Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee

Policy Review - English Medium Writing In Wales

BBC Wales Writers’ Unit

BBC Wales Writers’ Unit is a collaborative initiative between the Drama and Talent departments. It was created to recruit and train the next generation of drama writers for radio and television and to nurture more experienced writers. The Unit provides different levels of support according to the needs of individual writers. This ranges from written reports and face to face 'script surgeries’ to practical workshops and development programmes. As a stepping stone to eligibility for commission, there are shadow schemes in place on the long running series Belonging and a trial script system taking Welsh and Wales based writers directly onto the network drama Doctors. BBC Wales commissions drama for both BBC Wales only, and also for network. There are limited opportunities for commissioning writers purely for BBC Wales television drama, and part of our agenda is to create a wider audience for Welsh writers via network drama. The majority of commissions, especially for new writers, is in radio drama ( Radio Wales, Radio 4 and Radio 3). This is also a medium with more opportunity for single dramas, and a greater range of dramatic subject. Dramatic writing doesn’t take place in a vacuum, and there has always been traffic between theatre, radio and television (and not all one way). Purely in terms of craft, many writers (and directors, and actors) have traditionally gained a professional grounding in theatre. Given the inequity of funding, it would be naïve to posit a wholly symbiotic relationship between theatre, radio and screen writing. However, it is obvious that a culture which supports new theatre writing, alongside poetry and prose fiction, will facilitate the emergence and development of the original and contemporary voices we all want to hear. We have no doubt that adequately funded support for new theatre writing, and a dedicated venue, would benefit contemporary writing across all media. There is an important practical point here, too. A greater degree of collaboration between theatre, radio, television and film practitioners could create better opportunities for writers who want to stay in Wales, and actually earn a living from their work. The Writers’ Unit would be happy to contribute to any further debate relevant to the Policy Review.Gilly AdamsDirector, Writers’ UnitHelen RaynorScript Editor, Writers’ UnitTel: 029 2032 2864writerswales@bbc.co.uk