Early Career Writers Group, led by Ross Willis
Alongside the Five Year Commitment, Bristol Old Vic’s ambition to support Early Career playwrights took a leap forward today with the announcement of the four writers who have joined the theatre’s inaugural Early Career Writers Group.
In July, applications opened to writers based in the South West to take part in a new free-to-access programme hosted by Bristol Old Vic and led by local playwright Ross Willis (Wolfie, Wonder Boy) to support those at the very beginning of their career to take bold next steps with their practice.
Roxana Vilk is an Iranian/British musician, actor and filmmaker. At the heart of her process is collaboration and an inclusive practice. She has worked with a wide variety of UK communities, as well as internationally across post-war zones, to create work around the themes of roots, heritage, belonging and identity.
Roxana says: “I am a multi-disciplinary theatre-maker by nature and I’ve made work in all sorts of different forms but I am so excited to focus and develop my craft as a playwright. I have so much to say and I am looking forward to learning lots and being inspired!”
Sukina Noor, Erin Peacock, Raynor Taylor and Roxana Vilk are the first cohort of this scheme and are working with BOV from December 2024 to May 2025. (Applications for the 2025-26 cohort will open in July 2025.)
Sukina Noor is the current Bristol City Poet (2024-2026). She has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, America and Africa and is currently on the board of Black Creatives Bristol. Sukina wrote her first play Afropean / Human Being that premiered at the Royal Flemish Theatre in Brussels in Feb 2020. Her debut poetry collection Love and Longing: Yearning for the Face of God was released in October 2023 and her spoken word album of the same name will be released in the Spring of 2025.
Sukina says: "Theatre was one of the earliest ways I came to understand how the arts can be transformative and transportive, opening portals to different worlds and realities. As a poet I am used to telling my own stories and capturing the exhales of my heart, but theatre is a newer territory that I’d like to learn more about, so I am so excited for this opportunity.”
Erin Peacock is a writer of dark comedy. Originally from Peterborough, she now lives in Bristol and is driven to uncover our universal foibles, through and close observation and sly humour, often interrogating class identity, strained family dynamics and, mostly, death.
Erin says: “I’m most looking forward to the freedom of experimenting with playwriting for the first time, as well as experiencing the joy of creating new work alongside other South West creatives.”
Raynor Taylor comes from a film background is a dedicated writer and filmmaker, passionate about highlighting social concerns in modern society. Raynor's work has gained recognition in prestigious industry competitions, and she is a proud alumni member of The Network at the Edinburgh Film and TV Festival.
Raynor says: “I've spent years sat in the front row watching and observing the different art forms staged at the Bristol Old Vic, pen and pad geekily in hand.Theatre is raw, reactive and leaves you no place to hide. I honestly feel privileged that I get to write about the experiences I’m passionate about representing. I’ve been waiting to breathe life into these characters, and I could not be in better hands than with the Bristol Old Vic.”
Ben Atterbury, Literary Manager of Bristol Old Vic says: “We couldn’t be prouder to be announcing these four incredible writers today for our inaugural Early Career Writers Group. We received over 200 applications for this first group; a demonstration of both the demand and strength of the talent pool here in the South West. Erin, Raynor, Roxana and Sukina are all extraordinary voices who are just beginning their journey and we couldn’t be happier to be giving them a home for the next six months. They’re being led through this programme in inspiring fashion by the inimitable Ross Willis; a writer that we are so lucky to have here with us in Bristol. Their first few sessions have already been completely extraordinary and an absolute hoot; we can’t wait to see what comes next.”
https://www.bristol247.com/culture/theatre/bristol-old-vic-champions-new-cohort-of-writers-for-residency-programme/
