Writers Lab Presents… showcases new work from Bristol theatre-makers at the Tobacco Factory Theatres
Saturday 6 June 2026 | Spielman Theatre, Tobacco Factory Theatres
Two new works by emerging theatre-makers will be showcased on Saturday 6 June as part of a special Writers Lab Presents day at Tobacco Factory Theatres.
Taking place in the Spielman Theatre, the event celebrates writers who have developed their craft through the venue’s Writers Lab group, offering audiences the chance to experience bold, personal work at an early stage of its life.
The programme features two distinct pieces about grief and trust, told through dark comedy and inventive theatrical storytelling.
3pm – This Show is Not About Death by Charlotte Souter
Charlotte Souter presents a dark comedy based on her personal experience of grieving her estranged dad. It follows Ella as she tries to perform a quirky office comedy, only to be interrupted by the ghost of her dead father, who insists they create a show together. This is a story about navigating complicated grief without a map and will be presented as a script in hand performance by Charlotte herself.
Tickets: £6 | tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/writers-lab-presents-this-show-is-not-about-death
Charlotte Souter said:
“Debuting my show at the Tobacco Factory Theatres, where the idea was born, feels like a full-circle moment. Writers Lab was instrumental in giving me the tools to execute this play. I learnt so much from Mike Akers and the network of writers I met on the course. I am really excited to bring this piece to my local theatre.”
7pm – A Very Difficult Person by Rhys Williamson
Theatre-maker Rhys Williamson presents a darkly comic solo show inspired by his real-life experience of being scammed by a roofer in Bristol. Reimagined as a modern fairytale, the piece casts the rogue trader as the Big Bad Wolf, using direct storytelling to examine trust, justice and the need to feel safe in one’s own home.
A Very Difficult Person was presented as a work in progress at Camden People's Theatre as part of SPRINT Festival, where it was described by Culture Matters as “consistently laugh out loud… absolutely one to watch”.
Tickets: £10 | tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/writers-lab-presents-a-very-difficult-person
Rhys Williamson said:
“I’m hugely excited to bring this show to the city where I live and where the story actually happened. I really enjoyed my time at Writers Lab and the opportunity to perform the show in the space where the idea first germinated feels really special. Writers Lab got me thinking about making my own solo piece, and what I learnt there has been invaluable in shaping this show.”
About Writers Lab Presents
Writers Lab Presents marks the first time participants from the programme have been brought together for a dedicated showcase of this scale.
The day builds on a series of successful scratch nights and highlights the impact of the Writers Lab, which has been running since 2023 and is led by Mike Akers. The programme supports new and developing writers through weekly sessions focused on voice, confidence and craft.
This showcase offers a snapshot of that process in action, presenting artists who have taken their work beyond the lab into full theatrical development.
More information about Writers Lab: tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/writers-lab-summer-2026-term.
