You are cordially invited to an online presentation of fresh, determined voices in theatre who are re-defining the ‘mainstream’ narrative with provocations for social justice, multi-layered identities and their own disabled-led storytelling. 

The event will feature eight short films showing excerpts of new work written by each of the amazing Wellspring Writers in the past few months:

Static, by Paula Brett

Merrineum, by Victoria Taylor-Roberts 

Rock the Casbah, by Fatima Serghini

Kummerspeck or And She Reaches Towards Me, by Lilac Yosiphon

Us First, by Robbie Curran

Choking Hazard, by Nicole Latchana

Fighting Bitch Me, by Gabrielle MacPherson

Vampires in South London, by Carmen D’ Cruz

The list above has been updated to reflect the order in which the films will be shown at the event.

The pieces will be directed by Simon Startin and Guest Directors, Stephen Collins (Kummerspeck or And She Reaches Towards Me) and Kate Lovell (Choking Hazard and Fighting Bitch Me).

The event will take place on Zoom, at 3pm, on Wednesday 8 June.

You can register via Eventbrite to receive the link closer to the time.

The films will be BSL Interpreted and captioned. 

Please note that some films include references to themes that may be triggering: suicide, rape, assault, death, mental health crisis, body image, electroconvulsive therapy, racism, homophobia and vampirism.

What is Wellspring?

Wellspring has been an exciting journey supporting a very promising cohort for the future of theatre. We cannot think of a better way to give you a flavour of this journey than through the Writers' own words.

Read on!

Wellspring is...

...a new community of disabled writers:

"I joined Wellspring the hope that working with likeminded creatives, who had also faced challenges due to their differences, would permit me an authenticity that I had not previously felt free to express. I was not disappointed." 

Victoria Taylor-Roberts

"I feel now that my writing is enhanced by my autistic experience rather than limited by it. It was really refreshing to be asked to engage with what I like, enjoy, and wish to see, and to feel able to have fun and enjoy my work."

Paula Brett

"Wellspring has been so much more stress-free than other schemes or groups I've been on. It's been accepting, gracious and so welcoming. And everyone's a good egg too! That lightness of touch is something I will carry on in my writing from now on, and is definitely helping me to enjoy writing so much more now! 

Robbie Curran

It has been a highlight to meet an astonishingly talented bunch of people and be part of such a wonderfully supportive community. It really feels like we have found and created a safe space. I feel privileged to be part of it.

Gabrielle MacPherson

"I wanted to join Wellspring so I could be with a group of people who also wanted to talk about theatre. And write plays for days on days and more importantly, to be encouraged to spend more time at my writing desk."

Fatima Serghini

Wellspring is...

... a vehicle for provocations and positive sector change:

"It feels a bit like a broken record to say this in 2022, but I wish the theatre world was more accessible. There’s no shortage of talent but there is a severe shortage of opportunity and it is still overwhelmingly straight, white, male, middle class, able bodied and neurotypical."

Carmen D’ Cruz 

"How can I avoid the situation of sending a script in English which says in BSL in brackets before almost each line? How do we as writers still have agency to make these choices in a way which serves our artistic expression?"

Lilac Yosiphon

"You don’t need to change yourself to fit in to any structure, you’re allowed to make up the rules and talk about what you need. The more we advocate for ourselves, the more people will listen."

Nicole Latchana

Go to the Wellspring Writers' Blog to read more about each Writer's experience in the programme, their aspirations for the sector, top tips for playwrights looking for professional development and a sneak peak into the plays they have been writing for Wellspring. 

Wellspring, supported with funding from City Bridge Trust, has provided bespoke professional development support to London-based disabled, d/Deaf and Neurodivergent playwrights. The 2021 - 2022 programme has been delivered in partnership with mentors from the Bush Theatre, Hampstead Theatre, Paines Plough and Theatre503.   

Read more about Wellspring.