It was recently revealed that two talented Fermanagh writers are currently involved in the BBC Writers Room, a prestigious programme which discovers, develops and champions new and experienced writing talent across the whole of the UK.

Accomplished writer and director Kat Woods, from Enniskillen, is part of the most recent Drama Room development group, which began in autumn 2019. Since then she has been attending monthly workshops, been introduced to different scripted content areas across the BBC and has been developing an original spec’ script. Speaking to The Impartial Reporter about her experience, Kat said: “Being part of the BBC Drama Room has been a highlight of my career to date. I’ve wanted to make the leap from Theatre to TV for sometime now and applied to the Drama room three times over the years. I wasn’t actually going to apply for the 2019 intake as the rejections had been coming thick and fast but was advised to just put myself in the running at least. Thankfully pride aside I heeded the advice.”

Explaining that the scheme itself involves a year’s training through workshops and mentorships from industry professionals with the goal of successfully producing a spec script, Kat continued: “This spec script is then used as an industry calling card that can be sent to various indies for consideration as an example of the work you aim to produce.”

“I am adapting a bit play and focusing on fictionalising the world that I want to create. I think representation across the media is exceptionally important and I’m working towards productions that redefine the narrative when we speak in terms of the often demonised benefit class,” she told this newspaper.

The Drama Room group were selected following the BBC’s unsolicited Script Room window for Drama scripts which closed back in January 2019. In that window they received 3,634 scripts. Kat has a particular interest in staging works that provide a platform for those from socio-economic deprived areas. Works that are representative of her community, that she loves, The Underclass. Works that redefine the discourse surrounding the poverty stereotype. Represented by Alex Rusher at Independent Talent and published by Samuel French, Kat is an Associate Artist at The Pleasance Theatre and a writing associate at Omnibus Theatre. She is also a Royal Court/Kudos TV writers group alumnus. Most recently Kat has been commissioned to write for The Abbey Theatre on their Priming the Canon programme and the Cuilcagh to Cleenish (C2C) Fermanagh community project. Kat’s work has been performed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Finland, US: Baltimore, Washington DC, Connecticut and New York.

Emma Moran, a writer and comedian, who is also originally from Enniskillen, is part of the Comedy Room development group and was selected following an unsolicited Script Room window for Comedy scripts which closed back in April 2019. In that window 2,728 scripts were received.

Usually based in London, Emma is currently living in Manchester completing an MA in screenwriting. She began writing and performing sketch comedy and stand up while at UCL and took up a sketch show, ‘Galpals’, to the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe. Since then she has been writing and producing comedy sketches for The Hook, a digital publisher, amassing tens of millions of views across Facebook and Youtube.

“Being in the Writers Room has been such a great experience,” shared Emma, adding: “I’ve developed my writing and it’s opened so many doors into the industry which is notoriously hard to get a foothold in! I think it really shows the value of the BBC in supporting emerging writers.”

Both Kat and Emma were introduced to BBC commissioners and independent producers at a special event at BAFTA recently.