In 2013, BOLDtext Playwrights initiated discussions with Birmingham REP about presenting New Writing nights, and the OPEN DOOR initiative emerged. We pioneered it by presenting eight individual pieces of work-in-progress to a growing regional audience hungry for new work that reflected their lives. Click ‘continue reading’ or scroll down for older posts about the shows.Continue reading “Open Door at The REP”
Tag Archives: Vanessa Oakes
Bolder, Better, Brilliant
We’ve come a long way since we started in 2014. Beginning in The DOOR at the Birmingham Rep, we’ve burst out onto the streets of Digbeth, into the garden of a mansion, and even taken over a jail. We figured it’s about time we wrote down what it is we do. Read our manifesto below.Continue reading “Bolder, Better, Brilliant”
Follow Me
In summer 2019 it was anounced that the Birmingham Weekender would be going ahead. Planned for the beginning of October, it left us with less than three months to devise, pitch, and produce a show for the festival. To find out what we came up with click ‘continue reading’ or scroll down for older posts.Continue reading “Follow Me”
Behind Bars: Ghosts of the Lock-Up
Our first site-specific production, Behind Bars took place within the walls of a 130 year-old Victorian prison. Kicking off with nine performances in October 2018, the show’s notoriety got it sent back to the clink for a further twelve performances the following year. Click ‘continue reading’ or scroll down for older posts about the show.Continue reading “Behind Bars: Ghosts of the Lock-Up”
Playwright in need of a break
My career as a playwright has not been textbook – there have been no award ceremonies, commissions from prestigious venues, publications and/or much financial reward (so far). It took a nudge from Alan Sillitoe* to convince me to commit to a full-time life as a playwright. We had a cup of tea together before I chairedContinue reading “Playwright in need of a break”
Why opera?
Last month, our own Vanessa Oakes and Sayan Kent held an online conversation exploring why they had decided to create Her Day Opera for the upcoming Coventry City of Culture. In this blog, Vanessa reflects on their experience so far and the many questions raised during the session, particularly on how participants felt about goingContinue reading “Why opera?”
See you in 2019 for ‘The Sentence’
It’s been quite a year for BOLDtext Playwrights with our first ever site-specific show Behind Bars: Ghosts of the Lock-Up selling out this autumn. Thank you to everyone who came and gave their support. Our fascination with crime and punishment continues with The Sentence, three new hard-hitting short plays from some of region’s foremost writers – LizContinue reading “See you in 2019 for ‘The Sentence’”
Murder, she wrote…
Our new show ‘Behind Bars: Ghosts of the Lock-Up’ runs from the 19th-21st October for nine performances only. Taking a theatrical journey through Birmingham’s Steelhouse Lane Lock-Up, it will raise spirits from the prison’s past. Vanessa Oakes writes about one of them… I’ve been writing about a murder. A murder involving two real life PeakyContinue reading “Murder, she wrote…”
ALL IS WELL
After its DOUBLED UP reading at The REP last year, BOLDtext’s Vanessa Oakes is previewing her new play ALL IS WELL in Coventry and Birmingham this May. aleks told me that you can smell fear… people sweat it out bit by bit and then other people smell the fear and they start to sweat… and soContinue reading “ALL IS WELL”
7 hours at Astley Castle in pictures
Liz and Vanessa arrive at Astley Castle to set up for our ‘Write What You Know Workshop’. One of the grander workshop venues we have encountered so far. Fingers crossed that the weather holds… …because this is our view of the ceiling. At tea break we all retired to Astley Reading Rooms for tea/coffee (andContinue reading “7 hours at Astley Castle in pictures”
BOLDtext Playwrights 