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- Dates Wed 01 Jul 2026 - Fri 03 Jul 2026
- Location Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
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Performances
Performances start from 12:30pm and 3:15pm.
Welcome to The Writers’ Room. Twelve brand new plays by this year’s MA Drama Writers, performed as staged readings at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
From Wednesday 1st – Friday 3rd July, our graduates’ scripts will transport you between Cornish mining villages steeped in myth and magic, the beaches of Yorkshire whaling towns centuries apart, women-only gyms empowering members to avenge injustices, and a Friday night dinner with some very unexpected guests.
Exploring environmental collapse, contemporary Jewish identity, motherhood, faith, who claims our narratives, how we fight to win them back and what it means to reshape the world around us, these diverse new plays ask the most urgent questions about what it is to be alive today.
We can’t wait to welcome you to the school for a fantastic celebration of new writing by our talented students.
Wednesday 1st July
Lucy is a writer from the West Midlands, interested in how storytelling can allow the past to speak to the present (and vice versa). After graduating from the University of Warwick with a First Class degree in History, Lucy has brought her passion for the subject into her creative work.
Wail
Directed by Alys MacGregor
A whale washes up on Whitby beach in 1753 and 2026. Each community must come together to decide its future, before everyone suffocates under its weight.
Free Diver
Directed by Bradley Lomond
A Tudor salvage diver recalls his past while bringing up the cannons of the Mary Rose.
Amelia is a Kent-based writer interested in dark comedy, female-led narratives, power dynamics, and the performance of self through a feminist lens. She has had work performed at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury and The Alma Pub Theatre.
Knockout
Directed by Bella Forshaw
In a women’s gym, three ladies come together over shared grievances. Between kickboxing and zumba classes, they begin quietly plotting revenge against the men who wronged them.
Cat C
Directed by Inge-Vera Lipsius
What does a brick sound like when it hits a man’s skull? Jay can tell you. In a prison class, one strike causes chaos.
Thursday 2nd July
Abby is a writer and director from Manchester. She makes engaging, character-driven work that questions the norms of our world through psychological drama. Drawing on a range of visual and literary media, she uses humour to unearth historical narratives and bring elusive figures into empathetic focus.
Glass Skin
Directed by Cara Crozier-Cole
Theresa has stayed famous by staying opaque. Now, her fans want ‘authenticity,’ and so does her daughter. But reclaiming your narrative is starting to feel a lot like losing control…
In or Out
Directed by Inge-Vera Lipsius
Tracy’s morning self-care routine is interrupted when she thinks her pregnant daughter, Amy, is in danger.
Grace is a writer and director from Scotland. Her work aims to use comedy as a funhouse mirror – reflecting our modern world, but warping it in a humorous manner. Her play Lads of the Flies was nominated for two Scottish Theatre Awards at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe.
Pay-Per-View
Directed by Micha Mirto
Following a highly-publicised falling-out, two former best friends try to settle their differences in the most lucrative way possible. It’s the biggest influencer boxing match in history – and you’re all invited.
Embrace the Stuck
Directed by Bradley Lomond
A military Sergeant reflects on his glory days – bullets, bombs, and the best blowjob he ever had.
Friday 3rd July
Flynn is a Queer, neurodivergent writer and theatremaker from Reading, with a deep interest in folklore, the supernatural, and political themes. After graduating from University of Birmingham, she founded feminist company Dogmouth Theatre and participated in development schemes with NSDF, Headlong, Broken Silence Theatre, Omnibus Theatre, and BFI Script Labs.
Mine
Directed by Cleo Nester
There’s something buried beneath this village. Something other than tin… This is a story about a haunted land, a stranger at the crossroads, a forgotten past and a terrifying future.
The Fence
Directed by Bradley Lomond
On the edge of a cultist compound, Mary Ash struggles to keep a secret from Mary Star. Is a mother’s love stronger than fear of God’s vengeance?
Emily Duchen is a writer and comedy performer from North West London. Her work aims to unsettle the audience through humour, exposing the relationship between language and power and exploring the difficulty of carving out your identity. She trained in stand up with the Soho Theatre Comedy Lab.
She Threw Her Knickers at Kneecap
Directed by Elena Wolfson
After a whirlwind tour with Kneecap and new boyfriend Mo Chara, Evie’s broke and back at Mum’s. As Friday night dinner turns sour, can a H O O D survive in Hampstead Garden Suburb?
Butterfly
Directed by Inge-Vera Lipsius
As bombs rain down on the English countryside, Willow starts swimming and never stops.
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Content Advisories
Contains mature and sensitive content
Suitable for ages 14+
