Royal Court Theatre, Northern Stage and New Writing North announce readings from writers based in the North of England

The Royal Court Theatre has collaborated with Northern Stage and New Writing North to create a new writers’ group. The first public readings of the plays that have been developed by the group will take place in The Site at the Royal Court Theatre in May 2018.

Royal Court Writers’ Group: North was open to playwrights based in the North of England. The nine writers selected have spent the last three months in sessions with UK leading playwrights Stacey Gregg, Emteaz Hussain, Alistair McDowall, Simon Stephens and Tom Wells.

The new writers include Olivia Hannah, Karen Laws, Mhairi Ledgerwood, Laura Lindow, Jack Nicholls, Tamsin Daisy Rees, Lindsay Rodden, Chris Salt and Zosia Wand. The readings will be directed by Royal Court Associate Director Lucy Morrison and Northern Stage Artistic Director Lorne Campbell.

Each writer has been developing a new play for the stage. Following the readings in May at the Royal Court, the plays will also be shared at Northern Stage in September.

Please find details of the readings below:

Man Hours

Written by Chris Salt

Directed by Lucy Morrison

The Site

6.30pm Monday 21 May 2018

A play about boys, Burnley and betrayal.

 

Cheer Up Slug

Written by Tamsin Daisy Rees

Directed by Lorne Campbell

The Site

6.30pm Tuesday 22 May 2018

A play about sex, slugs and the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award.

 

Paper Tiger

Written by Mhairi Ledgerwood
Directed by Lorne Campbell

The Site

8pm Tuesday 22 May 2018

A play about love, language, and fear.

 

Braids

Written by Olivia Hannah

Directed by Lucy Morrison

The Site

6.30pm Wednesday 23 May 2018

A play about friendship, identity and hair.

 

Bones

Written by Zosia Wand

Directed by Lucy Morrison

The Site

8pm Wednesday 23 May 2018

A play about a Polish headscarf, a teenage girl and a dead seagull.

 

Island People

Written by Lindsay Rodden

The Site

6.30pm Thursday 24 May 2018

A play about sleeping giants, uprising women, and a dance hall at the edge of the world.

 

Marikana

Written by Karen Laws

The Site

8pm Thursday 24 May 2018

A play about recrimination, loyalty and rape.

 

Dear Pig

Written by Laura Lindow

Directed by Lucy Morrison

The Site

6.30pm Friday 25 May 2018

A play about bones, bedding and bruises.

 

Harsh Noise Wall

Written by Jack Nicholls

Directed by Lucy Morrison

The Site

8pm Friday 25 May 2018

A play about limbs, brains and every member of The Fall.

 

Tickets are £5 per reading or £8 for two readings and can be purchased on the show page here.

For more information see the full press release here.