Dramas in a crisis: England’s theatres commit to new plays at perilous time for arts

In an industry often focused on young debut talent, companies are using creative methods to nurture playwrights of all ages and experiences

It is really, really awful for playwrights at the moment," says Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder, co-artistic director of new writing company Box of Tricks. Amid declining commissions and threatened literary departments, there has been a flurry of dire pronouncements about playwriting, with much of the discussion focused on London. Away from the capital, however, smaller companies are finding creative ways to support playwrights.

In Manchester, Box of Tricks has brought together hundreds of northern writers through its PlayMakers Network, initially set up as a response to the pandemic. The network offers support, guidance, feedback and connection, as well as providing free hot-desking and workshopping space for members. It runs targeted schemes for playwrights, the most recent of which is Accelerate: a nine-month development programme for northern writers over 35, culminating in work-in-progress performances at Home in January.