This year, we added a little twist to our online book club for plays, Play Club by featuring new writing from 3 incredible writers selected from our 2020 submission window (read more about the writers and their plays here).
Every other month, we sent out a play for participants to read and chat about in an online meeting, having the opportunity to meet the writer and get to know the ideas behind the story. Participants were then challenged to write a short 10-page play in response, which they could submit to us. Selected short plays will be performed the London Playwrights 2021 Festival in December 2021 at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre alongside readings of the texts which inspired them!
We received some amazing submissions and it was really hard to choose just 3, but we got there and are really excited to announce the 3 winning 2021 Play Club Plays and introduce you to the writers….
Bass by Roli Okorodudu
Written in response to Pulse by Julie Tsang
Roli’s short play ‘Blend Share.Mix’ was selected and performed for Theatre 503’s Rapid Response and another play, ‘Let’s Start at The Beginning’ was performed with Page to Stage London’s scratch night. As an actor she has devised and written on ‘Takeaway’ by Stephen Clark and Royal and Derngate Northampton Theatre’s Amandla! Roli is currently working on a full-length piece ‘Holiday’: loosely based on a true story where five women take their young children away for a week. Their relationships are tested as are their parenting skills as a series of events ignites tensions and traumas in the group. Roli is also working on a radio play, ‘Merry Widows’: Two recently widows decide to move in with each other in order to move on but guilt and bereavement make this a challenging journey. Roli lives in Stockwell with her 2 cats and her 2 children.
The Kaki Bandit by Toby McShane
Written in response to Mum by Emma Dawson
Toby McShane is a writer and educator living in Switzerland. He teaches literature at an international school outside of Geneva. His written work has been produced in collaboration with the New Works Playhouse and Church St Theatre. He currently has a short film, The Pig and Pirate, in production and is in the process of developing his first feature, Cherubs.
Mac & Beth Holdings by Sally Wilden
Written in Response to All Work No Play by Scott Younger
Sally’s work includes a one act play, ‘Adlestrop – again’, ‘Hope and Loss’, a short play selected for Playclub 2019, co-author of ‘Trojan Whores’, Courtyard Theatre, London and ‘Gainsborough and the Modern Woman’ to be toured in East Anglia 2022. Her first love is writing for theatre but she has also written for radio and film.
We hope you’ll join us in congratulating the writers and that you’ll come along to the festival to the see the plays on stage (Find out more about the festival here)!