Central School of Speech & Drama: Write Yourself In

Write Yourself In is a new project from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama that encourages young people around the UK to get involved with writing for performance.

“The project offers schools, colleges and youth theatres in London, Leicester, Oldham and Stoke free writing workshops, delivered by second year students on the BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Education degree and the new Writing for Performance pathway in collaboration with Central tutors.”

All schools, colleges and youth theatres who have booked a workshop are automatically invited to enter the Write Yourself In playwriting competition. The winners will see their plays performed in a rehearsed reading at several venues including Leicester’s Curve Theatre.

I was invited to direct the rehearsed reading, spending a day working with actors in preparation for an evening performance. The cast comprised of Sharan Phull (Bend it Like Beckham, Romeo and Juliet, The Importance of Being Earnest), Jonathon McClean (Macbeth, What  Are They Like) and Georgia Christodoulou who recently graduated from the Birmingham School of Acting.

The competition was judged by:

Ola Animashawun, Associate Director Diversity, Royal Court Theatre

Emteaz Hussain, Playwright (Sweet Cider Arcola Theatre 2008, Blood Tamasha Theatre and The Gate 2010)

The work that the young people produced was vibrant, witty and brilliantly imaginative. A reminder of the potential and importance of young voices.