Press

Actor, writer and producer Anna Krauze is one person I know who is steadily building on last year’s fringe success. She performed and made her playwriting debut with Daddy Issues, a dark comedy about sex work and intrigue in the art world, which was longlisted for awards and went on to play at theatres such as the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford. She is now developing a television version and encourages you to identify your key goals for after the fringe as well as for the festival itself. 

Krauze says: “Is it a London transfer? A tour? A potential series? There are multiple opportunities that you can get involved in before and during the festival. EdFringe collects tour pack information from companies interested in showcasing their work around the UK – that way the venues can invite you. For a London transfer, it’s worth sending press releases to theatres in case they have representatives going to Edinburgh. 

“My goal has always been turning my show into a TV series. I submitted my play to the Popcorn Awards, which I was very lucky to get longlisted for. That allowed me to have conversations with the BBC Writersroom for insightful feedback on my pilot and treatment to help me get it ready to be sent out. Make sure you check out these opportunities and don’t shy away from sharing your work. You never know who will love it and want to support you further.

“I would also recommend checking out EdFringe seminars with producers about pitching for TV, as well as the stage-to screen panels that happen throughout the festival. Sign up for the newsletters to stay up to date and, most importantly, enjoy the festival – you’ve already made it this far.”

Full Article: THE STAGE

Daddy Issues by Anna Krauze longlisted for the Popcorn Writing Award 2022 by Popcorn Group/BBC Writers Room) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Popcorn Award for New Writing - Longlist and Judging Committee Announced

Popcorn Group have announced this year’s judging committee along with their longlist of new plays for the Popcorn Writing Award. Partnering for the first time with BBC Writersroom, Popcorn offers a prize fund of £6,000. Opening the door for emerging writers, BBC Writersroom are reading all of the longlisted plays and members of the BBC Drama Commissioning team will offer valuable one-to-one meetings with each of the playwrights. 

Judging the award this year will be Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson (Hamlet, Almeida and West End; King Lear, West End), Olivier Award-winning producer Francesca Moody MBE (Fleabag, West End), celebrated portrait artist Jonathan Yeo, award-winning comedian Jack Rooke (Big Boys, Channel 4), star of stage and screen Lydia Leonard (Ten Percent!, Amazon/AMC; Wolf Hall, RSC), BAFTA and two-time Emmy and Ivor Novello nominated composer Nainita Desai, and award-winning director and artist, Charlotte Colbert. 

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is vital for launching the careers of up-and-coming talent in the arts, having been a springboard for the likes of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Rachel Weisz. After two years of cancellations and setbacks, the Fringe is returning with a bang this year to bring theatre back to the forefront of the festival circuit. 

Jess Loveland, Head of New Writing commented, “BBC Writersroom are delighted to be partnering with the Popcorn Writing Award for the first time in this exciting year for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It has been a real privilege for the BBC Writersroom team to read the longlisted plays and immerse ourselves in the work of these talented emerging voices. We are looking forward to returning to Edinburgh this month and seeing the writers’ words brought to life on stage.” 

Popcorn Group commented, “We are thrilled to be back with the Popcorn Award this year and to be able to champion these wonderful emerging writers bringing their unique voices to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.” 

Francesca Moody MBE said, “Popcorn Group have been instrumental in championing emerging writers despite the continuing challenges that the pandemic has bought, and the Popcorn Writing Award provides a much-needed platform for creatives.”

Daddy Issues by Anna Krauze, Pleasance

Natalia is a Polish immigrant and an unsuccessful painter who works on a sex line, getting calls from older men seeking a “girlfriend experience”. Nat shares insights of her work, slowly revealing details of her own affairs with men, her emotional baggage and troubles of navigating one's life where dreams are overshadowed by family traumas carried from childhood into adulthood.

SOURCE: bbc.co.uk