'Doctor Who' EP Russell T. Davies to Mentor Welsh Drama Writers

‘Doctor Who’ EP Russell T. Davies to Mentor Welsh Drama Writers

In celebration of its tenth anniversary in 2025, Jane Tranter‘s manufacturing agency Unhealthy Wolf (Physician Who, His Darkish Supplies) is launching the Blaidd Writers Program, a “rolling six-month paid improvement and coaching initiative to seek out and nurture the following era of Welsh drama writers, in affiliation with Display screen Alliance Wales.” Members shall be mentored by screenwriters Jack Thorne (His Darkish Supplies, Nationwide Treasure), Russell T. Davies (Physician Who, It’s A Sin) and Marnie Dickens (Gold Digger, Wilderness)

The scheme, unveiled Tuesday, will see three writers develop, with Unhealthy Wolf, an unique, up to date Wales-set returning drama. They will even participate in grasp courses with trade professionals, together with the co-creators of HBO and BBC’s hit drama Business, Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, and screenwriter and In My Pores and skin creator Kayleigh Llewellyn.

Writers will begin their placements in January at Unhealthy Wolf’s Cardiff headquarters, Wolf Studios Wales. They are going to be allotted particular person script editors and producers to assist them by way of the event course of and also will obtain common steerage and suggestions from Tranter and Unhealthy Wolf director of content material Dan McCulloch.

Every author shall be paid a bursary of 18,000 kilos ($23,410) to develop their script and a therapy, with journey, lodging and different bills coated by Unhealthy Wolf. 

“Wales has been the beating coronary heart of Unhealthy Wolf for the previous decade. It’s pivotal to our future, and the way forward for the Welsh TV trade, that we proceed to nurture future generations of screenwriters,” mentioned Tranter. “With the steerage of our trade mentors, as nicely Unhealthy Wolf government producers and script editors, our Blaidd Writers won’t solely develop their scripts, however get a wider overview of the TV trade and manufacturing course of.”

Davies mentioned: “I’m delighted to assist mentor the following era of writing expertise in Wales, alongside Unhealthy Wolf.” Added Thorne: “I’m half Welsh and at the very least half author, and I really like this scheme as a result of it includes supporting writers — with cash — as they develop. The trade is in a humorous place proper now, however we do must again younger expertise, in any other case we’ll starve ourselves of the longer term. My curiosity is in growing disabled voices as a result of that’s a sector I nonetheless suppose underrepresented, in order that’s who I’ll work with on this.”

And Dickens mentioned: “I’m satisfied to be a part of such a well-thought-out and correctly funded scheme to amplify the voices of Welsh writers.”

Functions for the scheme open Monday, Sept. 16, and shut Friday, Oct. 4. To use, candidates might want to submit a 10-page extract from an unique pilot script, a supporting two-page pitch doc and a 500-word assertion on why they’d profit from the scheme through screenalliancewales.com. Shortlisted writers should submit a full pilot script for consideration. Solely writers based mostly in Wales who’ve a most of 1 broadcast credit score as a TV author or function movie author can apply.