imagine if theatre company - Writers’ Toolbox 2
imagine if theatre company is offering an incredible, accessible opportunity for female identifying working-class writers over 18.
Writers’ Toolbox 2 is a six-month paid programme, starting in April in Leeds. The focus will be on writing for stage and screen and supporting women to begin working on a new piece of writing as well as giving them the tools to secure funding to produce their own work. We want to support writers of all levels of experience, who have distinctive voices and incredible stories to tell.
The programme will explore some of the fundamental writing tools and techniques needed when scriptwriting and there will be advice on how grant funding works, how to apply for it, how to manage budgets and how to produce your own work. This will culminate in a pitch event to industry professionals with the aim of getting support from theatre, TV and film companies– both financial and through mentoring and networking opportunities.
Award winning, Leeds based TV and stage writer, Mark Catley will be leading Writers’ Toolbox 2. Mark’s written for many popular TV shows such as Eastenders, Casualty, Call the Midwife and Holby City. He even won a BAFTA for Best Soap and Continuing Drama, for his work on Eastenders! He’s also written and adapted several plays for Leeds Playhouse including Sherlock Holmes: The Best Kept Secret, Scuffer, Crap Dad, and Sunbeam Terrace.
Writers’ Toolbox 2 is being run as a legacy to Chesca Joy, imagine if’s Artistic Director (pictured at the top of the page), who sadly died last year, and who devised and implemented the original project.
Chesca was committed to supporting the most vulnerable people in society and she helped to change people’s lives through the arts by telling the stories of some of society’s most disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. As a working-class woman and lead artist at imagine if, who struggled to find a foothold in the theatre industry, Chesca felt passionately that she wanted to create an opportunity to support working class female-identifying writers.
imagine if are delighted to continue her amazing legacy through Writers’ Toolbox 2 and we encourage applications from women who have lived experience of the care system or criminal justice system.
The deadline for applications is 7 March 2025. For more information and details on how to apply for this amazing opportunity, visit the website here.