Let's talk high stakes.
Everyone knows that actors must, night after night, courageously perform on a stage, under lights, in front of shadowed audiences. But what about playwrights? Those who craft the stories. Though their vulnerabilities are often overlooked, playwrights too, will regularly subject their most cherished creative efforts to the scrutiny of audiences and critics alike.
No wonder, then, that strong mentor-mentee partnerships to support playwrights have been the basis of theatre training since the days of Aeschylus.
A good mentor is invaluable to anyone who is serious about theatre. I was certainly no exception. As a neurodivergent woman trying to break into the world of theatre, the mentors I had during my time at LAMDA and during my 20 years in the business were key to kickstarting my career. Was it easy? No. But it was a lot easier with mentors lifting me up, encouraging me, and giving me those much-needed deadlines!
Too many promising playwrights never get this crucial guidance and practical help. And that needs to change. A mentor offers an essential steer on the writing process, but also acts as crucial psychological ballast for a budding playwright. They spur them on, encouraging and convincing them that their story is worth telling. And mentors, being industry veterans, are keenly familiar with the nuts-and-bolts of how a play is staged. Without this essential help and advice, many potential playwrights are left to languish. To me, this is the real tragedy – not just for these writers, but for theatre.
This needs to change. In 2024 I set up PowerPlay: a bespoke service that gets the work of new playwrights performed. Our clients represent all walks of life, from the corporate world to academia and retirees. We mentor aspiring playwrights through the drafting process and handle all aspects of production so that their play can be performed for one night on a London stage. This is ‘bucket list’ stuff, and it's magical. Having benefited so much from mentorship myself, I'm thrilled to now be able to do the same for others, sharing my theatrical experience with people who are passionate about theatre and ready to take their play from blank page to stage.
As with any mentor, my role, and the role of the PowerPlay mentors is to give each writer the cheerleading, practical guidance, and heartfelt encouragement to see their work on stage. The rest is up to them.