really lucky and won sponsorship from <a href="http://www.ideastap.com/">IdeasTap</a> and <a href="http://www.oldvictheatre.com/oldvicnewvoices/">Old Vic New Voices</a> to take <a href="http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/edinburgh-fringe-review-chapel-street-luke-barnes-old-vic-new-voices-edinburgh-underbelly/">Chapel Street</a> up to the Fringe and, even more luckily, Bottleneck was produced by <a href="http://www.hightide.org.uk/">HighTide</a>. This all happened in a bit of whirlwind, in the space of two weeks in July 2012. At first we were told we hadn't won sponsorship from IdeasTap and then weeks later I got a phone call saying we鈥檇 got it and, about a week later, HighTide got in touch to say they had a last minute slot and did I have anything. At this point my only credit was a few weeks in a pub theatre so I was over the moon to be produced twice. But that is an anomaly, it doesn鈥檛 normally happen. Normally you approach a venue months in advance with an idea and go through that way. It鈥檚 a nightmare but, if you can afford it, I think it鈥檚 a journey every artist should go on. You go from being on top of the world, to being underneath it, to being hungover, to being a shell of a man, to being a playwright.</p><p></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p02543zm.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p02543zm.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p02543zm.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p02543zm.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p02543zm.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p02543zm.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p02543zm.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p02543zm.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p02543zm.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Edinburgh castle and skyline</em></p></div>
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<p>My experience of the Fringe before that was going with my mum, seeing some comedy and maybe a few plays we knew the titles of. 聽Before I went up I didn鈥檛 know how amazing, unique and stimulating it is as an environment. I thought it was going to be a holiday camp for middle class people (which, I suppose it still is) but what I found was a smelting pot of individuality, from the holy, to the awful and everything in between. And everything earns its place because of its concept. There are very few half measures. Everything has a reason to exist and for that reason it鈥檚 the one of the most exciting artistic ventures in the world.聽</p><p>In terms of importance it鈥檚, for me, a place where you can do whatever you like, be the artist you want be, there are no limitations from theatres, you鈥檙e not thinking about a target audience. The festival-goers are large in number and eclectic in taste, You don鈥檛 have to worry about anything, you can just tell the story you want to tell in the way you want to tell it. In terms of beginning as a writer this is invaluable, this is your opportunity to be you and it probably won鈥檛 come in this form again. You can be as big, as crude, as innovative as you like.</p><p></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p02543ts.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p02543ts.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p02543ts.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p02543ts.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p02543ts.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p02543ts.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p02543ts.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p02543ts.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p02543ts.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Bottleneck by Luke Barnes</em></p></div>
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<p>In terms of cutting through the content I think, most importantly, it鈥檚 through word of mouth. Bottleneck was a play about (spoiler) a little boy going to a football game. It鈥檚 got no <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unique_selling_proposition">USP</a>. It had no notable playwright or actor and for some reason it sold out every day after the first couple of days, purely because the right people came at the start of the run and tweeted about it, then other people came. Peers who work in the industry, who appreciate your work are as important as press. I鈥檓 more likely to go to a play if say, <a href="https://twitter.com/robert_ad">Rob Drummer</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/RosieWyatt">Rosie Wyatt</a>, tweets it鈥檚 amazing than if a blogger like <a href="http://www.whatsonstage.com/news/blogs/">whatsonstage</a> gives it 5*. If you can get friends whose work is respected talking about your project in a genuine fashion that鈥檚 also useful. Edinburgh operates on word of mouth. Someone tells someone something is great and they go. The critics help people make plans before they get there, word of mouth makes people change them. Also I think the venue has a lot to do with it, if you鈥檙e in a recognisable venue it鈥檚 easier to attract press and once you attract good press it鈥檚 easier to attract audiences. Also be adventurous in the work you鈥檙e putting on. <a href="https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/early-doors">Early Doors</a> this year had massive hype before the festival began because of what it was.</p><p></p>
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<img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p025443j.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p025443j.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p025443j.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p025443j.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p025443j.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p025443j.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p025443j.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p025443j.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p025443j.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh</em></p></div>
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<p>The work that always stands out for me is the work that always stands out for me - honest stories close to the heart told in the purest, most theatrical way they can be told. That鈥檚 what we aim for in all our story telling and we should always be aiming for that. Intellectuals should write essays, story tellers should write stories the way they want to, through theatre, television, film and radio.聽</p><p>The Fringe opened a lot of doors for me. In many ways it allowed me to do this for a living. I鈥檝e been lucky enough to have <a href="http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsB/barnes-luke.html">five or six plays</a> produced since Bottleneck, and I鈥檓 not saying that to say 鈥渓ook how well i鈥檓 doing鈥 I鈥檓 still eating beans for dinner. But I am saying it because I think it鈥檚 a direct result of being allowed to tell the stories I want to tell and engage with an audience looking for something more than the Chekhovs, Shakespeares and Bennetts of this world (however great they are). </p><p>You can鈥檛 ask for anything more than to speak and for someone to listen. That鈥檚 what the Fringe gives you more than anything else, the right to speak.</p><p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ejh38g">麻豆约拍 at the Edinburgh Festivals</a></p>
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