As our Accelerate Programme for Northern writers aged 35+ draws to a close, and we gear up for the Accelerate Showcase at our PlayMakers Takeover at HOME Mcr in the New Year, our brilliant playwrights reflect on the last nine months...
"As I have undergone cancer treatment and then dealt with the consequences, the intellectual challenge of creative writing has given me a focus and allowed me to escape... The Accelerate programme has meant I can connect with other writers, be inspired by them, learn from them and the Box of Tricks team, and be part of a creative community in the city."
"The programme has been full of insights—learning from my peers, discovering new processes, and hearing from industry professionals about how projects like this take shape. It's definitely provided hope at a point industry is having a challenging time."
"Being older brings understanding and dedication to writing but also clarity about the impact of those missing years of career development... Accelerate gave us the vital space we needed to maintain our identities as writers who were taken seriously."
"Without Accelerate's commitment to me as a playwright over the past 9 months I highly doubt this year I'd have created the sacred space to write, and develop my idea from a short One-Act play, into a fully realised one."
"This year I have experienced insightful industry talks, thought-provoking theatre trips, joyful Zoom writing sessions, but most importantly, gained wonderful new friends and become part of a new community of playwrights."
"My biggest win has been meeting other like-minded people to talk about your ideas about theatre and writing and feeling really supported."
"Since January, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and spending time with eleven amazing humans whose experiences and talent is inspiring, and their joy of writing is infectious. When I’m with the Accelerate group it’s ok to be not ok, it’s ok to doubt and it’s even better to celebrate our successes."
"Being a female playwright over the age of 40, you can feel a bit invisible in the theatre industry. I’ve seen so many pots of funding that have an age limit, which completely disregards the fact that writers often come to it later in life, due to so many reasons, such as class issues or caring responsibilities."
"Accelerate has given this year momentum. Month by month we got to know each other as writers, shared our experience and deepened our industry knowledge...Having MS, Accelerate also helped me explore how to prioritise my writing over a longer timeframe."
"Had it not been for this programme, I would have put my writing on the back seat and cracked on with life... But because I was part of this programme, I got feedback on my ideas and writing to keep me going... It keeps me being a writer."
"Accelerate gives you what you need before you know you need it: access to work/rehearsal space, expertise, advice, and a network of incredible fellow travellers who generously share their time and knowledge."
"I applied for the program because I wanted the experience of working with Box of Tricks who develop many artists and work I admire - in particular local artists. They have provided a comfortable and creative space where we discuss our ideas about work, plays, and navigating creative industries."
PlayMakers Takeover @ HOME Mcr | Sat 25 January 2025
The Accelerate Showcase will feature extracts from 12 diverse, funny, surprising, bold, brand spanking new stories. You don’t want to miss it!
Supported by:
