Covid has not stopped INK inspiring short new play writing and serving the community who support us.
Since April we have posted ‘Writers’ Top Tips’ on social media, from many of our fabulous INK writers, and invited submissions for new monologues and duologues for actors to record. Over 500 scripts were submitted, performed by over 100 actors, which for 8 months have been broadcast every weekday, on BBC Radio Suffolk reaching many thousands of listeners. These have been hugely successful and are performed by actors fresh from drama school, as well as seasoned hands such as Juliet Stevenson, Miranda Hart and David Morrissey. Since September, a new digital radio station, East Suffolk One Radio, has been broadcasting them twice each day.
We have run a plethora of workshops on Zoom for INKlings (Under 13s), teenagers, and the over 60’s, resulting in some fabulous new work performed by actors online. A selection of these scripts will be also show-cased at the INK Festival 2021.
This Winter we are delighted to be working with the wonderful Alde Valley Festival to produce site-specific radio plays by INK writers – about Suffolk Punch horses. These scripts will be recorded and played during the Festival in their old stables! And, as Christmas approaches, we have a new festive play writing initiative with our partners BBC Radio Suffolk.
The most positive and encouraging news is the support we have received from you, our friends, Aviva, The Suffolk Foundation and Ecclesiastical’s Movement for Good Award, amongst many – where would be without all this generosity? Thank you for believing in us.
In brief, we are here, still standing, still inspiring, and looking forward to the INK Festival 2021. Different, bigger and even better! And will be using new innovative performing spaces such as a car showroom, an old chapel, the Rifle Hall, a pub, and local shop spaces on Halesworth’s main thoroughfare. This not only adheres to Covid guidelines, but connects us firmly to our community.
We look forward to welcoming you to The INK Festival, Halesworth, Suffolk April 8th – 11th 2021.
Please join us!
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But for now – Enjoy listening to our daily performances on East Suffolk One and BBC Radio Suffolk until the New Year