Member Article

North East writers learn from BBC expert

30 of the best writers in the North East gathered at Newcastle’s Live Theatre on Thursday 12 June to hear the BBC’s Controller of Drama Production Studios deliver his top 25 tips on writing TV Drama for the BBC.

The one-day event was organised as part of Northern Film & Media’s annual North East Voices Scheme which is run in partnership with BBC writersroom. Writers attending the session have been nominated by regional new writing partners including New Writing North, Live Theatre, BBC Drama Scotland as well as those shortlisted for the NE Voices scheme.

Northern Film & Media’s Training and Development Manager, Victoria Johnson, said: “It is a real coup to be able to link regional talent to key industry figures such as John Yorke. Writing is key to the success of any story and the North East has enjoyed a proud tradition of producing writers over the years. “It is encouraging to see a new and emerging crop of talented North East writers set for national exposure.”

Katherine Beacon, BBC writersroom’s Project Manager for the North of England, said: “We are delighted to continue our successful creative partnership with Northern Film & Media. This training model has proved itself a genuine route for regional writing talent into BBC Television Drama; we believe that continuing to support and nurture new writing talent in the region in this way makes real sense.”

North East Voices will run until April 2009 and will be a combination of seminars, remote working, group workshops and specially arranged one to one meetings with Michael Chaplin, who has written for TV productions such as Monarch of the Glen, Foyle’s War, Wild at Heart, Dalziel and Pascoe and Grafters.

For more about the North East Voices Scheme, visit www.northernmedia.org or the BBC writersroom.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .