From characters in Shakespeare sharing their most intimate thoughts, to Fleabag’s direct to camera confessions, monologues are a timeless form of brilliant storytelling.

What the story is, how it’s told, who is telling it, and how they express themselves can reveal as much about a writer’s interests and abilities as the largest scale scripts.

Monologues are a great way to showcase a writer’s talent. But it can also be a fiendishly difficult form to make brilliant.

CROWD is a project to get everyone writing. We’ll share advice from experts to inspire your writing, every submission will get feedback, and some will get performed and recorded by our partner, Roots.

We invited submissions of monologues no longer than five minutes in performance which responsed to the following brief:

On March 16th 2020, crowds abruptly stopped gathering like never before. Months have now passed and public gatherings have not restored to what they were. Crowds are likely forever changed.

City life is re-awakening in Yorkshire. But what communities are populating it, what do people now seek in crowds, and what potential is there for the future of busy city life?

Scroll down to view the finished films.

Shades by Jo Firth, performed by Laura Hanna

About Jo

“Hi, I’m Jo Firth and a mum of 3 young children. I’ve never written for theatre; I’ve never had anything published – but I’ve always written. I lacked the guts to put my writing in front of other people before this year. A few months ago I decided to stop being a total coward  – I’m finally giving myself time to write and have shaken off the nerves about sharing my writing. I’m absolutely loving it!”

Ready or Not by Lucy Campbell, performed by Sophie Melville

About Lucy

Lucy lives in Harrogate. She trained as an actor and has made theatre with people with learning disabilities and people who have experienced homelessness. She has worked as an assistant director at Leeds Playhouse.

Flares by Matthew Ingram, performed by Robbie O’Neill

About Matthew

Matthew Ingram is an emerging writer for theatre. As a playwright, he’s been developed by Sherman Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and The Writing Squad, and his work has appeared at The North Wall, Oxford. Matt has worked on projects with and for Northern Broadsides, Dirty Protest, Sherman Theatre and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Matt’s first full-length play is currently longlisted for the Pitch Your Play scheme (Masterclass Trust, Theatre Royal Haymarket), and in the past he’s been longlisted for HighTide’s First Commissions scheme (2017) and the Papatango Prize (2016).

Every submission has received feedback from Steven Atkinson, artistic director of Roots. Steven founded the new writing theatre company HighTide, and has produced over eighty new plays with theatres throughout the UK including the National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, and Young Vic.

If we can help you further, please contact Steven Atkinson on hello@rootstouring.com

CROWD is a Roots and York Theatre Royal project.

CROWD is supported by the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund.