New Writing SouthPast events
2010
Meet the Industry
Speakers from the world of publishing were in conversation with New Writing South at this year's Oxfringe 2010 Festival. The evening began with an overview of the publishing industry today, what authors should know about the business of publishing, what the experts do and how they can help a writer's career as well as tips and insights into the book and publishing world.
Crime Salon
New Writing South introduced Crime Salon at The Vaults & Garden Café, Oxford on 8 April as part of the Oxfringe 2010 Festival. The evening took a sideways and fresh look at what is a long-standing and popular writing genre with debate, readings and extracts from successful crime writers Sue Walker and Lesley Thomson along with writer, filmmaker and producer Carole Hayman.
John Hegley in Crawley Vs. Luton Verses
The nations favourite comedic poet John Hegley dazzled and entertained a packed house in Crawley Town Vs. Luton Town Verses. Hosted by performance poet and storyteller, Paul Lyalls, special guest support came from rising young wordsmith Niall O’Sullivan, author of the acclaimed collection Ventriloquism for Monkeys. On the night all three poets performed their latest and greatest hits plus special snippets taken from the Crawley Vs. Luton football match that happened the same afternoon.
Will Self in Lugubrious Monday
A sell-out audience joined New Writing South to celebrate the most depressing day of the year (25th January) in the company of Will Self at the Komedia in Brighton. Joining Will on stage was sharp edged writer Matthew De Abaitua who interviewed Will as to the significance of the day, the value of free newspapers, the meaning of Randomness and other topical poignant themes.
Hosted by performance poet and storyteller, Paul Lyalls, special guest support came from the wonderfully entertaining, Elvis McGonagall.
2009
Advanced Radio Writing
Highly sought-after six-session programme for experienced writers - led by former head of BBC Radio Drama, Gordon House.
Crime Writing Fiction Factory Workshop
At the Folkestone Book Festival - crime novelist, Sue Walker offered advice on getting to grips with the fundamentals of writing effective crime fiction.
Cabaret on a Sinking Ship
A group of award-winning playwrights presented a ground-breaking new work at the Nightingale Theatre with our cabaret-style play, Cabaret on a Sinking Ship. As a company we were very proud to present this unique and powerful piece, which gave voice to a team of seven writers (the first of its kind.)
Prose Writing Marathon
A three-day event led by Shaun Levin, designed as an opportunity guaranteed to get the ink flowing.
Screenwriters Script Development Programme
Screenwriter Mark Wheatley led critical support sessions offered to screenwriters during the writing process.
Playwrights' Drawing Room
A unique six-month project offering a nurturing, safe and inspiring space where a group of talented playwrights could flourish. Led by Julie Everton.
Secrets of Sitcom
Led by comedy writer Jenny Lecoat, this three-month course was designed for writers wishing to get into writing TV sitcoms.
Points of Fiction
A year-long series of workshops with leading writers and publishing professionals.
Recession-Proof Writing (Oxford)
Led by Kay Sexton this one-day workshop focussed on how to survive and prosper during the credit crunch.
Meet the Agents (Oxford)
Top agents in coversation.
Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival
Literary debate on how Disability is portrayed in contemporary literature. In association with Disability Arts Online.
Rehearsed Reading:
Forgiven by Melissa Perkins. Directed by Vincent O'Connell at Brighton's Nightingale Theatre.
The Craft of Writing for Radio
led by Stehpen Wyatt, this short course took place in a in a working radio production studio.
NWS Book Launch
Brighton writer Monika Akila Richards' debut short story, a winner in the third Decibel Penguin Anthology - The Map of Me
Open Script Surgery
led by Tony Milner
Writing for One
The art of creating solo drama with George Dillon and Chris Stagg
Writing for Radio
A six session course, with individual surgeries, led by BBC Radio
director and producer David Hitchinson.
Know Your Copyrights!
With Madeline
Hutchins (March)
A
session on important copyright issues
that effect all creative writers. Participants were given
an invaluable workbook on the subject.
NWS Book Launch
East Sussex writer Vanessa Gebbie's debut collection of short
stories, Words from a Glass Bubble.
Successful Crime Writing
Led by Sue Walker
A course for writers interested in crime writing who
seriously want to be published.
Writing Erotic Fiction
Led by Kay Sexton
From a work of erotic literature,
to a scene in a murder mystery, a
five session evening course on how to master the genre - from
the simply sensual to the downright dirty!
2007
Disability Arts Critical Writing Masterclasses
New Writing South was invited by Arts Council London and DAO to
run two masterclasses for artists and writers working in Disability
Arts. These
masterclasses were organised in part to test the
water as to how an organisation like New Writing South could
work collaboratively with DAO and
the Disability Arts sector. It has transpired to be an extremely fruitful
partnership, resulting in excellent skills-sharing and greater understanding
on both sides. We feel that everyone involved learned
a great deal. Click here for the
full report.
Postcards from the Edge
In September BBC Radio Kent/New Writing South hosted the POSTCARDS
FROM THE EDGE Roadshow, capturing people's Kent memories and impressions
on postcards, from five places on the Kent coast. The project
commissioned ten new monolgues from writers Noel Greig and Peggy Riley.
Led by Dominique De Light and Vanessa Gebbie guest speakers and workshop leaders will include Alexander Masters, BBC Radio, Radio Reverb, Argus Newspapers and others. Fifteen homeless or otherwise excluded writers particpated in this twelve-week course with New Writing South. 'Writing for a Living' covered writing for radio, journalism, turning experience into fiction, editing and presentation skills. This twelve week course aimed to develop writing skills and demonstrated how it is possible to earn a living as a writer. Writing for a Living was supported by the Global Grant Scheme administered by brighton and Hove City Council.
Points of Play
A series of nine playwrighting workshops led by leading writers,
directors and literary managers to compliment and inspire the
development of a new play.
1.
Ideas, Inspiration and Intent
A workshop to help generate the idea
for your next play.
2.
Finding
the Story
Planning, plotting, situation and story JACK
BRADLEY, Literary Manager at the National Theatre
3. Crafting
Characters that Breathe
Led
by playwright CHLOE MOSS
4.
Form and Structure Led
by MARK WHEATLEY
5.
Entrances and Endings
Looking
at beginnings and endings
of scenes and the tha play
as a whole. Led by FRANCES
STIRK, Literary
Manager, Hampstead Theatre.
6. Dazzling
Dialogue
Led
by TESSA
WALKER
7. So
What's my
Play About?
A
look at themes
and issues
led by KEN
CHRISTIANSEN
8. July
2007 Editing & Redrafting
Finding
the bigger
picture led
by DIANE
SAMUELS
9. D.I.Y
The Writer as the Producer. Let's start HERE.
2006
South Specific 2
A Few Thoughts on Happiness
As the government set up a working party to measure and define
the effect of well being and happiness on society New Writing
South and Farnham Maltings combined forces to theatrically
delve into the concepts of HAPPINESS.
The aim was for writers to work with Gavin Stride and create a number of
versatile short pieces that could be performed as curtain raisers
in venues or at other events. Six Writers: Heather
Dunmore, Jane George, Christine Harmer Brown, Nick Owen, Sean
Tyler and Matthew Wilkie created ten works. They were workshopped
and scratch performed at The Nightingale Theatre Brighton and
are now available.
Rehearsed Readings:
September 2006
Colonel Sir Victor
Barker Bart. DSO
written and directed by Michael Bell
Set in the 1930s Michaels play traces the life of Victor
Barker, a real life woman who lived in Brighton as a man for forty years.
July 2006
The
Bootmakers Daughter by Chris Dixon
Inside Out by Trevor
Harvey (With
Celebrating Age)
June 2006
The
Wrong Kind of Love by David
Allen
May 2006
Husbandry on K by
Mike Sells
What the People
Want by
Kefi Chadwick
Invisible by Louise
Monaghan
Inside Out by Trevor
Harvey
Introduction
to Screen Writing
led by Julie
Everton
Introduction to Playwrighting
Led by Anna
McGrail
Four week course Autumn 2006
Writing Short Stories
led by Catherine
Smith
Four week course Autumn 2006
Writing for Radio
led by Gordon
House
Eight week
course Autumn 2006