ACCELERATE SHOWCASE

As I look back on my time with the Accelerate Programme by Box of Tricks, I can’t help but feel it all went by so fast — but at the same time, the relationships have been built, and our work continues in parallel, so perhaps it’s not all over!

The Accelerate Programme began in January 2024 and was designed to champion and develop Northern playwrights over 12 months. The culmination of this journey was a sell-out showcase at HOME in Manchester, as part of PUSH Festival! Seeing my piece, Half The World Away, come to life on stage in front of an audience — directed by Hannah Tyrell-Pinder and performed by Lauren Nicole Mayes and Karlan Sweet — was an absolute joy. Their incredible talent and dedication brought the story to life in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and the energy in the room from the audience was amazingly encouraging.

As someone who came to theatre writing a little later than most, the programme has given me greater confidence, more connections, and a deeper understanding of how to push my work further in this field. I’ve also had the pleasure of working alongside 12 other playwrights throughout the project, and I’m thrilled to have expanded my community. Writing is often a solitary endeavor, so the collective encouragement this group provides is invaluable.

Half The World Away now continues its development, and I’m excited to see where the show goes next…