Top writers to fell their own story at unique event

Cracker creator Jimmy McGovern, who also wrote the ITV drama about the Hillsborough disaster, Comedians author and Oscar nominee Trevor Griffiths, and John Godber, best known for his play Bouncers and his work with the Hull Truck Theatre Company, are in town next month.

It is part of the Little Theatre’s second Doncaster Writers’ Festival.

The organisers hope that Fat Friends and Band of Gold creator Kaye Mellor will also make an appearance.

Last year’s successful festival featured appearances by Reggie Perrin writer David Nobbs and poet Ian MacMillan.

Ron Rose, one of the festival’s organisers and an acclaimed script writer who has written for Coronation Street and The Bill, said: “Doncaster really deserves to have writers of this standard come to town.

“Hopefully their workshops will encourage writers in the town.

“It’s an absolutely unique festival - there isn’t another festival devoted to scriptwriting anywhere else in the UK.

“Most of the writers are friends of mine and it’s great to be able to use my contacts to heighten Doncaster’s profile.”

Other guests at the festival, September 24-29, include Debbie Horsfield, writer of TV dramas Sex, Chips and Rock n’ Roll, Cutting It and True, Dare, Kiss, and writer and theatre director Gwenda Hughes.

Gwenda’s new production of Michael Frayn’s Noises Off opens at the Oldham Coliseum in September.

Also putting in an appearance is Peter Whalley, author of more 40 radio plays, two stage plays and 10 novels.

He is one of the senior writers on Coronation Street.

Kevin Spence of The Little Theatre said: “This is a real coup for Doncaster, you very rarely get a group of writers of this calibre gathered together. It’s fantastic for the town and for anyone interested in the arts.”

The organisers expect to add more names to the line-up. For details call 01302 340422.