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Yorkshire Playwrights is a group of professional and aspiring professional dramatists, active in all the dramatic mediums, stage, television, radio. The group works to encourage the writing and the performing of new plays in Yorkshire and to develop understanding of the dramatist's craft. Click here if you want to get rid of unwanted screen clutter created by any forwarding services. about us | contact us | members pages | archived articles | advice on layout | links | home page |
Yorkshire Playwrights awarded Arts Council funding for review of new writing provision in the region.
YORKSHIRE
PLAYWRIGHTS has been awarded a grant of £12,500 by Yorkshire
Arts (now Yorkshire Regional Arts Council) to research and present
the case for a new writing development agency for the region.
Yorkshire Playwrights is initiating a comprehensive four-month consultation into new writing provision across the region. It is hoped that the consultation will recommend the establishment of a new agency to develop and promote new writing for the whole region - on a par with bodies such as North West Playwrights, Sgript Cymru and The Royal Court.
Yorkshire Playwrights has appointed Andrew Loretto, currently Artistic Director of University of Bradford's Theatre in the Mill, to lead the research process.
As
a writer and director himself, Andrew Loretto (pictured) has facilitated
diverse opportunities for new writers during his three years in Bradford.
With his extensive working knowledge of the regional and national new
writing scene, Andrew will lead the consultation process with leading
arts organisations and individual artists. Research will not only be within
the Yorkshire region, but will also take in models of good practice around
the UK.
Liz Ryan, Chair of Yorkshire Playwrights, says: "I'm delighted that we have been able to secure this funding at an important time in Yorkshire Playwrights' history. As an organisation that is undergoing profound change in order to better serve our writers, we recognise the need for a fully-resourced, proactive development agency for new writing. With Andrew Loretto leading the research process, I'm confident that we have a passionate advocate for this work in Yorkshire and further afield."
Andrew Loretto says: "Yorkshire is currently seeing a renaissance of investment in and excitement around new writing. Recent initiatives include Theatre in the Mill's New Writing Festivals, similar events at Harrogate Theatre, plus key literary appointments at Sheffield Crucible Theatre and West Yorkshire Playhouse. I'm very excited to have been asked by Yorkshire Playwrights to take the case for region-wide provision forward."
You can contact Andrew at newwriting@hotmail.com with any ideas you may have on the subject, or if you wish to be consulted as part of the Review.