By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge has purchased and donated a London flat to be used rent-free by early-career writers struggling with accommodation costs in the capital. The flat is part of a new theatre initiative called Writers' Block, which aims to remove financial barriers for playwrights from underprivileged backgrounds.
Scheme addresses accommodation costs
The 41-year-old writer and actress bought the property specifically for writers starting out, with residents only responsible for utility bills. The scheme also includes a "generous financial contribution" to support the writers during their stay.
Backers highlight class barrier
Other prominent backers include Jack Thorne, co-creator of Adolescence and writer of Wonder, Enola Holmes, and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child; playwright James Graham; Happy Valley creator Sally Wainwright; The Crown's Peter Morgan; and Waller-Bridge's partner, filmmaker Martin McDonagh. Thorne said the initiative tackles the survival struggle that prevents many writers from pursuing their craft. Graham emphasized that the industry's push for representation still neglects class, noting that spare rooms like this can save writers from giving up entirely.
Origins of Writers' Block
Writers' Block evolved from the Adopt a Playwright Award, founded in 2008 by Sofie Mason and Diana Jervis-Read, which provided affordable accommodation for disadvantaged writers needing to be in London for meetings, rehearsals, and career opportunities.
