Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country
±«Óãtv Writers
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“This is a very good time to be in the Midlands…It’s going to be a cultural hotspot again!” - Sir Lenny Henry
±«Óãtv Writers and Create Central together with our partners have launched our new writing scheme in Birmingham and the Black Country for aspiring scriptwriters - Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country.
The launch event included an introduction from the ±«Óãtv Director General, Tim Davie and an In Conversation event with Sir Lenny Henry about his writing career to date.
Sir Lenny Henry at the Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country launch
The West Midlands’ very own Sir Lenny Henry is backing the new scheme that will support emerging writing talent from across Birmingham and the Black Country.
Applications are now open for the Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country scheme – the product of a partnership between the ±«Óãtv, Create Central and a number of the West Midlands’ leading creative organisations. Find out full details and apply
Speaking at the launch event in Birmingham on Friday 2nd February, which was also attended by ±«Óãtv Director General, Tim Davie, Sir Lenny Henry, said: “This is a very good time to be in the Midlands, the next few years are all about development. It’s going to be a cultural hotspot again. The ±«Óãtv is here, Create Central is here, ±«Óãtv Writers is here. I want to be involved in that and Steven Knight wants to be involved in that. Good things are coming.”
±«Óãtv Director General, Tim Davie, introduces the Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country launch event.
On the Write Across Birmingham and Black Country scheme, which provides twelve aspiring writers with a crucial insight into writing for TV, Sir Lenny added: “This is a brilliant way of saying the doors are open, come in. There are a gazillion people who want to write stories, and represent people like them. This is a brilliant opportunity for people to say ‘I’ve got eight weeks, I don’t have to pay, I’ve got all of these brilliant people to learn from, and to nurture me. I want to be part of something like that.’”
Through a series of engaging workshops, expert-led sessions and networking opportunities, the eight-week scheme will cover the foundations of storytelling for the screen, while demystifying the process of writing for television. It runs from June to September 2024 with applications closing at noon on Tuesday 5th March.
Writer Kit de Waal gave an introduction on behalf of Create Central
Jessica Loveland, Head of New Writing for ±«Óãtv Writers and ±«Óãtv Drama Commissioning, is urging up and coming writers to get their applications in now: “We know there are many brilliant writers in this region who have exciting, entertaining and urgent stories to tell. The aim of Write Across is to give writers the tools and the knowledge to share those stories more widely. And with some creativity, hard work and a sprinkle of magic, hopefully in time they’ll bring their writing to screen.
“We want to work with a range of new voices who represent the diversity of this incredible region. We’re looking for writers who absolutely LOVE TV, who watch lots of shows, read all the scripts and are really excited to explore writing for the medium.”
Sir Lenny continued: “I want to do more things set in the Midlands, my production company are hopefully going to create more here because why wouldn’t you? There are so many talented people here, so many great places. I want to say ‘this is a place you haven’t seen before – Dudley, Wall Heath, Tipton, Smethwick. I want to make a drama in Tipton, in Smethwick. I want to write about the North Street riots. I want to do a story about black American soldiers meeting people in Wolverhampton, and asking what pork scratchings are.”
Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing for ±«Óãtv Drama Commissioning and ±«Óãtv Writers addresses the audience and explains our writer development groups and opportunities including Write Across.
±«Óãtv Writers will be hosting a second launch event for the scheme at the Arena Theatre in Wolverhampton on Wednesday 21st February - . We'll also be running an online drop-in session on Friday 16th February from 1-2pm if you have any questions about the opportunity.
Full details of Write Across Birmingham and the Black Country and apply now