Producers seeking the neurodivergent, too

Producers piloting a half-hour sketch show have launched a talent search for comedy writers who are deaf, disabled or neurodivergent.

The Writey Funny scheme has been launched by the production company Mighty Bunny, run by Lyndsay Fenner and Victoria Lloyd. The pair have previously  made Radio 4 comedies featuring the likes of  Nick Mohammed, Isy Suttie, Alice Lowe, and James Acaster

A series of accessible online workshops is planned, where the chosen writers will learn from experienced writers, script editors and producers, receiving feedback on their sketches. They will also have the opportunity for a paid sketch commission, as well as the support to develop their own long-form ideas.

The company said: ‘Writers with disabilities are massively underrepresented - according to The Creative Diversity Network, only 3.5 per cent of screenwriters have a disability, compared to 21 per cent of working-age adults.

‘This means that audiences are missing out on loads of great talent and stories, and we’re really looking forward to finding a big old pile of both.’

The initiative is supported by BBC Radio. Its head of business and change, Tony Pilgrim, said: ‘The BBC Radio Indie Development Fund is intended to support the audio production community to champion new talent, increase diversity and be more representative of audiences - this project does exactly that and I look forward to seeing what talent is unearthed".

Writers are invited to submit two sketches, via the application form here by October 5.

A Zoom Q&A will be held on Wednesday September  21 at 12:30pm to learn more.

Published: 7 Sep 2022