J'AIME SEPTEMBER 2018

charisma and energy at a theatre show before.”
This year’s event, which will be held on December
1 at the Birmingham Conservatoire, promises to
be bigger, better, and even more glamorous, with
Natalie even planning to make a television drama
from some of the chosen scripts.
Writers of any age and experience level are invited
to submit a seven-to-10 minute script for the
competition. The first level, priced £10, sees scripts
included on the new Enter Stage Write database and
made available to production companies, allowing
industry exposure and the potential for scripts to be
picked up and put into production.
The second entry level, at £30, includes a 20-minute
meeting with an industry professional to discuss the
script and allows the entrant to resubmit their script
for free after making any suggested amendments.
Experts on board include Tim Stimpson, writer
of award-winning BBC productions The Archers
and EastEnders, writer-producer Anna Southgate,
who is currently working on a project with Emma
Thompson, and Darcia Martin, a director on Call
The Midwife.
There are two awards up for grabs on the night;
firstly the Audience Award best script, which is voted
for by the audience on the night. The main prize
is the Grand Award presented for the best play, as
chosen by guest judges on the night. The Grand
Award winner will scoop an impressive £1,000,
as well as the potential to see their writing career
skyrocket. Last year’s overall winner, Abraham
Adeyemi, has gone on to have his scripts performed
in at the Lyric Theatre by Jude Law.
“I hope that this will create a really good
advertisement for Birmingham,” says Natalie. “The
goal is to have some short dramas created from the
scripts which highlight the beauty of Birmingham.
“I’m trying to encourage inclusivity and diversity,
and regional inclusivity; just putting it out there,
opening doors and getting people to say ‘show me
what you can do’. I think if we do that, it’s creating
equality of opportunity for everyone.”
Since the success of last year’s Enter Stage Write
event, Natalie has never been more in demand to
help the creative sector in the Midlands. She has
most recently been working with Birds’ Eye View, a
women’s film institute on their Reclaim the Frame
project to promote female films.
“Birds’ Eye View get great films from major film
festivals all over the world like Sundance, Tribeca
and Cannes, and I’ve been launching these female
films and arranging premieres in Birmingham,”
Natalie says.
“It’s amazing that I’ve been given this platform and
I’m able to use it to help other creatives, and to do it
all for Birmingham.
“And I wanted to show that it can be done as a
woman of colour; we can create the opportunities
and there’s room for us right here.”
For more details about the competition, visit
www.transitionstagecompany.com
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