This episode features playwright and dramaturg Lorna French, who talks (amongst other things) about observing and collaborating with the audience — the differences between live and radio drama — writing in total silence — joyfully disappearing down the research rabbit hole — character arcs and biographies — utopias and perfectionism — working with actors and directors in the rehearsal room.

Throughout October 2024, writer Philip Holyman invited eight other professional authors — along with members of the public from across Birmingham and the Black Country — to create pieces for an anthology of brand-new work. The public could write wherever and whenever they liked. The professionals, however, were tasked with writing in real time, in full view, in the busy cafe of The Exchange, a grand city centre building which was once Birmingham’s Municipal Bank.

Each contributor responded to a broad inspirational theme, a four-word quote from Ursula K. Le Guin’s iconic novel The Dispossessed — True Voyage Is Return. The works they produced are as unique and individual as the writers themselves — and you can read them all over at philipholyman.com.

You can also hear from some of the amazing people who took part, right here in this ten-episode podcast. We’ll be digging deeper into each writer’s journey, both during this project and across their career. We’ll also be exploring their radically different experiences of creating new work under some truly unusual circumstances.

For more information on the project, the podcast and the rest of Philip’s work, visit: philipholyman.com

Project Leader and Manager | Philip Holyman

Podcast Producer, Engineer and Music Composer | Gareth Nicholls

True Voyage Is Return was produced in partnership with University of Birmingham, and the podcast was produced in partnership with Midlands Arts Centre. The entire project was supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

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