This Sunday’s meeting agenda is to discuss and plan our next round of short play scripts for working with Derby Theatre again in 2024, but it will now include a moment to reflect on the sudden and very sad news of the death of DSW member John Briscoe.

John was instrumental in getting our festival of short plays performed the studio theatre in March this year. His gentle enthusiasm and positivity for members’ work in our monthly crit sessions will be sadly missed, and we’re proud that one the scripts performed in March was written by John.

DSW member Chrissie is hosting two creative writing workshops as part of the Four Hares and a Rainbow exhibition on Saturday 10th June and Wednesday 21st June at Derby Cathedral.

Four Hares and a Rainbow is an exhibition of four large paintings by Michael Cook, and two pieces by lettering artist Elizabeth Forrest– inspired by poems written by DSW Member Tina Hook before her death in 2012.

We’re meeting in the first floor meeting room at Derby Museum for our June meeting to discuss DSW member Andrew’s updated script – if you’d like to join us, you’d be more than welcome- visit the Join Us page to get in touch.

It’s our AGM this month, where we can look over the events of the last year, and make some plans for the new one that’s about to start. It’s been a busy year, culminating with performances of DSW members’ work at Derby Theatre and the Duchess Theatre in Long Eaton- an amazing experience for everyone involved. If you’d like to come and say hello, you’d be very welcome- please click on the join us link here.

Following on from our Six Plays in One Day event at Derby Theatre, DSW member Johnny is producing a Festival of Short Plays at The Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton on Wednesday 10 May.
It features plays from Johnny’s writing colleagues and DSW members, and tickets are £6 each- to get yours, call 0115 882 3884 or click here to purchase online.

Tina Hook, our friend and member of DSW for many years, died in 2012, leaving artist Michael Cook four short poems about her pilgrimage to Orkney, on the understanding that they would one day form part of an exhibition.

Four Hares and a Rainbow is the result, and consists of four large paintings by Michael Cook, as well as two pieces by lettering artist Elizabeth Forrest, with Tina’s poems also on display. These moving and joyful works have been designed to relate to their surroundings in Derby Cathedral, as well as to Tina’s words.

There will also be two Creative Writing Workshops taking place as part of the exhibition. Whether you’re an accomplished writer, or you’ve never written anything except a shopping list before, join our relaxed, friendly creative writing workshop run by DSW member Chrissie Hall.

The workshops will take place on Saturday 10th June and Wednesday 21st June.

After our amazing day of play performances at Derby Theatre in March, we’ll be discussing what we’ve learned from working with the team there, our fantastic actors, and our work being performed in front of a local audience at our April meeting. If you’re already a member, the agenda is available in the DSW Members pages now, and if you’d like to Join Us, get in touch!

Great news from DSW member Richard- his @PintSizedPlays competition entry ‘All in the Mind’ will be performed by @TalismanTheatre Fringe group on 6th April at the Holiday Inn, Kenilworth– congratulations, Richard!

If you’ve already booked tickets to one of our performances on Saturday 11th March, thank you! Unfortunately, we’ve had to swap our 2.30pm and 5.30pm programme around- if you need to change your ticket, please get in touch with Derby Theatre.

Click here to find out more about Chrissie and Maria, writers for our 2.30 performance

Click here to find out more about Hugh and Richard, writers for our 5.30 performance

Click here to find out more about Lynda and John, writers for our 7.30 performance

Exciting times for Derbyshire Scriptwriters in March- our performance event at Derby Theatre is taking place on Saturday March 11th, if you want to find out more, take a look at our previous posts highlighting our members and their plays. We’ll be discussing DSW member John’s script this month- if you’re already a member, the agenda is available in the DSW Members pages now, and if you’d like to Join Us, get in touch!