Dancing Ledge has announced the two writers who will take part in the indie’s Writers in Residence scheme this year: Rebecca Manley and Jonathan Neil.
Each year the company invites UK literary agents to submit new writers to be considered for the scheme. The writers submitted should have had at least one script produced in theatre, radio, TV or film, but no more than one in film or TV. The selected writer is given a bursary, a desk in the Dancing Ledge offices and are invited to attend in-house development meetings, read scripts in development, be offered feedback on their work and given access to writers the company is currently working with. They also participate in writers’ workshops Dancing Ledge holds as part of the ScreenSkills Screenwriting Mentorship Programme.
The company’s residency programme has previously seen Caroline Bartleet, Lauren Sequeira, Georgia Christou, Tristan Bernays, Dillon Mapletoft, Jodie Irvine, Emma Sidi awarded the position.
Rebecca Manley has written extensively for young adults including National Youth Theatre, York Theatre Royal, West Yorkshire Playhouse and the Bush. She was on the BBC Drama Writers Programme (2019), working with Kudos North to develop a drama based on her experiences of working with young women. She is writing with Peter Straughan on a thriller with Bad Wolf and with Bryony Kimmings on The Rapture with Mammoth Screen for BBC (shooting 2025). She has solo projects in development with VAL and Bonafide and is developing a feature with Origin Pictures. Rebecca was previously an actor with major roles in Shane Meadows’ This Is England and Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant. She has since worked with Barnard on other projects in script/story development.
Jonathan Neil is a previous winner of the Red Planet Prize for his breakthrough script Darby & Joan and he has also been selected for the BBC TV Drama Writers Programme, Broadcast Hot Shots and most recently the prestigious Dancing Ledge Writer-in-Residence scheme. He has developed original projects with many of the UK’s leading producers including Firebird Pictures, Kudos, Red Planet, Left Bank, Hillbilly and BBC Studios. His first television credit was Father Brown (BBC1) and his plays include Judy, The Righteous (King’s Head/Trafalgar Studios), and Twitcher (shortlisted for the Papatango Prize).
Laurence Bowen, CEO Dancing Ledge Productions says, “Nurturing creative talent is always at the forefront of the company’s work and through our Writer-in-Residence programme we have been able to support the careers of a generation of new writers. It is critical to the future of our industry that we remove financial barriers that would otherwise block talent and continue to promote diversity through these sorts of career initiatives.”
Rebecca Manley says, “I’m absolutely thrilled to be offered the opportunity to work with the brilliant team at Dancing Ledge Productions. I was already a huge fan of their work, which encapsulates a boldness, authenticity, and humour that I aspire to in my own writing. As someone new to writing for TV, the WIR scheme will give me the time, space, and confidence to develop my voice and explore the stories I’m passionate about telling. In an industry where some writers have to do so much unpaid creative work whilst juggling other jobs and family commitments, I’m so grateful that DLP are bucking the trend in terms of access to a regressively elitist industry. I plan to do them and myself proud and can’t wait to get cracking.”
Jonathan Neil says, “I am honoured to be joining Dancing Ledge as a writer in residence, especially as a big fan of the company’s bold output. I applied for the scheme at a time when I felt like my voice was being lost in this vast and competitive industry, so it’s hugely validating to be offered an opportunity like this. Dancing Ledge represent so much of what I aspire to in my work, with a history of imaginative and honest storytelling and the team have already shown me such a warm and enthusiastic welcome. Having the chance to develop something with a company who are genuinely committed to investment in new writers and original content is a real privilege, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with such a creative and forward-thinking team.”
The Writer in Residence for 2023/24 is actress, comedian and writer Emma Sidi. Sidi has starred in hit TV shows such as Taskmaster (Channel 4), Starstruck (BBC 3 & HBO Max), three series of Bafta-nominated comedy Pls Like (BBC 3). Other credits include We Might Regret This (BBC 1), King Gary (BBC 1), W1A (BBC 1), Ghosts (BBC 1), Industry (BBC 1) and Stath Lets Flats (Channel 4). Her solo show, Emma Sidi is Sue Gray sold out at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and will transfer to Soho Theatre Monday 28 Oct – Saturday 2 Nov 24.
Dancing Ledge has established itself as one of the UK’s leading production companies for new talent. Running a number of mentor programmes including the high-end Producer and Director Mentoring scheme with BBC TV, the ScreenSkills New Writers Programme and The Dawn Sturgess Bursary. From holding regular creative writing workshops with local school Kensington Aldridge Academy, mentoring students, providing work placements and fundraising the company supports the career progression of many new writers, helping them develop their skills and find opportunities within the industry. Dancing Ledge Productions work internationally with Fremantle, which has a majority stake in the company.
Look out for our feature on new writer intiatives in Televisual’s Winter issue.
Pippa Considine
Share this story
