Support scheme for writers from low-income backgrounds launches

An East London theatre company is helping writers from low-income backgrounds develop their craft with a new playwriting award.

The Squint Playwriting Award will provide professional development opportunities for 10 early-career playwrights from low-income backgrounds.

A six-month education programme will offer mentorship, workshops and masterclasses. 

To ensure that financial barriers are removed, participants will be paid London Living Wage for all contact hours during the programme, plus expenses. Bursaries for access costs are also available.

Following an industry showcase at Theatre Royal Stratford East on 3 November, one participant will be awarded a Writers' Guild of Great Britain one-act play commission, to realise their first full-length play.

This will include a fee of £6,110 and six months of additional mentorship and dramaturgical support.

Andrew Whyment, Artistic Director of Squint, and Lee Anderson, Literary Associate of Squint, said: "It’s the talented playwrights who struggle to pay bills and have to work second and third jobs just to scrape by, who are often the first to leave our industry.

"So we’re doing something about it. Our programme will discover, develop and champion 10 exceptional playwrights of the future.”

Applications are open now and close on 8 May.