The Stage

Bolton Octagon praised for encouraging new writing

Published Friday 25 November 2011 at 10:57 by Matthew Hemley

The Everyman Theatre in Cheltenham and the Octagon Theatre in Bolton have been honoured for their encouragement of new writing by the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.

The guild’s awards for the encouragement of new writing, to be presented today at a lunchtime ceremony, were set up by Mark Ravenhill to allow guild members the chance to thank people who have given them a positive experience in new writing over the previous year.

The Octagon Theatre was nominated by Aelish Michael, who praised Elizabeth Newman, an associate director who is responsible for new writing at the venue, for setting up a group for young writers.

The Everyman Writers’ Lab was nominated by Miranda Walker, who praised Paul Milton, who oversees the project, for his “amazing impact on my writing and career”.

Other winners include Cathy Magee, director of Dyslexia Scotland, who was nominated by Lowri Potts. Potts’ play, Lottery, was produced with support from Dyslexia Scotland.

Network Theatre, based in London, also won an award. It was nominated by Susan Hodgetts, who had a play performed by the company in September.

Meanwhile, Theatre Centre and its artistic director Natalie Wilson was nominated by Lisa Evans, who praised the company’s “policy and practice of encouraging and supporting new writing for young people”, while David James, former chair of the theatre committee at the guild, was honoured for setting up a group called Music and Lyrics Musical Theatre Workshop.

Theresa Howard nominated him for teaching her “so much about the craft of musical theatre”.

James was also presented with a special award acknowledging his 11 years as chair of the guild’s theatre committee.