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Life is a Cabaret: Playwriting Boost for
Local Scribes
Leigh playwriting group Scriptshop, in partnership with Wigan Pier
Theatre Company have been awarded an ‘Awards for All’ grant of £5 000 to
develop new playwriting opportunities across Wigan Borough.
Following the success of the Replay cabaret events presented at the
annual Leigh and Wigan Words Festival in 2006, the funding will allow an
eight month programme of workshops and performances in a variety of
venues across Wigan Borough.
Stewart Aitken, Artistic Director of Wigan Pier Theatre Company, said,
“This funding has given Scriptshop and the all writers a great boost. In
the past we have had submissions from new and established writers and
the cabaret evenings have provided a showcase for the wealth of writing
talent in the borough. I would encourage anyone who has any interest to
get in touch, come to the workshops, and enter a script.”
The programme started on Saturday 9th December, with a successful
writing workshop led by Liverpool playwright, poet and performer Dinesh
Allirajahl. Dinesh has been a major influence on the Liverpool writing
scene since the mid 80’s promoting the work of Black and Asian artists.
His work has been seen all over Europe and in 2004, his debut book of
short stories, ‘A Manner of Speaking’ was published.
Those attending the workshop and other interested writers, both new and
experienced, are invited to submit a script to be considered for the
first Replay cabaret of the series, to be held on Saturday 27th January
2007.
Interested parties can enter a script even if they didn’t attend the
workshop. Scripts have to be no more than ten minutes and have no more
than four characters. The theme for the first cabaret is ‘Haunted.’ Two
copies of the script should be sent to Scriptshop, PO Box 115, WN7 2WU,
no later than Saturday 23rd December 2006.
Successful writers will be invited to a development workshop on Saturday
13th January and their scripts will be performed on by professional
actors under the direction of Stewart Aitken, Artistic Director of Wigan
Pier Theatre Company.
There will be future opportunities to submit scripts; those who cannot
meet the first deadline will be considered for future events.
For details of the Replay cabaret series contact Wigan Pier Theatre
Company, on 01942 709305, or Scriptshop via Mark Marguerie on 07951
189323, or Julie McKiernan on 01942 683169.
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this News Release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Public Relations Manager, Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust on 01942 486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org.
Awards for All: Awards for All England is supported by the Arts Council
England, the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport
England.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to ensure that people across the Wigan Borough have the
opportunity to become more physically, mentally and creatively active.
It also aims to increase community activity and to encourage good
citizenship.
Wigan Pier Theatre Company: Wigan Pier Theatre Company is the resident
professional Theatre Company for the Wigan Borough. The company creates
and delivers high quality theatre events and participative activity to
engage local people and visitors with the borough’s culture and
heritage.
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