Birmingham born writers, Robin French and Rachel De-Lahay are to join Birmingham Repertory Theatre as Writers-In-Residence for a 12 month period.
Rachel De Lahay
As Pearson Playwright In Residence, Rachel De-Lahay will be both writing and working with the company running workshops and masterclasses and assisting with the company’s artist professional development programme, REP Foundry. The Pearson Playwrights’ Scheme was originally established by Thames Television in 1973 to encourage new writers in the theatre. Pearson took on the scheme in 1994 and offers bursaries to new writers. Over the past 40 years, the Pearson Playwrights’ Scheme has supported and helped launch some of Britain’s finest playwriting talent.
Robin French
Robin French, whose first major theatre commission for The REP Heather Gardner a new version of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, premiered at the Old Rep Theatre in March, will also run workshops and contribute to the artistic life of the building. In his addition to his theatre writing, Robin, who has twice been named a ‘Hotshot’ by Broadcast, is currently writing the screenplay for the David Bowie and Iggy Pop biopic, Lust for Life and also writing a second series of the acclaimed BBC 3 series, Cuckoo.
Tessa Walker, The REP’s Associate Director said: “Both Robin and Rachel have vivid, bold voices that are born out of Birmingham as a young diverse city. The city has played a huge part in their journey in theatre and both are fantastic writers who are passionate about making work for our audiences and putting the Birmingham voice on stage.
They will be with the company at a significant moment as we celebrate our centenary and look forward to reopening our newly refurbished theatre. We really look forward to working with them and seeing their work come to fruition.”
Charlene James
Also starting a shorter residency at The REP will be writer Charlene James as part of the theatre’s partnership with the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. The REP has worked in partnership with the Trust since 2011 with the aims of using theatre to raise awareness around mental ill-health and wellbeing, to reduce stigma and to engage mental health service users in the life of the theatre.
As part of this collaboration, playwright Charlene James will take part in a Mental Health Playwriting Residency. From April to July Charlene will work in a variety of mental health settings with service users, their families and staff. Based on her work, conversations and experiences in these settings Charlene will create a new play that will be performed in a rehearsed reading at Bedlam: A Festival of Mad Ideas at the newly re-opened Birmingham Repertory Theatre in November alongside Mess by Caroline Horton and The Anatomy of Melancholy by Birmingham theatre company Stan’s Cafe.