Category: – Writers

A writer passionate about creating stories that centre on marginalised and underrepresented groups – stories that not only entertain but spark debate and conversation. Andrew started writing for theatre – with his first play DEATH ROW COWBOY transferring from Dublin to London – and then moved on to producing and creating minidocumentary REBIRTH and multi award-winning short film BRENDA with RTE. Andrew is currently working with Newgrange Pictures and Yellow TV & Film.

Award-winning Irish LGBT screenwriter and development executive with a passion for genre-skewed works. Cal’s work ranges from dark drama and psychological thriller to elevated horror, grounded sci-fi, comedy and even children’s stories. Cal enjoys writing bold, fun, offbeat content that pushes boundaries and reflects salient contemporary issues, often through a genre lens. Cal has been a development executive at Tailored Films in Dublin for 5 years and currently manages a lean slate including feature films and scripted TV series. Cal’s first series in funded development, YESTERDAY’S GIRL, is financed in development with TG4 and Creative Europe.

Eve is a writer and actor from Kildare. She has worked in film and television since graduating from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2016. Her writing focuses on the relationships between women. She writes character-driven scripts that strive to capture the complexities of our most intimate relationships. She recently graduated from Atlantic Technological University with a first-class Honours Degree in Writing & Literature and is currently developing a number of projects for both film and television.

Award-winning writer, journalist and story consultant working in the film and television industry. She has designed and delivered training in Storytelling On The Screen across the world and works as a credited co-writer and an uncredited script doctor. Several of Mary Kate’s projects have been award Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland development funding, including SPARTACUS RISING, a television series co-written with Gavin Ryan; HEART OF DARKNESS, an adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s novella; and the original feature screenplays for MY HUCKLEBERRY FRIEND, AIRLIFT TO BIAFRA (an adaptation of the true life story of Father Tony Byrne) and KICKING THE HABIT. Mary Kate was Ireland’s First Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth. She was also a Grand Slam Champion Storyteller at The Moth in Los Angeles and a Champion Storyteller at The Dublin StorySlam. You can hear one of her stories on The Moth Radio Hour – https://themoth.org/stories/carry-him-shoulder-high – and on Tik Tok, where it has amassed over one million views – https://www.tiktok.com/@mothstories/video/7245791769315609899.

Mary Kate has turned her true-life stories into a piece of theatre, MAKING A SHOW OF MYSELF, which she is currently rehearsing for a national tour –https://smockalley.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873638924/events.

2022: LAMB – Screen Ireland Focus Short; Winner of the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the Cork International Film Festival 2022; Official Selection at Tribeca Film Festival 2022; Nominated for 2023 IFTA Award for Best Short Film; 2016: HOMECOMING – Winner of Best Narrative Short Film at Kerry International Film Festival 2016. 2023: VOCATION – Feature Film Screenplay in development with Screen Ireland and Coper Alley Productions.

Caroline is The Irish Times bestselling author of nine novels and has been translated into various languages. She is also a Screenwriter and Creative Director of Document Films. As a Screenwriter she has written and directed seven successful short films that have played at festivals all over the world, including a Galway Film Fleadh winning short and she was also the recipient of the Cineuropa award.

Caroline has co-written her first feature film, BRIDE SQUAD, optioned by Vico Films, IRL and Myriad Pictures, US. Her second feature THE QUIET WOMAN is being developed with support from Screen Ireland. Caroline is currently writing her first TV drama, MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME – again with development funding from Screen Ireland. She adapted her novel, THE WEEK I RUINED MY LIFE, for TV supported by the BAI & Canadian Media Fund. Caroline has also written for Irelands longest running soap, FAIR CITY. She is also a regular panellist on Ireland’s popular all female talk show ‘Midday’.

Paul has written some of the UK’s favourite and best known TV and radio commercials. He has won various awards for his writing including: D&AD, Creative Circle and the Aerials. He was also presented with a Radio Academy Fellowship at the House of Lords. In 2001, his first novel FATHER FRANK was published to great critical acclaim. He followed this with three more – UNTORN TICKETS in 2003, THE MAN WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS WIFE in 2005 and THE LIFE OF REILLY in 2007. More recently, he has turned to screenwriting. He is currently adapting UNTORN TICKETS into a screenplay and has THE HUTS, a TV comedy drama, in development with the BBC. He has also adapted FATHER FRANK for the screen with Mallinson Television Productions.

Paul is an award winning stage and screenwriter whose work includes the award-winning STARDUST, RED ROCK and CALL THE MIDWIFE along with writing for international series such as THE PROFESSIONALS with Brendan Fraser. He has worked in a variety of writers’ rooms, and was the showrunner on RED ROCK. He has worked as a consultant on a variety of series including the upcoming LIBERTIES and works regularly as a mentor for new writers. His recent podcast series for BBS, OBSCENE: A DUBLIN SCANDAL recently won gold at the prestigious New York Festival awards.

NORTHERN LIGHTS I & II (TV Adaptation of his stage play) –  6 Episodes for Deadpan Pictures/Lionsgate; ADAPTING (radio play) – RTE Drama on One; SUMMERHILL (play); THE COUPLE OF PEACE (play); THE BILLY GOATS OF GLENVIEW PARK (YA Novel). NORTHERN LIGHTS(play)– Theatre Upstairs, Dublin; NORTHERN LIGHTS (radio adaptation)– RTÉ Drama on One; FROM EDEN (play) – Theatre Upstairs, Dublin & National Tour, Ireland; FROM EDEN(radio adaptation) – RTÉ Drama on One. A CERTAIN ROMANCE (play)– Druid Theatre; THE GOO (5 part- web series) – Youtube.

Toni, sometimes ‘Bones’, is a screenwriter who specialises in fantasy and horror writing. Having completed an MA in Writing for Television at Glasgow Caledonian University in 2019, she has spent the pandemic researching for a PhD in writing practices for British television while developing her own original scripts. She has dabbled in many artforms – acting, combat, vocalist, novelist, poet, artist – over the last ten years, making her work detailed and insightful in surprising ways.

Award-winning writer who came to writing whilst performing in theatres across London and Glasgow. After being awarded a full merit-based scholarship, Daisy studied a Masters in Television Fiction at Caledonian University and was subsequently mentored through the development of an original pilot by writer and show runner Liz Lake. Daisy’s first short film EGG was awarded Best Drama Short by the Europe Film Festival and her audio drama THE PARTY was shortlisted for BBC Open Scripts. Daisy was selected for the BBC Writersroom Scottish Voices 2023 cohort and has recently written for BBC Scotland’s continuing drama RIVER CITY.

Denise Deegan is an Irish novelist and PAGE Award-winning screenwriter who tackles issues of loss and injustice through a prism of light and humour. Winner of The Pitch Film Fund, Denise’s comedy short about homelessness, THE INNKEEPER,  is on the festival circuit. A writer on Ireland’s longest running serial drama, Denise has two TV series and three features in development. Ireland’s film body, Screen Ireland, has supported three of her projects with development funding. Denise’s new psychological thriller, THOUGHT I KNEW YOU, is an Academy Nicholl Fellowship Quarterfinalist and Final Draft Big Break Semi-finalist. A former nurse, medical and psychological storylines regularly bubble up in her work. 

Rosa Hesmondhalgh is a Northern writer who trained as an actor at LAMDA and graduated in 2017. Shortly after graduating, Rosa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and left the industry to go through treatment. Whilst on chemo, she started writing about her experiences with cancer on a blog, Madame Ovary. After the blog was shared over 50,000 times online, she turned it into a one woman play of the same name that opened at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019, was picked up for a UK Tour, won Vault Festival’s Pick of the Pleasance award and went on to receive its US premiere in Philadelphia in November 2023.

Following a successful career as a finance professional in the TV and Film Industry, Fiona is now a scriptwriter of original stories that capitalize on Irish humour, with international appeal.

In May 2023, Fiona successfully completed a shadow script for the new TV version of the Gerard Butler “Has Fallen” franchise, PARIS HAS FALLEN which started PP in June 2023. She has been invited to write on Season 2.

Yellow Film have optioned a TV pilot Fiona co-wrote, with a writer’s room planned for later in 2023.

Fiona’s feature THE MOUNT, was selected for Screen Ireland Spotlight emerging talent scheme, which was optioned by 925 Productions and has recently secured further funding.

Adipat is a transmedia storyteller, specialising both in story world-building for real-world social change and in dynamic audience engagement strategy. Adipat is an award-winning writer / director. His immersive project, KILLING HONOUR was a finalist at the Sundance New Frontier Story Lab. He has directed for TV, Theatre, Film and Virtual Reality (VR).

A trained improviser with a Film Degree from IADT, Louise is an award-winning screenwriter whose unique voice spans the genres of Comedy, Comedy-Drama and Action/Suspense Thrillers.

Past TV credits include the Irish-Australian FOREIGN EXCHANGE and the BAFTA Winning CUSTER’S LAST STAND UP. 

Of her feature scripts SHELL GAME was a finalist in the 2019 Breaking Walls Thriller Screenplay Contest; BUT THEN THERE WERE TWO was an Official Selection of the 2021 Thriller/Suspense Film & Writing Festival; and A CHRISTMAS WEDDING won the 2020 WriteMovies Romance & Comedy Award. 

Louise’s supernatural Comedy-Drama TV series THE DAUGHTERHOOD is in development with a production company in Ireland.

Gavin is a Dublin-based screenwriter and lecturer. He has a degree in Film & Television from ATU Galway and a MA in Screenwriting from The National Film School (IADT). Gavin’s last four screenplays have received development funding from Screen Ireland and all are in development with Irish production companies. Among them is PATASHNIK, a sci-fi directed by Bruno Samper and Kristina Buoztye (Vesper) and produced by Samson Films, THIS YEAR’S MODEL and THIS IS GOING TO SOUND WEIRD (both developed by Tiger Darling). In October 2023 Gavin attended the eQuinoxe Screenwriter’s Workshop. Gavin has been shortlisted for the Untitled Screenwriting Award.

Gavin also lectures modules on Irish Film and the History of Screenwriting at IADT and has lectured at other institutions (ATU Sligo, University of Plymouth). He has been a script reader and script editor for Screen Ireland since 2016. He has also provided coverage on a regular basis for various Irish production companies like Port Pictures, Samson Films, Janey Pictures and more. Currently, Gavin is a script editor for Igloo Animations and is providing maternity cover for Wild Atlantic Pictures in a development executive capacity.

A former film critic, he contributed reviews to RTE, Entertainment.ie, Film Ireland, The Irish Examiner and The Irish Independent from 2005-2018. He was a producer and presenter of film show Cinerama on Phantom 105.2, and has chaired discussions on film at the Irish Film Institute, Digital Biscuit and Dublin International Film Festival.

Maria Ward is an experienced scriptwriter writing successful shows for All3Media, Acorn TV and ITV. Maria also has vast experience as a script doctor and is currently developing scripts for MA graduates of Glasgow Caledonian University.

Credits include: VAN DER VALK I, II and III – Company Pictures; CANNES CONFIDENTIAL – Dramacorp; AGATHA RAISIN IV and V – Company Pictures/Free@last; MIDSOMER MURDERS – Bentley/ ITV.

Pierce is an award winning writer whose second feature BLACK ’47 became the highest grossing Irish feature film of 2018, taking over two million dollars worldwide and winning the 2019 IFTA for Best Film.

2023: THE LIBERTIES – in development with Screen Ireland and 925 Production; 2021-22: MANSOUR – Bidaya Media; 2020-22: THE LIBERTIES – 925 Productions; 2019: In Development – Original screenplay with Samson Films and Hail Mary Pictures; 2018: BLACK 47 – Fastnet Films; 2014: STANDBY – Black Sheep Productions; 2012: FAIR CITY – RTE; 2010: RUNNERS – short film; 2008: AN RANGER – short film; 2005: JELLYBABY – short film; 2002: SMALLTALK – short film.

Having written poems and short stories all her life, Louise has now established herself as a scriptwriter for stage and audio and is moving into TV.

In Development: A WOMAN’S PLACE – TV series;  SISTER SISTER – Film; THE RELUCTANT HERO – Audio.

Credits: PULLING FACES – UK, US and Australia tour; MY GAY BEST FRIEND – Hope Theatre; DRIVING ME ROUND THE BEND – Seven Oaks Festival, The Space; SHAKESPEARE’S MISTRESS; SIXTH POSITION – One Festival, The Space;  BEWARE THE GOBLIN MEN – audio short story for children.

Chris has been working as Showrunner on Amsterdam-based detective series VAN DER VALK (Company Pictures/All3 Media) which he created, sells to over 90 countries and is into its fifth Season. Simultaneously he co-created Cote d’Azur based detective series CANNES CONFIDENTIAL (Viaplay/TF1). He is developing an occult detective series, THE SOUL HUNTER (Stampede Ventures/CBS International) and continues to write for MIDSOMER MURDERS (Company Pictures/All3 Media) and AGATHA RAISIN (Company Pictures/Free At Last). Previously, for the BBC he created police series MERSEYBEAT, which ran for four Seasons, and medical series DOCTORS. A decade ago, he took time out to do a Masters Degree in Western Esotericism (the study of alternative belief systems and the occult) and now aims to work predominantly on ideas with a magical or supernatural element.

Playwright: CHRISTMAS CAROL  – Shakespeare North Playhouse; SHERLOCK HOLMES: THE SIGN OF THE FOUR – Black Eyed Theatre; FRANKENSTEIN – Black Eyed Theatre; MY FAVOURITE SUMMER – La Compagnie Bewitched; THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE – Caxton Theatre, Grimsby; GINGER JONES AND THE SULTAN’S EYE – York Theatre; 1984 – Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theatre; 1984 – The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Cafe; LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER (Adaptation) – on Tour, Hull Truck Theatre; 1984 – Northern Broadsides Touring Company throughout England; 2006-Present: Associate Director, Hull Truck Theatre Company. Other work: THE DERBY MCQUEEN AFFAIR and THE SNOW QUEEN

Credits include: SKETCHTOPIA – Gusman Productions; FROM FACT TO FICTION – BBC Radio 4; FAGS, MAGS & BAGS – Original Radio Series of 10 seasons – The Comedy Unit/Radio 4;  MIXING IT – Turmeric Media for BBC Radio Scotland; DEMOCRACY PANTO – BBC; COMIC FRINGES – BBC; A NICE ARRANGEMENT – Red Productions for Sky; FOUND  – FeelGood Fiction/BBC; MY MIXED UP FAMILY – Turmeric Media; BBC LIFE STORIES (BIG WHEEL AND AKASH & ARJUN) – Red Productions; RUBY – Hopscotch Films; YOUNG, GIFTED AND BROWN, Red/BBC; MOTHERLAND Three Stones Media/C4; EAT THE PASTY, Red/BBC.

Vanessa has worked as a development producer/story consultant for various indies including Celador (CPL), Assembly TV, Baby Cow, Kudos Film & TV and mostly recently BBC Writers Room NI and Northern Ireland Screen. As a freelance script consultant/development producer across TV and film, her clients are based all over the globe.

She has recently turned to writing. Her first script, BALLINGATE is a comedy horror series aimed at kids and set in rural Northern Ireland (a place she currently resides and finds inspiring in a spooky way). She was a finalist in the first Writers Lab UK & Ireland 2021 with MCINTYRE, a comedy drama crime series set in Glastonbury. She has just finished a co-written comedy drama pilot WILD THINGS with writing partner Matt Sinclair and THE SHOUT (6x60mins) is an ensemble drama, currently under option with Hat Trick NI.

Vanessa is now working on horror feature film PENTIMENTO, a four-part drama LACK  and comedy pitch ONCE FOR YES. Her first play THE UNHEARD is a multi-discipline immersive piece which is being developed by award-winning dramaturg Hanna Slattne (Tinderbox Theatre) with support of the Arts Council NI.  A pilot version of it debuted at the Being Human Festival, Queen’s University, Belfast and Vanessa was shortlisted for Unlimited’s Emerging Artist Award.

Liam is currently a regular character in Emmerdale having appeared in over 700 episodes.  He was nominated for the Best Newcomer in the National Television Awards 2013.

Original work includes: BOXED – short film; IRISH EYES – Period Serial TV Drama; WHITE FEATHERS – Supernatural TV Drama; THE WONDERFUL MR JOYCE – Children’s Novel; THE MIGHTY FLYNN – Animated Feature; FOOLS GOLD – Sitcom; GIVE ME A BREATH – Stage Play. In development: HAG – Horror Film; PARTY OF THIEVES – British Heist Film

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Francesca Fowler is a neuro-divergent (LGBTQIA+) London-born Screenwriter. Starting her career as an actor in 2004, Fran has been working in TV/Film for just shy of 20 years. Turning to screenwriting in 2010 she is represented in both the UK and the US with numerous screen projects in development.

After winning BAFTA Rocliffe TV Comedy 2019 with sitcom Daisy & Robbie Struggle to Survive, Fowler and Redford were commissioned by Objective Fiction (Peep Show, Fresh Meat, Feel Good) to develop an Original Series Treatment. Together they also developed a series pitch with Kudos TV in 2022. In 2020 Fran received the John Brabourne Award for her true crime period drama feature script Vine Cottages, as well as her Comedy-Drama PICK UP (based on the short film PULL) being optioned by Blue Ink Films. In 2017 her genre-bending sci-fi-anti-rom-com LOVE. HATE. REPEAT was shortlisted for Creative England Emerging Talent Fund as well as her short film Away From Me premiering at BFI FLARE in the same year. Alongside screenwriting, Fran has worked on numerous independent projects as a Script Editor and Story Developer whilst also founding Script Stable; providing ACCO advice and resources for new and aspiring screenwriters.

ACCOLADES: WINNER JOHN BRABOURNE AWARDS 2020 | WINNER BAFTA ROCLIFFE TV COMEDY 2019 | LONGLISTED BAFTA ROCLIFFE TV DRAMA 2016 | WINNER BEST SCREENPLAY UNDERWIRE FESTIVAL 2012 | NOMINATED BEST COMEDY PORTOBELLO FILM FESTIVAL 2012 | THIRD ROUND QUALIFIER BFSC 2010

Chantelle Dusette is a writer / performer and co-artistic director of theatre company Bruised Sky and supporter of new writing in multiple formats.  Chantelle is an alumni of the Criterion Theatre new writing and story development programmes and Oliver Lansley’s WildChild’s Write Wild.  Chantelle is driven to create innovative pieces of work that illuminate, captivate people’s imaginations and challenge ideas. 

Chantelle received a commission from Emanata Studios for a TV series idea she pitched called TRIBES and made the short list for last years’ 4 Stories (Channel 4) with Blacklight.  Chantelle’s latest short UTOPIA, has been included in Oneykachi Wambu’s book, entitled EMPIRE WINDRUSH: Reflections on 75 years of the Black British Experience which will also include pieces from Andrea Levy, Bernadine Evaristo and Zadie Smith – released June 2023. 

Credits include: TRIBES in development with Emanata Studios; A BRIEF HISTORY OF US performed at The National Theatre; DOLLY performed at Park Theatre; EV(E)OLUTION performed at the Criterion Theatre; SHADOWS, performed at The White Bear; BLUE INTO GOLD, performed at The Omera; CANCEL THE SUNSHINE, performed at Ronny Scott’s and The Hope Theatre; MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, performed at The Omnibus Theatre; THE TEACHER WHO LOVED ME, performed at Old Red Lion Theatre; WOUNDS, performed at The Tristan Bates Theatre.

Work includes: BROTHERS OF THUNDER – Open House Theatre, Vienna; Other credits include: THE CORONER – BBC; RACHEL’S COUSINS – BBC; UN POSTO AL SOLE – Fremantle Media; EVE SERIES 1 and 2 – Leopard Drama/BBC; VIVA, original Film Treatment optioned by Kees Kassander at Delux; DOCTORS – BBC; WATERLOO ROAD IX – Shed/BBC: RIVER CITY – BBC Scotland; CASUALTY – BBC; EASTENDERS – BBC; INSPECTOR LYNLEY – BBC; MISSING – Leopard/BBC; Ann Marie is also Professor of Television Fiction Writing at Glasgow Caledonian University

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Kate’s first screenplay APOCALYPSE AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS was picked up and developed with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Warner Sisters Film and TV Ltd (UK).  Her second THE HOROSCOPE gave her a platform for television, where she has worked consistently since 2004.   Her third and fourth screenplays – WHERE THE MEN ARE and THE WILD SEED – were selected for the prestigious Moonstone International Screenwriters’ Lab (Halle and Wartburg, Germany), the latter also selected for TAPS (long form drama development workshop) in 2008. Currently, crime drama SKYLARKS is into the quarterfinals of Screencraft’s TV Pilot Script competition 2024 and Kate is developing further original ideas for TV while writing for RIVER CITY.

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Hannah is a writer and theatre-maker and performs regularly as a poet and multi-slam winning spoken word artist. She is based in Yorkshire where she is currently in role as Executive Producer at ARCADE.

Hannah originally trained as an actor at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts and worked in several roles across theatre, radio and TV. She went on to study playwriting on the Royal Court Writers programme and her first play was performed as part of the Royal Court Young Writers Festival 2007. Since then, she has worked with many theatre companies as writer, performer, facilitator and producer.

Hannah has a PhD in Creative Practice in Playwriting and was the Co-Programme Leader of the MA Playwriting at the University of York’s School of Arts and Creative Technologies 2020 – 2022. Hannah is an experienced facilitator of creative writing and performance workshops and is Associate Artist at Say Owt, York’s leading spoken word organisation.

Scottish BAFTA-winning writer – over 30 episodes of Children’s Television Drama including creation of two series for CITV. (UNCLE DAD, BUTTERFINGERS, NOW’S THE HOUR, THE ICE CREAM MACHINE, HALLOWE’EN 3-D, WOOLAMALOO). Other awards include Promax UK Gold & Silver Awards, Red Planet Prize (Finalist), Bruntwood Prize (long list), Manchester Evening News Theatre Arts Award, Spirit of Mayfest Award, Art Sutter Pick of the Fringe, Scottish Comedy Awards, Lifetime Achievement.

For the BBC he has been a script reader, comedy consultant, stand-up judge, and writing tutor. Currently teaching Screen and Comedy writing for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and permanent lecturer in Scriptwriting for Glasgow Caledonian University.

Maureen was a Creative Director and Co-Founder of Shed Productions in 1998 along with Eileen Gallagher, Ann McManus and Brian Park, where she co-created the long-running and award-winning TV dramas BAD GIRLS, FOOTBALLERS’ WIVES and WATERLOO ROAD. Maureen remained at Shed until the company was bought out by Time Warner in 2010 when she returned to freelance writing.

She has previously written for ANGELS, EASTENDERS, and CORONATION STREET and single plays for BBC Screen One WATCH WITH MOTHER and TWO GOLDEN BALLS.

Her theatre credits include JOSEPHINE (musical play), DUST and THE SPEED TWINS as well as musical books for BAD GIRLS – THE MUSICAL, CRUSH and THE REALNESS.

Current projects include FOOTBALLERS’ WIVES (musical) and UNACCEPTABLE VIOLENT BEHAVIOUR (play).

MJ is a freelance writer and a lecturer in media, who has written for BBC One’s RIVER CITY, EASTENDERS and DOCTORS, as well as writing the screenplay for the independent feature film, ANNA UNBOUND. In 2020, MJ wrote, directed and (somewhat reluctantly) starred in, the micro-short film, YOU CAN RUN, which went on to be screened at the TAG! Queer Shorts Festival (Portland, Oregon, USA), the Bendigo Queer Film Festival (Victoria, Australia), the New York Flash Film Festival (New York, USA), and in 2021, at the Scottish Queer International Film Festival, Glasgow. Recently, MJ has had two poems, Red Sonnet and Blue Sonnet, published in the award-winning sci-fi magazine, Shoreline of Infinity (Issue 23).