Traverse and Channel 4 join forces to put stage plays on screen

Published Tuesday 21 August 2007 at 16:25 by Matthew Hemley

Channel 4 and the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh have agreed a £300,000 deal giving the broadcaster first look at plays that have the potential to be brought to the screen.

The partnership also gives Channel 4 access to new writers and directors, who will work with the broadcaster’s drama department and Film 4, the broadcaster’s film unit, to explore working in broadcasting.

The aim is to enable emerging theatre talent to follow in the footsteps of other playwrights turned screenwriters, such as The Last King of Scotland writer Peter Morgan, and directors Richard Eyre and Mike Leigh.

Channel 4 drama and Film 4 will also send two directors to work at the theatre to improve their understanding of working in a theatre and with actors.

Earlier this week, the theatre held a debate about the crossover between theatre and film, chaired by Leigh and featuring screenwriter Simon Donald.

The Traverse Theatre recently received critical acclaim for Black Watch, a co-production with the National Theatre of Scotland, which is based on interviews with soldiers serving in Iraq. The show won a Stage Award at last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.