37 Plays: Writing The Stories Of Our Nation 

21/06/2022

The Royal Shakespeare Company is teaming up with Blackpool Grand Theatre to ask budding writers of all ages from across the local community: ‘Do you have something to say?’ in a bid to get the nation writing! The Grand is joining the RSC and the other 11 theatre partners across the country in the exciting new 37 Plays – Writing The Stories Of Our Nation programme.

37 Plays invites children, young people and adults of the community to write/create the comedies, tragedies, and untold histories of our time.  The innovative scheme encourages works from established, emerging and first-time writers of all ages.

From five-act plays to short-form monologues, plays performed on stage, on the streets or in schools, to new and emerging formats; 37 Plays will explore who we are as a society and what the future of dramatic writing might look and feel like, on and off our stages.

Do You Have Something To Say?

Inspired by the scope and timeless relevance of the 37 plays Shakespeare wrote, 37 Plays will bring together diverse voices from across the UK in one of the most ambitious new writing and creative projects in our history.

Renowned theatre company, Northern Broadsides, have now also joined the exciting partnership to
offer a trio of Free Introduction to Writing Workshops with Theatre Director & Playwright Hallam Breen in association with The Grand. Workshops will take place on:

Monday 11 July at The Old Electric in Blackpool

Tuesday 12 July at Lowther Pavilion in Lytham

Thursday 21 July at Fleetwood Library.

All sessions will be the same and so please only book a place for 1 workshop.
To book a place on these free workshops and for further information please email Ruth Collinge at ruthc@blackpoolgrand.co.uk

*Over 18 years only. Limited places.

Join Hallam to explore ways of finding inspiration for your play, devising interesting characters and writing engaging dialogue. Please note no experience of playwriting is required.

Submissions will be read, longlisted, and then shortlisted by regional and national panels. The final 37 plays will be collated and published with the aim of the selected plays being produced and performed in 2023 and beyond.

More information will be released throughout 2022, culminating in a festival in 2023 to celebrate the project and mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio.

Chief Executive of Blackpool Grand Theatre, Adam Knight, said: “We’re thrilled to be working in
partnership with the RSC and Northern Broadsides. Everyone has a story to tell and, with the
guidance and encouragement of Jack Holden and Hallam Breen, two of the most exciting young
talents working in UK theatre today, we’re excited to hear from you.”

For more information

Sign up for 37 Plays – Writing the Stories of our Nation

Watch the video trailer

Listen to the 37 Plays podcast

Check out the 37 Plays resources

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