First Draft at The Castle

First Draft at Castle Hotel, Manchester, 19 June 2017, free entry

First Draft celebrates its fifth birthday, and is promising a night “complete with cakes and party games and party hats and absolutely bloody everything a fifth birthday party should have”.

First Draft is a regular cabaret night showcasing brand-new work and providing a space for writers and performers of all kinds to test out new ideas in front of a supportive audience. Think: drama, poetry, fiction, music, comedy, storytelling, spoken word, and more. In their five years so far, the First Drafters have staged hundreds of performers sharing their work, and have put on some special events, including Halloween in Chetham’s Library and an annual Christmas hook-up with the folks behind The Real Story.

Regular compère Andrew Williamson will be bowing out on the night, but the remaining team-members have mentioned exciting future plans, so normal service will be resumed under the watchful eyes of drama, fiction and poetry writer Abi Hynes (pictured) and poet, producer and performer Harry Jelley.

If you’d like to share your never-before-performed birthday- and celebration-themed stories, poems, songs, comedy, dance, drama or anything else, email FirstDraftMcr@gmail.com and bags a five- to ten-minute slot.