Plays by some of East London’s top emerging writers will take centre stage as Theatre Royal Stratford East presents the Angelic Tales New Writing Festival.
The annual event, now in its third season, includes a wide selection of work ranging from laugh out loud comedies to inner-city romances, feuding family dramas and a novel look at credit-crunch Britain. 
Festival plays were selected by award-winning writer and director Rikki Beadle-Blair and his Team Angelica following an open call which attracted close to 100 submissions.
Those shortlisted were given the opportunity to develop their writing skills in a series of tailored sessions leading up to the festival.
The event also provides great opportunities for 50 emerging actors and actresses, many of whom are locally based, to work with a number of highly reputed directors including Che Walker and Robert Chevara, during an intensive rehearsal process.
“It’s so inspiring to have Angelic Tales back with us for its third cycle,“ says Dawn Reid, deputy artistic director of Theatre Royal Stratford East.
“This festival is a continuation of the unique way in which Theatre Royal Stratford East supports and develops new writers.
“Working with the talented Rikki Beadle-Blair and John Gordon from Team Angelica, we’re able to take these writers through a very different process of helping to develop and bring their ideas to fruition.
“With in-depth script reports, table reads and continual one-to-one feedback sessions, it’s an experience that many emerging writers don’t often have.
“It is extremely important for us to produce new voices and new work for our stage and Angelic Tales is a festival that does just that.“
The event is also organised to encourage audiences to get involved and ensure their voices are heard as part of the festival. Through a series of post-show conversations, audiences are encouraged to air their views with the aim of fostering a wider debate about the range and type of work that should be presented on stage. Audience members are also asked to complete audience surveys that are then used to develop the work going forward.
In 2012, Lynette Linton, an emerging playwright from Leytonstone had her play mounted into a full production after her work was initially selected to be performed at the second Angelic Tales New Writing Festival.
STEP, a gritty comedy drama about two young people leaving East London to start a new life at university toured to schools, community centres and pupil referral units across the borough before opening at Theatre Royal Stratford East in March 2013.
“Every writer has a different journey,“ adds Rikki, “I went the long way. If, when I was starting out, there had been a scheme like this, with bespoke individual mentoring and intense script work, I can’t help but wonder if I wouldn’t have got to where I am a lot sooner.
“That’s why John Gordon and I started Angelic Tales, to help writers get there sooner. It’s such a thrill to help others step forward and learn the ancient art of storytelling. It’s a privilege to witness someone find their voice and start to share it with the world.
“Every night an audience is going to share that thrill – and hopefully, leave the theatre entertained and inspired to find a way to tell their own story.“
l Angelic Tales New Writing Festival is at Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, from Tuesday, June 11 until Saturday, June 15. Details: 020 8534 0310 or www.stratfordeast.com.