This Lab is an entry-level opportunity, designed to support fresh aspiring writers in learning how to write for different media, including stage, screen and audio. Workshops cover themes like how to generate ideas, develop characters, and write dialogue. By the end of the Lab, all participants will have written a short audio piece that will be recorded and edited by professional actors, directors and sound designers. You will be part of the recording process from start to finish, and will get access to a digital copy of your fully acted and produced piece to share with friends, family, community and industry.
The Lab is led by an award-winning British-Pakistani writer with extensive experience across screen, stage and audio: Ishy Din (BBC, C4, Royal Court Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, BBC Radio 4 and 5).
You and your cohort will be facilitated to find your voice and create work that is innovative, distinctive and pushes the boundaries. Your stories will be shared at a celebratory event at the end of the Lab – as well as with a wider online audience afterwards.
No previous experience required, all applications from people with Pakistani backgrounds are warmly welcomed. We look forward to hearing from you!
Notable writers who have completed our other Writers’ Lab at Soho Theatre Dean Street include:
AJ Yi, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Archie Maddocks, Ava Wong Davies, Charlie Josephine, Danusia Samal, Holly Robinson, Iman Qureshi, Ifeyinwa Frederick, James McDermott, Jasmine Lee-Jones, Kalungi Ssebandeke, Karim Khan, Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, Milly Thomas, Nicole Lecky, Phoebe Eclair-Powell, Ross Willis, Ryan Calais Cameron, Sophie Swithinbank, Tom Wright, Yasmin Joseph, Yolanda Mercy and many more.
Course Structure
STW x BPF Writers’ Lab runs once a week on Thursday evenings (with a break over Christmas), 27th November – 12th March. There are 16 spaces on the Lab for writers to take part.
Workshops will take place in person at Soho Theatre Walthamstow. Applicants must be available for the full Lab. For more detail about the programme structure and dates, see our FAQs below.
Applications & Fees
Because spaces are limited, there is an application process for the Lab. Click the “apply now” button above which will take you to an online form that should take under 30 minutes to fill out. It’s quick and easy! If you have questions about the application process, see our FAQs below.
The fee for the course is £100 (only £12.50 per 2.5 hour session) which covers the full 8 sessions including roughly 20 hours of workshops, as well as attendance at the recording session and a celebratory showcase at the end. However, if cost is a barrier to participating, we have full and half bursaries available. You can apply for a bursary when you complete the application form.
This programme is made possible and kept affordable with support from the British Pakistan Foundation.
Soho Theatre is an equal opportunities organisation, and is using positive action to make sure that the people we work with are representative of our diverse community. We actively welcome applicants who identify as disabled, LGBTQ+ and people living in the London Borough of Waltham Forest.
Thinking about applying but not sure where to begin?
Come along to our Q&A session or one of our taster sessions to find out more about the programme, playwriting and how to apply.
Q&A
Monday 29th September 16:30 on Zoom
Join us as we take you through the application process and answer your questions. This one-hour session is free and open to all. To reserve your space, please fill in our booking form.
One-off Taster Session
Thu 2 Oct – online over Zoom
Join us in a taster session that will give you a flavour of what the Lab experience will be like. That way you can get to know us better, see if the Lab is for you, and see if you’d like to apply! It will also be an opportunity to ask any questions you might have. You can book your place here.
FAQs
Please see here