Writers and actors, a chance to get together and read some scenes.

Cold Reads is an opportunity for actors and writers to come together, to read a brand new script out loud for the first time. This year’s Cold Reads scripts have been selected through our Ideas Submission window. They’re new pieces of writing that excited the panel. Come along for an opportunity to perform, practice your cold reading skills and feedback on writing, or just listen to a new work by a local writer, whilst networking with other local theatre artists.

Producers, directors and other theatre makers are also welcome to attend. If you do not wish to read please make Beccy aware at the beginning of the session.

Tuesday 21 Jan, 6.30pm-9pm: ‘How Can I Help You?’ by Simon Marshall

How Can I Help You? is a tragicomedy exploring what failure means to 5 ‘losers’ in a rural, isolated petrol station. Shelley is a mid-twenties woman, living with her aunt Viv, and putting herself back together. The play follow’s Shelley’s trial-shift at the eerie 24-hour ‘Shop ‘N’ Go’ in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, as she gets to know, trust and challenge her eccentric colleagues, and sets down her past, to find it arrive crushingly into the forecourt.

Written by playwright and poet Simon Marshall (BONFIRE, Below Decadence and kilburn (not london)) and developed as part of Playhouse Playwrights Playground 2022.

Content Warning: contains references to suicide and ‘sugaring’ – money exchanged for intimacy.