"Basically Playwright Support does exactly what it says on the tin. It supports playwrights and there can be no substitute for being around like-minded people who want to help you be a better writer."

Katie Douglas, award-winning writer and author of Fly

 

 

This ensures that writers are kept informed of opportunities that may be of interest to them. Various organisations throughout the country pass information through the database which is then passed on to writers in Merseyside. This has led to writers winning competitions, being offered commissions and ultimately seeing their work produced.

 

 

Throughout the year, the theatres run open-access and private masterclasses, readings and workshops with some of the country’s leading practitioners. This includes writers, directors, film-makers, producers, designers and dramaturges. These are aimed at writers of all backgrounds and abilities. The Theatres also hold private masterclasses and “surgeries” with professional writers to discuss the development of their work, and contemporary theatre in general, with practitioners at the top of their profession.

 

 

Richard Shaw

“An incredibly impressive programme of work”

Willy Russell

 

Everyword is an annual festival of workshops and events open to anyone interested in new writing or developing writing skills. The festival includes workshops, readings, masterclasses, debates and discussions. The greatest legacy any artistic regime can leave as a theatrical heritage is its writers. Everyword is a festival that harnesses the most exciting writing talent for this and future generations of theatre-goers.

 

Laurence Wilson, author of Urban Legend

 

 

Michael McLean, author of The Electric Hills and now Writer in Residence with Paines Plough Theatre Company

 

The Attachment Scheme aims to inspire confidence, nurture originality, and offer practical steps to a successful writing career. It includes a bursary; masterclasses from premier playwrights, career meetings with relevant professionals and the development of a new play within the challenging and supportive environment of a major producing theatre. At the end of the attachment, the writers’ plays will be presented as readings in Liverpool and London, and these emerging playwrights may then go on to join the extraordinary roster of writing talent that the Liverpool theatres have discovered, nurtured and produced. The model for this Attachment was piloted in 2003, when the three participants were Katie Douglas, Tony Green and Laurence Wilson.  All three went on to have their plays produced at the Everyman to great acclaim in 2004.

 

The Henry Cotton Memorial Fund supported the Writers on Attachment enabling three more Merseyside Writers to be on attachment top the theatres from July 2005 to February 2006.  All have subsequently forged successful careers as writers.  Jonathan Larkin, whose first full length play Paradise Bound was performed at the Everyman, is now developing the play as a film, is writing for various TV companies and is Writer in Residence with the Everyman Youth Theatre.  His new play, Forgive Them, will be presented by the Everyman Youth Theatre at this year's Everyword Festival.  Michael McLean developed The Electric Hills on attachment which was subsequently produced in 2007 at the Everyman.  He is now on attachment with Paines Plough Theatre Company, writing for radio and developing a new piece with award-winning Momentum Theatre which will receive a work-in-progress showing during Everyword 2008.  Lizzie Nunnery's play Intemperance, developed through the Attachment scheme, was produced to critical acclaim at the Everyman in October 2007.  She is now Pearson Writer in Residence at the Everyman and Playhouse.  She went on to win the 2008 Best Newcomer Scouseology Award and is currently under commission to BBC Radio 4, Druid Theatre Company and The National Theatre.