Coronavirus: Playwrights Tanika Gupta and Simon Stephens to feature in Wildcard webinars

Playwrights Tanika Gupta and Simon Stephens will feature in a series of free webinars announced by theatre company Wildcard.

The webinars form part of a six-month digital programme announced by the company to support artists during the Covid-19 crisis.

Covering different aspects of theatremaking, the series begins on May 16 with a webinar led by playwright and dramaturg Patrick Hughes. Other artists confirmed to lead webinars include director Ned Bennett, playwright Oladipo Agboluaje and dramaturg Deirdre O’Halloran.

In addition to the webinars, Wildcard has also opened submissions for a new online play reading scheme, which will culminate in three fully rehearsed play readings.

The recordings will be performed online and made free to the public. Viewers will have the chance to offer feedback to the chosen writers at the end of each session via an online form.

Submissions are open from May 11 to 25, and should be emailed to Wildcard. The first play reading will take place on May 29 at 1.30pm.

Wildcard has also announced it will be streaming its production of Electrolyte online for free in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation to mark the charity’s mental health awareness week from May 18 to 24. The production will be available online here.

Additionally, director of Electrolyte Donnacadh O’Briain will continue to run his Weekly Acting Workout workshops online on a pay-what-you-can basis and Wildcard’s podcast will continue with upcoming episodes featuring producer Richard Jordan and MP Tracy Brabin.

James Meteyard, artistic director of Wildcard, said: "These are challenging times and it’s clear that as an industry we have to adapt to survive.

"We’re thrilled to be able to announce our Full House programme: an ambitious scheme of digital work that focuses on skills sharing and artist development.

"At its core is connection with one other and growing together during a time that feels determined to drive us apart. We hope that, wherever anyone is, they enjoy engaging with our work, whether as watchers of Electrolyte, participants in the workshops, or simply just downloading the podcast."