Featured Pilots

Since 2019, we have staged sold-out read-throughs of comedy pilot scripts to audiences of writers, producers and comedy lovers. The writers range from first-timers to Emmy award winners.

QUEER JIG

By Leigh Douglas

Leigh is an actor, writer and stand-up comedian and trained at The Gaiety School of Acting: The National Theatre School of Ireland. Her critically acclaimed one-woman show, Sacrament, has been produced at Theatre Upstairs, Dublin, Vault Festival, and the King's Head Theatre. Her comedy short, You're Alright Hun, is screening at Kerry International Film Festival, FilmBath - Shorts and Los Angeles Queer Film Festival among others. She is currently developing her debut novel with Niamh O'Grady at The Soho Agency.

Cast:
Dearbhla Molloy
Jen Brister
Sarah Hadland
Philippa Dunne
Robyn Holdaway
Rhea Norwood
Chris Cantrill
Lola Jagun
Arabella Weir

MOLLY BOLLOCKS

By Hayley Tamaddon

Hayley is best known for playing Delilah Dingle in Emmerdale, and Andrea Beckett in Coronation Street. She also won the fifth series of ITV’s hit show, Dancing on Ice. She’s played leading roles in numerous West End musicals and TV series, and starred in the award winning film Eaten by Lions. Hayley loves to write comedy and is thrilled to be a part of this brilliant initiative.

Cast:
Hayley Tamaddon
Jonny Weldon
Kate Robbins
Dana Haqjoo
Claire Sweeney
Taj Atwal
Alex Carter
Rina Fatania
Rhea Norwood

THICKER THAN WATER

By Sydney Stevenson

Sydney is a writer, actor and director whose motto in life is, “if in doubt, comedy it out.” Her writing includes Bubonic - long listed for the Papatango prize, M*n and Women - winner of the Voices From Home competition with Broken Silence Theatre, Next Door - an awkward love Story (Tabard Theatre), The Three Musketeers - Attempts by Foolhardy (online run 2021). Her acting credits include Misfits, Red Dwarf, Me and Mrs Jones and Doctors.

Cast:
Arabella Weir
Sydney Stevenson
Jen Brister
Elliott Samuels
Sarah Hadland
Lola Jagun
Rhea Norwood
Chris Cantril

The Patels

By Nikki Patel

Nikki began her creative career as a teenager, as series regular Amber on Coronation Street. She made her stage debut in a leading role at The Old Vic and starred opposite Derek Jacobi in Romeo & Juliet in the West End. Onscreen, she recently wrapped her first feature film Little English. Her audio work spans across radio, video games and audiobooks. Her first piece of writing, The Patels, is a love letter to the strongest person she knows: her mother.

Cast:
Shaheen Khan
Shobna Gulati
Mark Jordon
Nikki Patel
Maanuv Thiara
Marc Elliott
Taj Atwal
Nitin Ganatra
Rina Fatania

DAMSELS

By Amy Xander

Amy Xander is a comic and writer, who has written for Breaking the News and Newsjack. She performed at the Women in Comedy Festival in 2022.

Cast:
Allie - Kerry Howard
Jess - Ambur Khan
Taxi Driver - Dean Kilbey
Eddie - Matt Lacey
Grandma - June Watson
Miranda - Emily Chase
Emily - Jayne Aguire
Angela - Kay Stonham
Tutu Man Jack Shalloo

PRUNELLA

By Samantha Lyden and Teresa Burns

Writing partners since 2014, this duo are regular writers for Cartoon Network and their credits include the hit CBeebies comedy Justin's House, as well as contributing to this year's CBeebies Christmas Show.

Cast:
Prunella - Lauren Douglin
Pat - Frances Tomelty
Janet/ Sister Teresa - Frog Stone
Jono - Dean Kilbey
Fat Uncle Jimmy / Nigel - Robert Calvert
Grainne - Katy Poulter
Sonia - Kerry Howard
Wee Paulie - Elliott Samuels
Ollie - Matt Lacey
Reena - Ambur Khan
Kevin - Jack Shalloo

TWO LADIES

By Janice Hallett

Janice’s plays include ghostly farce Bump in the Night! and feminist Shakespearian romp Netherbard. Her darkly comic debut novel The Appeal is top of the Sunday Times' best crime novels for 2021.

Cast:
Annabel - Tracy Ann Oberman
Amy - Arabella Weir
Wendy/ Emma - Katie Redford
Lawyer Phil/ George - Robert Webb
Builder Phil/ Manager - Amer Chadha Patel
Caz - Anna Crilly
Jaqs - Lucy Porter
Simon - Dan Mersch

DEATH'S EX

By Julie Bower

Julie is the creator and writer of BAFTA and Broadcast Award winning CBBC comedy So Awkward, currently on it’s 7th series. She has also written on Disney’s The Evermoor Chronicles, CBBC’s The Worst Witch, and Flatmates for BBC 3.

Cast:
Connor - Jordan Stephens
Liz - Maddie Rice
Gabby/Wendy - Katie Redford
Scott - Joe Johnsey
Martin - Russell Dean
Fiona - Carla Harrison Hodge
Karen - Abigail Burdess
Jim - Tom Brittney

TUDOR ROSES

By Lorna Woolfson

Lorna’s credits include “HIGNFY” and Turtle’s Canyon’s, “Content, Content”. Her sitcoms have made the finals of Funny Women, Sitcom Mission, shortlist of BAFTA Rocliffe and longlist of BBC Writers room. She’s a mum of two and lives in Bristol.

Cast:
Lettice - Laura Evelyn
Jane - Kerry Howard
Egbert - Robert Webb
Tom - David Brain
Piss - Maggie Ollerenshaw
Gwendoline/Woman - Rhoda Ofori-Attah
Guard, Perv, Judges Voices/Prisoner/Announcer/ Man from the crowd - Matt Lacey

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

By Pip Swallow

Pip Swallow’s first pilot won the Testcard award at the EdinburghTV Festival. Her latest film is in post production and she’s developing a new short with the support of the BFI.

Cast:
Pip - Lydia Rose Bewley
Mary - Vivienne Acheampong
Vivek - Amer Chadha Patel
Josie/Caoimhe/Middle Aged Woman - Amanda Wilkin
Rick/Media Folk 3 - Joe Johnsey
Pip’s Dad/Middle Aged Man/Handsome Host - Robert Webb
Returning Officer/Old Man/Harold/Media Folk 2 - Mike Fenton Stevens
Hanna/Old Woman/Pip’s Mum - Maggie Ollerenshaw
Kofi/Olu/Media Folk 1/ Sophie/Receptionist - Rhoda Ofori-Attah

SPOILER

By Carol Walsh

Carol Walsh is a Dublin-based writer who got her start as a storyliner on the long-running RTÉ soap, FAIR CITY She has written for children’s TV including MINI MOGULS FOR Tailored Films and RTÉ and BERRY BEES for Telegael/ SLR Australia. She is currently developing her original live action teen comedy drama with Tailored Films. She is the winner of the Funny Women Comedy Writing Award.

Cast:
Liv - Amelia Bullmore
Dinah - Rachel Stubbings
Kevin - Greg McHugh
Paul - Tom Bell
Peppy TV Presenter/Siri/Bea - Jayne Aguire
Constance - Kay Stonham
Kerry - Emily Chase
Connall/Steven/Director/Cop 2 - Oliver Powell
John/Hank/Barman/ Cop 1/Peppy Male Presenter/Security Guard - Matt Lacey

BUMP

By Georgia Pritchett

Writer on Succession (HBO), Veep (HBO), Avenue 5 (HBO), Thick of It (BBC), Miranda (BBC), Tracey Ullman (BBC), Have I Got News For You (BBC), Not Going Out (BBC), Smack the Pony (C4), Shaun the Sheep and various other real, cartoon or plasticine people.

Cast:
Gemma - Louise Brealey
Charlie - Greg McHugh
Lily - Elena Saurel
Bear - Kiell Smith Bynoe
Edd Donor 1 - Abigail Burdess
Egg Donor 2 - Jayne Aguire
Egg Donor 3 - Elizabeth Guterbock
Doctor/ Street Performers/ Hotel Security - Matt Lacey

SPARKLING FUTURES

By Kay Stonham

Writer/performer Kay won the Titheridge Award for Radio Comedy in 1995. She created three original series for Radio 4. TV writing includes - My Family, Life of Riley, Harry Enfield and Chums ( BBC 1). Grange Hill, Dani's House, Millie In-between and Shaun the Sheep (CBBC).

Cast:
Andy - Steve Oram
Todd - Jamie Thorogood
Twine - Dory Webb
Kate - Katy Poulter
Barbara - Sarah Hadland
Jim - Martin Trenaman
Sacha - Amanda Wilkin
Claire - Laura Evelyn
Miriam - Arabella Weir
Dot - Kay Stonham
WPC 1 & 2 / Kiosk Worker - Jayne Aguire
PC Gus/Jarvis/Man with Dog - Matt Lacey
DI Kumar - Amer Chadha Patel

BIG OF ME

By Abigail Burdess

Abigail Burdess has written for many TV and radio comedies including That Mitchell and Webb Look and Tracey Ullman’s Show. She now writes continuing dramas, sci-fi and kids’ TV as well as sitcom.

Cast:
Kate - Abigail Burdess
Annie - Isy Stuttie
Lalit - Sindhu Vee
Rav - Amer Chadha Patel
Guy - Finlay Robertson
Kevin - Alexander Kirk
Duck/ Chubby Man - Marek Larwood
Isy/Shelley/Delivery Woman - Amanda Wilkin
Sarah/Thin Woman - Emily Chase
Jamie/Marek/Director - Matt Lacey