Ten Black creatives selected for first Alex Wheatle scriptwriting programme

Ten talented Black creatives have been selected for the inaugural Alex Wheatle Witness Writing Project to develop their voice, sharpen their storytelling and explore writing for the stage.

A collaboration between Words of Colour, Theatre Peckham and Manchester Metropolitan University, the month-long programme for 17–30-year-olds will launch on 15th September 2026 in memory of the multi-award-winning writer, academic and literary activist Alex Wheatle MBE (1963-2025).

The cohort will receive expert guidance from industry figures, including programme lead, theatre and film director Roy Alexander Weise and guest tutor, playwright and screenwriter Roy Williams.

Roy Williams OBE said: “I’m excited to be involved in this project because projects like this are where I started and where my love for writing grew. The Alex Wheatle Witness Writing Project is more than just potentially funding another Shakespeare, it’s also about building confidence in young people’s minds and a chance for them to express themselves.”

One of the cohort Destiny Phillip, aged 20, said: “I’m excited to have the opportunity to express what I need to say as an artist through this project and the story I want to develop. I can’t think of a better way to do that than alongside Roy Alexander Weise and Theatre Peckham, while honouring the legacy of incredible storyteller Alex Wheatle.”

At the end of the programme, there’ll be a public sharing where a five-minute extract from each writer’s work will be directed and performed by actors as part of Theatre Peckham’s Young, Gifted & Black season on 17th October 2026.

Suzann McLean, CEO and Artistic Director at Theatre Peckham, said: “We’ve seen first-hand how storytelling can build confidence, open doors and help young people make sense of the world around them. Following our stage adaptation of Witness, the Alex Wheatle Witness Writing Project is a natural next step. Through this partnership, we’re investing in young voices and creating opportunities for young Black writers to have the platform to continue Alex’s legacy.”

Joy Francis (Hon) FRSL, Executive Director at Words of Colour, said: “Alex championed young Black people, and the importance of centring our lives in literature, all of his adult life. He visited schools across the country, worked with reading charities such as BookTrust, ran workshops in prisons and taught creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University. His commitment to inclusion in writing industries was a mission. This project aims to keep his mission alive.”

Dr Aidan Arrowsmith, Head of the School of English at Manchester Metropolitan University, added: “The Alex Wheatle Witness Writing Project is a wonderful initiative that remembers our much-loved colleague Alex, and supports the development of a new generation of Black British playwrights. It is exactly the sort of project Manchester Writing School wants to be involved in, bringing together creativity, opportunity and lasting impact.”