Bold are thrilled to announce the return of BOLD Playwrights 2024.
Applications are OPEN NOW.
Bold Theatre is pleased to announce the return of BOLD Playwrights; a writers development award programme. Following on from the success of the last 2 years, this iteration will be open for submissions between February 9th – March 1st 2024.
BOLD Playwrights is designed as a process that takes writers through a series of experiences that may not be accessible to them through other means and aims to connect these stages as a clear process that informs and prepares writers for future experiences within the industry. It requires the writer to have a full-length play to work on during the programme. This can be a first draft.
We are interested in hearing from playwrights writing in any form, from any demographic and from anywhere in the UK. However this year we are asking for submissions that include two or more actors.
Specific dates and times will be set in discussion with the chosen playwrights and each writer will be given the experience of a set dramaturgical process, a workshop with actors and a director, and finally a rehearsed reading that will also act an opportunity for an industry sharing.
Delivery will take place face to face at our creative hub BOLD Elephant in Elephant & Castle or online if that works better for you, with a rehearsed reading to be staged at a central London Venue (TBC). The program will run between May – September 2024.
To apply writers should send in the following documents:
Past Winners.
2022/2023
Louis Rembges
Louis Rembges is a Sheffield born writer and actor living in London. His work has been performed at The Pleasance, Brixton Jamm, Brixton Base, Mountview & Bunker Theatre. He is a member of The Goat Exchange Theatre Company, performing with them recently in the US and at VAULT festival. He is an Royal Court’s Intro to Playwriting Group. Louis’ winning play is ‘It’s Raining on Prom Night’.
“Winning the BOLD Playwriting Prize opened the door to a side of the playwriting industry I wasn’t able to access before, and I’ll be forever grateful. Steve and the BOLD teams mentorship elevated my play into something I couldn’t have achieved on my own, and it was brought to life by a wonderful cast”.
Francis Grin
Francis Grin is a playwright and dramaturg based in both London and Margate. She is originally Dutch but has been working in the UK since 2010. She completed her MA in writing for performance at Goldsmiths and went on to work as the Literary Manager at the Finborough from 2012-2016. Her plays have been presented at theatres including Southwark Playhouse, The Vaults, The Space, The Bread & Roses, Soho Theatre and The Pleasance. She has been longlisted for The Bruntwood Prize, The BBC Writers room Drama and The Women’s prize for Playwriting. Francis has also co-founded Mrs C’s Collective; an associate theatre company at The Space in the Isle of Dogs. Francis’ winning play is ‘Lucy and the VR Gods’.
2021/2022
Aaron Kilercioglu
Raised in Vienna by Turkish-Canadian parents, Aaron is a writer and director based in London. This blend of cultures illustrates his ability to translate between English, German and Turkish. His most recent play ‘The E.U. Killed my Dad’ won the Woven Voices Prize and has had a run at Jermyn Street Theatre. His previous play, ‘For a Palestinian’, enjoyed a sell-out 3 week run at the Camden People’s Theatre, before transferring to, and selling out, the Bristol Old Vic Theatre. Both are published with Methuen Drama. His previous work has been shortlisted for the Theatre503 International Playwriting Prize, and won the BOLD Playwrights Prize as well as the Methuen Drama ‘Other’ Prize. Aaron has been a member of various associations and groups including, the Old Vic Playwriting, Bush Theatre Emerging Writers, Royal Court Young Agitators, and London Library Emerging Writers. Aaron’s winning play for BOLD Playwrights is ‘The E.U. Killed my Dad’.
“BOLD Playwrights helped me kickstart my career. The support I received from Sarah challenged me to be a better and more considered writer, while the workshop with actors allowed me to see my words come to life. This scheme has opened a number of doors, which, without BOLD, might have stayed closed for a while”.
Leila Nashef
Leila Nashef is a playwright, performer and researcher living in London. Her work has been performed at VAULT Festival, Theatre 503, Southwark Playhouse, The King’s Head Theatre and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and she won the VAULT New Writers award in 2018.
“The BOLD Playwrights Scheme was an incredibly helpful, generous opportunity to work on a script with support, space, and encouragement. The dedicated, energetic team at BOLD gave huge amounts of time, energy and thought to what my story was and could be, and over the course of a year, with their guidance, the script developed enormously. The opportunity to see the play on its feet at a rehearsed reading in May was invaluable, and I’m so glad I was involved, and grateful to everyone at BOLD for their kind, insightful support.”
Jaisal Marmion
Jaisal is a playwright and poet interested in writing about identity, multiculturalism and stories related to the Indian and Irish diasporas.
“I found being part of BOLD Playwrights a really brilliant experience. My play developed so much through collaborating with BOLD, in ways that I could never have imagined at the start. Going through a process of dramaturgy, rewriting, workshopping the play with actors and finally a rehearsed reading, felt both rigorous and a lot of fun, and taught me loads not only about my piece but also about the writing process and theatre making and collaboration generally. More than anything it was great getting to be part of BOLD, everyone was so nice and supportive, and I met lots of interesting people through the scheme. It was a super fun and creative environment to be part of.”
