FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR FORUM’S PLAYWRIGHT PROJECT
By Catherine Ming | Dec 12, 2024 | News
The Millennium Forum has just announced the finalists for its ‘Playwright Project 2025’. Budding local playwrights, Donal McDermott, Roisin Doherty, Marzia Bozoni, Michael McLaughlin, Peter McCauley, Philip Henry, Meghan McLoone and Gary Breslin will each be mentored by award-winning local playwright, Brian Foster, over the coming months to develop their plays for the stage. Towards the end of the project, one final script will be chosen which will then be professionally produced by Millennium Forum Productions for performances that will be staged as part of the theatre’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
Aimed at giving local prospective writers a unique opportunity to develop their own ideas and script for the stage, this exciting two-year project led by the Millennium Forum will see the final eight budding playwrights work alongside Brian Foster, one of the leading playwrights in Ireland, whose work has performed to standing ovations not only at the Forum, but worldwide, including performances in New York, the prestigious Edinburgh Festival and the West End.
David McLaughlin, Chief Executive of the Millennium Forum, is looking forward to beginning the project. He says:
“Well done to everyone who has made the final shortlist. The standard for entries was exceptionally high and we were truly overwhelmed at the response; we had over 70 exceptional scripts entered, all of which were very different, so it was a hugely difficult task to pick the final few for further development. This project was designed not only to explore the level of interest in playwriting but encourage new writing and we really hope to continue the project in the future. It has shown us there is significant enthusiasm and talent in this field throughout the North West and everyone who entered and, indeed, the final eight, should all be proud of their achievements to date. We are excited about the potential for future initiatives and are committed to supporting new writers and nurturing new talent with the Arts.”
Brian Foster added:
“I’m delighted to be involved in this important scheme with the Millennium Forum which will present a fantastic opportunity for a fledgling writer to make their breakthrough on the big stage.”
The eight finalists will now meet on a regular basis, working with Brian Foster for approximately 6-8 months. As the development programme evolves, a panel of experts, led by Brian, will select one writer to work with further and more intensely throughout the latter part of 2025, resulting in a professional main stage production at the Millennium Forum in 2026. The successful writer will also be awarded a commission of £3,000 to assist with the final development of the piece.
ENDS