Big news from us is that we finally got to meet our producer Michelle’s baby, which drastically reduced our productivity for the afternoon (unless you count cooing and squidging). 

In terms of actual work, we’ve been super excited to see the final model box presentation of Ellie Light’s design for The Lieutenant of Inishmore – though my offers to loan my cat to the production for her big stage debut are still being rebuffed.

And we’ve also been cackling away in the office thanks to the latest draft of Rapunzel, which I cannot wait to workshop over the summer. (Drama, feelings and political heft are great and all, but sometimes I just want a barrage of puns, y’know?)

In case you missed it (or you’re a new subscriber – hi!), we’re accepting submissions of new plays until the end of June! So, if you’ve got a new play you’d like to send us, we want to read it.

We’re committed to thrilling, big-hearted, forward-thinking theatre that responds to its time and place, ignites the imagination and wrestles with the knotty, complicated business of being human.

That can take loads of different forms, which means there’s a huge variety of things that might excite us in a play or a writer – what’s important is clarity of intent. We should be able to read your work and really get a sense of who you are as an artist, and what’s energising you.

With two productions by local playwrights on our main stage at the Everyman this season, we’re massively looking forward to reading more brilliant stories from the city.

For more information, see our website.

Playwrights Flashmob
Everyman

Tue 2 Jul, 11am-2pm

The ever wonderful Anna Jordan (Succession, HBO) and Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (Emilia, Globe and West End) are spearheading a nationwide initiative to get playwrights into buildings all over the country for a solidarity-building cuppa.

The starting point is: “We want to make connections and kick isolation in the ass. We want to talk about what we’re working on and cook up ideas for a better future. We just want to lurk and write knowing others are writing too.”

So we’ll be offering some tea and coffee, and space to lurk in (it’ll be the Writers’ Room, unless that gets too full – in which case we’ll branch out into the Theatre Bar). Paddy Hughes will be your host for the day, but I’ll be popping in and out as well just in case there are any specific conversations it’s useful for me to be part of.

If you can’t make it in person, our friends at Paines Plough are holding an online version. Sign up here.

And, if you have any questions about the whole project, there’s an email address in the link above – or you can use #PlaywrightsFlashmob to see what’s going on via socials.

A Monster Calls

Everyman

Thu 4 – Sat 6 July

I saw Sally Cookson’s production of this in London a few years ago, and it is gorgeous: a play of love, loss and healing, all delivered in a super theatrical way.

And we’re so lucky to be working with the ever-inventive Nathan Crossan-Smith as director – last I heard, there was a live score being created with mics and loop pedals – so do come along and see what the brilliant YEP Actors (18-25) have made.

A Lovely Poetry Slam

Everyman

Thu 4 Jul

It’s the third year of the Lovely Poetry Festival – and this show combines the second semi-final AND the final itself!

There’ll be all the usual A Lovely Word laughs, profundity and political fire – with the added excitement of judging from previous Slam Champion Claire Beerjeraz (and also me, lol).

And, if you want maximum poetry, the first semi-final is at Shakespeare North on Tue 2 Jul (link here).

My Son’s a Queer (but what can you do?)

Playhouse

Thu 18 – Sat 20 July

From cult following on Twitter to Olivier Award Nominee and darling of the West End, Rob Madge’s joyous testament to the power of familial love is finally coming to Liverpool!

I haven’t seen this, but my sense is that it’ll be hilarious, heart-warming, and gloriously queer. (There’s also a bubble gun mentioned in the blurb, so I hope that’ll be making an appearance.)

Beyond Artist Development Programme

Graeae

Deadline Thu 27 Jun, midnight.

Beyond is Graeae (E&P Associate Company)’s bespoke Artist Development programme, which since 2020 has supported over 60 Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists in developing their careers, taking on new challenges & building successful connections. 

With support tailored to each individual over an 18-month programme, this is an opportunity to build relationships with a local theatre (which could be us, but could be other venues in the North West like Shakespeare North or Bolton Octagon) and invest in your practice.

Theatre503 International Playwriting Award

Theatre503

Deadline Sun 30 Jun, midnight.

Another playwriting award(!), this time from the theatre that taught me how plays worked when I was just starting out.

Theatre503 is a tireless champion of new writers around the world – and is pretty unusual in being a 63-seat fringe theatre which has premiered two (TWO!) Olivier Award-winning plays: Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop (which Nathan will direct for Leicester Curve later this year), and Jon Brittain’s Rotterdam.

Definitely worth submitting to – and they also accept new plays in translation, if that’s your bag!

Mustapha Matura Award

Alfred Fagon Award

Deadline Wed 31 Jul.

Open to any playwright of Caribbean or African descent, this award comes with £3,000 and a 9-month mentoring programme from a leading Black British writer.

Part of the Alfred Fagon Award, which has championed work by Black writers for years, this is a really brilliant opportunity.

Developed With

The Lowry, Manchester

Deadline Thu 11 Jul, 5pm.

This is the Lowry’s flagship talent development programme, so you know it’s gonna be good. Open to early- and mid-career independent artists or companies based in the North of England, Developed With is aimed at those who are “committed to creating ambitious, high-quality work and developing their practice as artists and cultural leaders”.

They’re looking for give performance-based artists/companies, who will each get a £5,000 commission and loads of other tailored support. The programme will run from Autumn 2024 to Spring 2026.

Get your applications in!