A Celebration of New Writing at Number 8
Posted on Feb 26, 2024Pens at the ready! Number 8 in Pershore are all set for a celebration of new writing. The arts centre will be giving audiences the opportunity to enjoy work from new writers, or have a go at writing themselves, in a programme of events taking place in March and April. The line-up includes a performance of the play Diary of a Badminton Player from up and coming Worcester based playwright Steve Wilson, a poetry/spoken word, and a playwriting workshop, and a Truth & Lies Showcase performance event.
Themed around ‘truth’ and ‘lies’ the workshops are open to anyone who would like to try their hand at creative writing, no previous experience is required. The aim is to create ideas that will be developed further to become final pieces for performance. Places can be booked via Number 8, the fee for each workshop is £10.
Lead by playwright Steve Wilson the Playwriting – ‘Lies’ workshop on Saturday 16 March, 10am will focus on writing dialogue, and how by using falsehoods you can write dynamic scripts and text without worrying about telling the audience facts and back story. Steve is the Co-Director of Crave Arts, a Worcestershire based arts and cultural organisation.
In the Poetry – ‘Truth’ workshop on Saturday 16 March, 1.30pm prize-winning poet Sarah James will invite participants to explore how writers can use truths and tension in poetry and spoken word. Participants will look at techniques for enhancing poems intended for performance and draw on truths from their own life or imagination as inspiration for producing new poems and spoken word pieces. Sarah is the author of nine poetry titles, a hypertext poetry narrative, two novellas and a touring poetry-play.
The celebrations continue with the performance of the one-man play Diary of a Badminton Player on Friday 26 April, 7.30pm. Written and performed by Steve Wilson the play is a heartfelt and quirky comedy about a busy middle-aged man facing the difficulties of ageing and trying to maintain his status as Worcester’s top badminton celebrity. Tickets priced at £12 are on sale now.
The celebrations reach their finale on Saturday 27 April, 7.30pm with the Truth & Lies Showcase an exciting performance event featuring poetry, spoken word and writing for the stage that was created in the workshops, performed live on stage by the creators and local actors. Tickets cost just £8.
Emma Bangham, Programme Manager at Number 8 states, “We are so excited to be celebrating new writing at Number 8 and to be offering aspiring poets and playwrights the opportunity to develop their ideas and see them performed live on stage!”
The celebration of new writing at Number 8 is supported by the Elmley Foundation. Tickets for the workshops, play and showcase are available now from Number 8 Box Office on 01386 555488 or can be booked online at www.number8.org