First Stage is a research project which I was funded to carry out by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) through the ‘Test & Explore’ strand of their Cultural Industries Cluster Development Fund. Inspired by my own experience as a working-class Middlesbrough playwright who repeatedly has to travel and work outside of the Tees Valley to get scripts performed and gain writing commissions, First Stage explores playwright talent development and new writing provision within the Combined Authority.
With the only producing venue in the Tees Valley creating specialist work for a very specific audience, the Combined Authority’s early- and mid-career playwrights struggle to find opportunities to stage work, develop their skills and capitalise upon recent regional investments in the screen industries. First Stage draws upon consultations with theatre, cultural, screen, talent development and educational professionals, as well as Focus Groups with Tees Valley writers, in order to highlight the impact which the current lack of playwright talent development and new writing provision is having upon those who wish to build writing careers. It also explores the current relationship between theatre and screen within the Tees Valley, and its suitability to nurture talent in response to significant regional investment in the screen industries. It concludes by making a number of recommendations as to how to improve the current situation.
The First Stage report is available to read and / or download on this page.
DR LOUISE POWELL 