As 2020 comes to a close (finally) we’re reflecting on what has been a very different year...

Despite being away from our usual home of the Theatre Royal Haymarket since March, we’ve been able to offer a programme packed with events & creative opportunities. There have been 21 Masterclasses (covering a range of topics from acting to writing and directing to producing), 10 ‘Coffee with Creative’ sessions, 18 Script Sessions, one call-out for Pitch Your Play entries, a Q&A in partnership with Royal & Derngate Theatre, a few ticket giveaways and one month full of TheatreCraft throwbacks - phew!

We’ve covered playwrights throughout the ages, starting off the year with Director Stephen Unwin - who led a masterclass on Noel Coward - and have since covered Joe Orton with Nick Bagnall, had a Shakespeare double-bill with Emma Whipday and Rupert Wickham, and gave you the opportunity to ask Simon Stephens any burning questions during his Instagram Live.

Emerging playwrights had the opportunity to share their work with us through the return of our Pitch Your Play competition, which opened for submissions in April. We received a whopping 187 entries, which kept the Masterclass team busy during those long days of the first lockdown. We have since whittled those down to our shortlist of six plays (more to come from those in the New Year). A huge thank you to everyone who sent in a script, we were once again blown away by the standard of writing from our talented Masterclass Members.

2020 was our first year to feature a full programme of ‘Coffee with Creative’ sessions, which give Masterclass Members direct access to young creatives (and Masterclass alumni!) who have entered the industry and thrived.