... out of the blue, it was commissioned by 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3 to be adapted for The Verb. And I was ecstatic and terrified in equal measure, because I'd never written an audio-drama before.
As 91Èȱ¬ Writers is not, in general, a producing department, partnership is key in achieving our aim of tangible outcomes for writers.
From spring 2021 we are part of the TV Drama Commissioning department in 91Èȱ¬ Public Service, however we regularly partner with other parts of the 91Èȱ¬, for example 91Èȱ¬ Childrens, Children in Need, 91Èȱ¬ Film, 91Èȱ¬ Sounds or Research and Development.
Find out more about What We Do
Alongside our work with internal 91Èȱ¬ partners we have also regularly worked with organisations outside the 91Èȱ¬, including theatres, production companies, charities, Disabled and D/deaf-led organisations and others. In the first ten years of 91Èȱ¬ Writersroom this resulted in successful initiatives including the Royal Court 50 and 24 Degrees schemes. The Northern Exposure scheme partnered with the Everyman and Playhouse in Liverpool, Contact in Manchester, Asian Theatre School in Bradford, West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds and Live Theatre in Newcastle. Outcomes included the Khidhaaar! soap for Bradford. Bollywood Shorts partnered with the BFI on short films for 91Èȱ¬ Four. The scheme was run with Oldham Coliseum and Tamasha Theatre. Partnerships with organisations included the charity Action for Children and the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
More Partnerships
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Awards and Bursaries
Many of our successful partnerships have involved Awards and Bursaries including the Trans Comedy Award, the Wales Writer in Residence, the Hartswood West Award, the Alfred Bradley Bursary and the Popcorn Award for new writing at the Edinburgh Fringe. Find out more about these and other awards and bursaries. -
Cineast
A digital short film programme in 2011 produced by 91Èȱ¬ Writersroom and B3 Media which supported, developed and produced short films from the next wave of emerging writing, directing and acting talent from the UK’s East and Southeast Asian diaspora. Find out more and Watch Now. -
Continuing Drama New Director's Training Scheme
The Continuing Drama New Director's Training Scheme, run by 91Èȱ¬ Writersroom with Directors' UK and ScreenSkills supported early career directors towards their first TV credit on one of the 91Èȱ¬'s continuing TV dramas (EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City, Doctors and from 2016 River City). In 2019 the scheme won a Creative Diversity Network Award for Best Partnership. -
Film Network
Four short dramas from emerging writing and directing talent produced in partnership with 91Èȱ¬ Film Network and Lighthouse Arts in 2009, which premiered at the Encounters Short Film Festival. Turning by Karni + Saul was nominated for a BAFTA, while Wish 143 written by Tom Bidwell was shortlisted for an OSCAR. Find out more and Watch Now. -
The Writers' Access Group
This bi-annual programme is part of the wider 91Èȱ¬'s commitment to reflecting the experiences of the UK’s diverse communities in its output and in order to get more realistic and more authentic portrayals of disabled people on air, as well as interesting and complex views from the disabled community. -
Write Across
In 2022 91Èȱ¬ Writers launched the first Write Across programme, a development scheme in which each iteration focusses on a specific area of the UK. For the first Write Across, we worked closely with various partners in the Liverpool city region to identify fresh talent and create accessible entry points to the 91Èȱ¬ for new writers in the area. Write Across has returned in 2024 with a focus on Birmingham & the Black Country in conjunction with Create Central and local partners. -
Writersroom 10 / The Parade
Writersroom 10 in 2011/12 and 2014/15 supported emerging theatre writers and led to a live showcase, short dramas on The Verb on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 3 and site specific digital theatre on The Space. Find out more and Watch Now.