Oxford Playhouse anticipates ‘array of stories’ from cohort of emerging writers

Six playwrights are to join Oxford Playhouse as the venue looks to “cultivate emerging voices” within theatre.

Actor and writer SID SAGAR and Quite the Cowboy production company founder CHAKIRA ALIN are among those selected for the 2025/26 Playhouse Playmaker scheme, set to run into July of next year.

Each month, the group, which also includes writers CONOR PATRICK CARROLL, REECE CONNOLLY, HANNAH ALI KHAN, and BETH MULLEN, will meet to work through practical writing exercises, script development sessions, and one-to-one feedback.

Led by The Container playwright CLARE BAYLEY, the sessions promise to introduce participants to other notable theatre figures as each member of the cohort works to craft their own full-length play.

The initiative culminates in a showcase of performed script extracts, presented in Oxford Playhouse’s Burton Taylor Studio.

“We’re very excited to be inviting our next cohort of attached writers onto our Playmaker scheme, all of whom bring an exciting range of perspectives and theatre experience,” said PAUL SIMPSON, the theatre’s head of participation and development.

“We look forward to seeing the diverse array of stories that will emerge from each of our playwrights across the next year.”