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6 short plays that champion North East talent

Haddaway & Write brings original voices to the stage. Our early talent development strand, the initiative was developed in 2022 to offer North East playwrights early script development and career support in a full script-to-stage scheme.

The writers are selected from an open call-out and receive tailored mentoring from award-winning writer, Sarah Tarbit, before having their plays rehearsed and performed for a live audience and industry contacts by a professional cast and creative team.

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Haddaway & Write 2026

Our 2026 programme is supported by Arts Council England, in partnership with Gala Theatre, Durham. In May 2026, we’re touring six hilarious and heart-warming new short plays to North East community and arts venues.

Parked Off

By Tom Smith

When cantankerous Harry wages an all-out turf war with his ‘posh’ neighbour, James, over a few inches of driveway, things get hilariously petty. The insults are sharp and the logic is “egregious”, but one question remains… Is it really about the parking?

Directed by: Sarah Bond
Performed by: Danny Raynor & Jonathan Iceton

Girls with Glass Slippers

By Lizzie Lovejoy

With a poorly daughter at home, Ava struggles to navigate elitist insults at a high-society work event and has to choose between biting her tongue and finally shattering the glass ceiling… or maybe just a few chandeliers?

Directed by: Sarah Bond
Performed by: Lucy Davis

Then I Let It Go Again

By John Dawson

Stuck in the excruciating silence of a parked Fiat 500, a tragically optimistic dad tries to bridge the gap with his distanced daughter. For once, Charlie’s forced to call out her dad’s shortcomings, but will he finally sit in the discomfort and be the clownfish she always needed him to be?

Directed by: Sarah Bond
Performed by: Scarlett Robinson & Danny Raynor

The Night Slot with Darren Glench

By Lewis Cuthbert

Don’t miss Darren Glench’s home shopping mega-deals! In this darkly comedic thriller, Darren hawks camping gear live on air as his own demons and a sinister caller force him to confront the disturbing truth behind his wife’s disappearance… and it’s not what you’d expect!

Directed by: Jessica Robson
Performed by: Jake Wilson Craw

Waiting for the Moon to Land

By Mel Hunter

From the He-Man wars of their youth to the silence of a hospital ward, two brothers journey through the dark shadows of their violent childhood and face the ghost of their father to see if their bond is truly undefeated.

Directed by: Jessica Robson
Performed by: Micky McGregor & Sol Taibi

Rita in 3C

By Abby Walker

Sharp-witted care home resident, Rita C, deploys her scare tactics on the naive and aspirational Hailey in this dark comedy about ageing, authority, and the beef between two women named Rita. Will Hailey follow the rules, or will Rita C rope her into a decades-old rivalry?

Directed by: Jessica Robson
Performed by: Jackie Lye & Rebecca McClelland

2026 Creative Team

Harriet Ghost
Producer/Joint AD, Hooley Theatre

Micky McGregor
Producer/Joint AD, Hooley Theatre

Lizzie Glazier
Producer, Gala Durham

Sarah Tarbit
Dramaturg/Writing Mentor

Darren Lowe
Technical Manager

Sara Trautmann
Lighting Design

Paul Jeffries
Sound Design

2026 Funders and Supporters

Haddaway & Write Archive

2022 plays

2024 plays