Life in a Northern Town
A free creative writing opportunity for 14-18 year olds in Yorkshire

“I finally feel completely unashamed in calling myself a writer. Coming from a place of being told I couldn’t be a playwright, this has been invaluable. I felt comfortable and at my creative home from the get go.”
Life in a Northern Town Participant

Are you aged 14-18 and live in Yorkshire? Do you love telling stories or want to try writing something that feels like you?

Life in a Northern Town is all about giving you the space to get creative, express yourself, and share what’s important to you. Whether you’ve written before or this is totally new, this programme is here to help you find your voice. You can write about whatever excites you – the stories you care about, your community, your experiences – it’s all up to you.

The programme is part of a partnership with venues, playwrights and participants from across the North, led by Northern Broadsides, Blackpool Grand Theatre and The Customs House.

Now in its third year, the programme is supporting the development of new plays written by participants for future production.

 

Here’s what you’ll get if you join:

  • Time and space to create your own short play
  • Fun, online writing workshops with professional writers (and some in-person ones too!)
  • The chance to be part of a supportive group of like-minded young writers, sharing and learning together

And the best part? It’s completely free, it’s online, and it’s designed to fit around your life – no matter what else you’ve got going on. You don’t need any experience or fancy qualifications, just a passion for storytelling. We’d love to hear from people from all walks of life.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and know that diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We actively champion Northern voices that are currently underrepresented in the arts and particularly welcome applications from young writers who are disabled or from the global majority.

 

If you are interested in joining the programme, please email us on: info@northern-broadsides.co.uk