Accelerate is Box of Tricks’ new development programme for Northern playwrights aged over 35. Twelve writers have been supported to develop the first draft of a new script and make a step change in their creative practice. The Accelerate Showcase will feature extracts from 12 diverse, funny, surprising, bold, brand spanking new stories. You don’t want to miss it!
Caitlin Clough
Actor, Theatre Maker & Writer Read bioCaitlin is an actor, theatre maker and writer. Recent projects include In Parallel’s research and development for You Can Have it All Can’t You? (as an actor), A Play About Sex/Sex Play with HFH Productions (as a playwright) and Matrafisc Dance Show (as a dancer). She is also an activist; a core team member at Girl Gang Manchester; Associate Theatre Practitioner at the Ariel Trust in Liverpool; and founding member of March for the Arts.
Sujana Crawford
Poet, Playwright & Researcher Read bioSujana is a multilingual poet, playwright and researcher. Her work has been featured in various magazines and anthologies, and plays have been developed in collaboration with BBC Radio 4 and Warwick Arts Centre, among others. In her day job, Sujana works as a UX Researcher. She currently lives in Yorkshire.
Susan Hunter Downer
Writer & Facilitator Read bioSusan was born in Birmingham, England, to Jamaican parents. She read while walking, wrote instead of sleeping, and slowly meandered into journalism, PR, creative writing, and group facilitation. She is aiming to write her first full-length stage play this year.
Mike Kaloski-Naylor
Writer & Performer Read bioMike has devised and performed interactive street shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and performed in Escape to Derwent Island (Field Trip Arts). He worked at TheatreWorks and the South West New Writing Network, was a script-reader for the Ustinov Studio, and has had various roles at Arts Council England.
Mhairi Ledegerwood
Playwright Read bioMhairi has had work performed at The Royal Court, The Traverse, Northern Stage, Live Theatre, and Alphabetti. Mhairi has been shortlisted for Theatre 503’s International Playwriting Award, received a Live Theatre Bursary, and part of BBC’s North East Voices. In 2023, she was awarded a seed commission from The Bush Theatre.
Ginni Manning
Playwright, Writer, Creative Facilitator & Theatre Maker Read bioGinni is a playwright, writer, creative facilitator and theatre maker from Liverpool.
Jayne Marshall
Playwright Read bioJayne’s work has been performed in Edinburgh and the North West, including the Royal Exchange Theatre and BBC Radio (one of the winning Manchester Monologues 2018). Her aim is to take professional theatre to those who are isolated and lonely, and cannot access theatre.
Jana Navarria
TV & Theatre Writer Read bioOriginally from Melbourne, Jana is a TV and theatre writer currently based in Leeds. She was a staff writer on Neighbours before moving to the UK and working in senior editorial roles at Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Phoenix Rise. She’s recently worked with the CBBC drama commissioning team on a wide range of UK and international programmes. Jana’s debut play, Just Another Fully Sick Asian Aussie, Mate came third place at the Short + Sweet Festival and she hopes to take it to the Edinburgh Fringe one day.
Emma Nuttall
Writer Read bioEmma hails from the North and writes stories for stage, screen, games and XR. She’s worked alongside the BBC, CharismaAI, The National Youth Theatre, and was selected for Screen Yorkshire’s FLEX Programme, the European Creators Lab, BAFTA Connect, and the Future of Film.
Hannah Salt
Writer Read bioHannah grew up in Manchester at the knees of great storytellers, namely from her large, loud extended family. “We talk a lot here, and I’ve always listened. In my writing I like to find stories in the crevasses of daily life, under the fingernails of people you think you’ve got figured out.
James Underwood
Writer & Actor Read bioJames is a writer and actor based in Leeds, he originally came to Yorkshire to study Philosophy and ended up falling in love both in, and with, the city. Pivoting back to creative pursuits later in his life, he is currently developing his first full length play, ‘The Golden Fleece’.