4 incredible playwrights are coming to Ashton Library, to bring you 4 free playwriting masterclasses.
What is it?
We are running four free masterclass workshops with professional playwrights. Come along and explore how stories can change the way we see ourselves, others and the world around us!
Can I join?
No experience necessary! This is for those who love writing and those who have never put pen to paper.
Open to anyone based in Tameside, not suitable for under 14s.
When & Where?
- Sat 7 June 12:15pm-2:30pm
- Sat 14 June 12:15pm-2:30pm
- Sat 21 June 12:15pm-2:30pm
- Sat 28 June 12:15pm-2:30pm
@ Ashton Library, Tameside One, Market Place, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6BH
Book your FREE place now
Spaces are limited so you will need to book to avoid disappointment! Walks ups are welcome on a first-come-first-served basis.
Sign up for free via this link.
The workshops
Sat 7 June with Lekhani Chirwa
Lekhani is a writer, theatre-maker, actor and facilitator.
Lekhani recently worked with primary school students to write two brand-new plays BEST MATES, TOP BINS AND VENGA VENGA for the Royal Exchange Theatre which premiered at The Den Festival 2025.
Lekhani won the inaugural Wyllie Longmore Award 2023/24 and was the Manchester Culture Award winner for promoting Culture and Education across Manchester. She is a graduate of C4 New Writers Scheme as part of the Leeds Cohort, was a writer on Paines Plough Tour The Writer as Mentored Writer in collaboration with Theatre by The Lake.
Sat 14 June with Lizzie Milton
Sat 21 June with Joshua Val Martin
Josh is a playwright, musician, performer, and public historian; often two or more of these things at once. Josh trained with the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Soho Theatre’s respective playwriting schemes, and with RTYDS at the New Vic Theatre.
His previous work includes a verbatim play drawn from interviews with older gay men, multiple full-length musicals, a single-room horror play (in development with Silent Uproar and NT Studios), and This Is Not America, which won a Bruntwood Prize. He has written for Sky TV, been a presenter on JoJo & Gran Gran and hosted a theatrical party on a moving bus to the Royal Exchange Theatre for The Den Festival 2025.
Josh is working with people in recovery to curate Portraits of Recovery: Injecting Hope at the Whitworth Art Gallery, developing a new TV series for Channel 5, creating a song for the National Theatre’s Speak Up project, and touring his play With Love, Mr. Gay.
Sat 28 June with Lauren-Nicole Mayes
Lauren-Nicole Mayes recently worked with primary school students to write two brand-new plays BEST MATES, TOP BINS AND VENGA VENGA for the Royal Exchange Theatre which premiered at The Den Festival 2025.
Lauren is a writer and actress from Blackpool and was one of the five selected writers for the inaugural Sky Studios & Box of Tricks ScreenPlay Award.
Lauren is on the BBC Writersroom: Northern Voices Scheme and is developing her original TV drama BABYNUN XO via It’s All Made Up Productions and has been picked up by a broadcaster. Her one woman play Dear Little Loz received rave reviews from its Edinburgh Fringe run. Lauren’s viral short film LADS,LADS,LADS was picked up by La De La Studios & Hotel Football UK in partnership with men’s mental health. In theatre, her play Shit.God.Shit was shortlisted via The Royal Exchange for The English Touring Theatres Nationwide Voices Scheme, and BABYNUN XO was supported by The Lowry Theatre for a weeks R&D. She is also an Oldham Coliseum Associate Artist 2022-2023.
About Friday Writers
This project is supported by Friday Writers Club who meet at Ashton Library every Friday morning 10am-12pm. The club is small and informal, and open to anybody with an interest in writing.