I joined the Momentum group in my 1st year of University. I’d always had a real interest in Theatre and during my A-levels I’d begun to read a lot of new plays by young writers and new theatre companies. I’d thought about writing before but it wasn’t something I’d seriously considered until I saw an advert for the new and free writing classes that were happening at Nottingham Playhouse. The classes were part of a midlands new writing initiative set up by Theatre Writing Partnership with groups also taking place in Leicester, Northampton and Derby. Nick Wood was running the workshops at that point there were a lot of young writers from really different backgrounds involved. Despite joining a bit later than the others, the group was really inviting and it was an exciting environment to start writing in. At the end of the course we were asked to submit some work and an idea for a short play. 5 writers from each city were selected to take part in a 10 week mentoring scheme to write the play. I was fortunate enough to have my play selected as one of the headliners for the first Momentum Young Writers’ Festival in 2005. The play, A Background Noise, was directed by Giles Croft and the experience of working with a professional director and skilled actors was an incredibly exciting and illuminating one. The Festival was a real success and a very special and inspiring event that everyone felt privileged to be involved in.
After the festival I was commissioned by Theatre Writing Partnership to translate a Norwegian Play The Woods that was staged as a rehearsed reading at Nottingham Playhouse and subsequently long listed for the Gate Translation Award in 2006. I was also commissioned by New Perspectives Theatre Company and Theatre writing Partnership to write my first full-length play. In 2006, I was selected to take part in ‘the50’ a BBC writersroom and Royal Court Theatre initiative in celebration of The Royal Court’s 50th anniversary. Through ‘the50’ I came into contact with a number of innovative and inspiring writers and directors which led me to apply for an MPhil in Playwrighting at the University of Birmingham, which I’m due to finish in September. Wasteland, the play written for the New Perspectives and Theatre Writing Partnership commission is due to tour next Spring and I’ve recently been selected for the 24 Degrees project, another BBC and Royal Court Initiative to support 24 new writers from across Britain.
It’s been nearly 3 years since Theatre Writing Partnership produced the first Momentum Young Writers’ Festival, throughout that time many new writers have come to prominence form across the region; Julius Ayodeji, Leah Chillery and Declan Keen to name a few. I would advise anyone who is interested in writing to go along to one of the groups and get involved in the festival, which continues to be an important platform for new writing from across the midlands.
