Writers' Room
Building writing confidence through a real life Writers' Room experience
The Writers' Room is an exciting scriptwriting programme for Year 9 pupils in Birmingham, delivered in partnership with award-winning writer and performer Steven Camden (Polarbear) and supported by Amazon.
Through immersive theatre experiences, writing workshops and collaboration with professional writers and actors, students explore the art of storytelling and scriptwriting in an authentic Writers' Room environment.
If you would like to register your interest for the 2026/27 programme, please email youngwriters@literacytrust.org.uk.
This project includes
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Memorable experiences
The project begins with an immersive storytelling experience that brings scriptwriting to life. Pupils watch professional actors perform scenes inspired by their own ideas, giving them a powerful insight into how words transform from page to stage.
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Working with a professional writer
Back in school, pupils take part in a series of writer‑led sessions with Steven Camden, exploring the craft of scriptwriting in a genuinely collaborative writers’ room setting. Together they experiment, develop characters, shape scenes and build confidence as young writers.
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Real audience and purpose
The Writers’ Room will culminate in a celebratory showcase event. Pupils will see their scenes performed live by professional actors, and their scripts will be published in an anthology. We provide a performance toolkit to support teachers and students to create performances of the scripts they have created back in school.
"I feel so privileged for our school to have been a part of this pilot. It was more than just an extracurricular opportunity, it was a once in a lifetime experience for some of our pupils, which engaged all of the students involved. The students did not just enjoy the writing elements, they engaged fully and excelled with that aspect of the programme. Some students have even uncovered a new passion of theirs and have engaged even more in school as a result of the project."
Feedback from a teacher who took part in 2025-2026 programme
"This was the best experience of 2026 so far"
Student, 12 years old who took part in 2025 - 2026
Why scriptwriting?
Scriptwriting is a dynamic, collaborative form of storytelling that encourages creativity, dialogue, and imagination. It builds key literacy skills while helping pupils explore voice, character and structure. Most importantly, it shows young people that writing can be playful, expressive, and enjoyed together.
About Steven Camden
Steven Camden, also known as Polarbear, is an internationally acclaimed spoken‑word artist, award‑winning author, poet, storyteller and creative practitioner from Smethwick in the West Midlands.
Since his first stage performance in 2004, he has led creative projects and performed across the world—from Manchester to Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur to California. Steven writes novels, plays, screenplays and poetry that celebrate his mixed heritage and the people and places that shaped him. His participatory work in schools and communities sits at the heart of his practice, using storytelling to empower and connect young people.
Find out more at www.bearstories.org