There’s no better example of our dedication to new writing than our inspirational Writers’ Room, established to support new generations of Kentish writers for stage and screen.

The Writers’ Room has gone from strength to strength since its launch in 2023. Led by award-winning playwright Leo Butler, the Marlowe’s resident dramaturg, the Writers’ Room is designed to nurture aspiring and emerging writers – both those with some experience and those taking their first tentative steps into playwriting.

The Writers’ Room offers several themed courses each year, usually held over six to eight weeks. Upcoming courses are listed below, with previous courses listed further down the page. Numbers are limited to ensure everyone really benefits from the intimate and supportive environment, and all courses are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis – so cost is no barrier to participation.

Beyond the sessions, Writers’ Room course participants become part of the growing Writers’ Room community, with free long-term access to helpful resources and an ever-growing pool of fellow writers as they continue their writing journey.

Writers’ Room Festival

Look out for the annual Writers’ Room Festival, which launched in 2025. Held over several days at the Marlowe, the festival features new work from the likes of Simon Stephens and Penelope Skinner, plus workshops and talks with writers and industry experts such as David Eldridge and Yolanda Mercy.

Leo Butler

Leo Butler is the resident dramaturg at the Marlowe Theatre. His plays include Made of Stone (Royal Court), Redundant (Royal Court, winner of the George Devine Award), Boy (Almeida), I’ll Be the Devil (RSC/The Kiln), Lucky Dog (Royal Court), Faces in the Crowd (Royal Court), All You Need Is LSD (Birmingham Rep/Told by an Idiot), Innocent Creatures (National Theatre) and, most recently, Living (Sheffield Playhouse) He is also the author of Notes from a Working-Class Playwright (Methuen Drama, 2025).