City theatre showcases work by local writers

At Last explores the aftermath of a far-right government's fall after 10 years in office

Dramatists have tackled subjects from a UK dystopia to the life of a dominatrix, in plays to be showcased next weekend.

Coventry's Albany Theatre received funds from the Arts Council to put on a weekend celebrating local talent.

Three new plays will be shown on Saturday and Sunday in the Spotlight Studio Theatre.

The two-day festival, In the Spotlight, is the first major public showcase led by new theatre director Alan Pollock, who grew up in the city. He said he wanted to inspire more people in the city to explore their creative talents.

The studio theatre was created as part of the Albany's £3m redevelopment

"We hear a lot about discovering new voices," he said, "but what I'm really interested in are Coventry voices and Midlands stories."

He said the industry was good at spotting talent, but it needed to be sustained.

He said the festival aimed to inspire the next generation of local writers and performers.

"As a Coventry kid myself, this is exactly the kind of work I believe in – offering meaningful platforms, nurturing creative careers, and helping our city's talent shine," he said.

Rugby-based writer Siobhan Healey has written Unleashed, which applies "raw honesty and wit" to themes of shame and sexuality.

Lara J West, from Earlsdon in Coventry, has created a one-woman musical, One Kiss, which featured at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Both will be performed on Saturday.

The third play, At Last, will close the festival on Sunday, following a question and answer session with a creative panel.

At Last has been billed as a "haunting new play", directed by Walgrave-born David Brady, exploring the aftermath of a far-right government's fall after 10 years in office.

The studio theatre was created as part of the Albany's £3m redevelopment, which was completed in 2024.