Playwrights prove they have ‘write stuff’

The eight young people aged 14-18 will collaborate with professional directors, actors and sound designers to produce new scripts which will be developed into brand new radio plays later this month.

The plays will be recorded for broadcast live with professional actors from across Northern Ireland on Sunday, December 13 at The Playhouse

The organisation behind the project, Fighting Words, have provided in depth drama and writing sessions to support each writer as they develop.

Patrons of the Fighting Words organiaisation include Glenn Patterson, Roddy Doyle and Nick Hornby.

The young writers have worked with both theatres and Fighting Words NI to learn about scriptwriting and radio production straight from writers, directors, performers, designers, dramaturgs, and other creative professionals from across Northern Ireland.

The project was intended to be delivered face to face, however due to COVID, the project has adapted by using video software Zoom to enable the writers to communicate and discuss and produce their scripts.

The final plays will be broadcast live across both theatres’ social channels on Sunday, December 13 from The Playhouse, and recorded for future radio broadcast.

“We’re just blown away by the wonderful imagination, interrogation, and imagination shown in these eight very different short scripts,” said Fighting Words NI Playwriting Mentor Karis Halsall.

“And we’re delighted to support that creativity with professional directors and actors, who will give fresh voice to the characters and stories, revealing the wild imagination and weeks of hard work the writers have put in.”

The plays will be broadcast for free on The Playhouse and Riverside Theatre’s social channels at @PlayhouseDerry and @RiversideUlster and at www.derryplayhouse.co.uk.

For more information about the project visit www.fightingwords.co.uk