Fifth Word Theatre

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Fifth Word Theatre

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Award-winning touring theatre company specialising in new writing.

Our artistic vision places an emphasis on new writing and the use of multimedia technologies on stage. Fifth Word is passionate about working with new writing talent and has recently won an award from the writers’ guild of Great Britain for the encouragement of new writing.

27/10/2026

Start here. 🎙️ The Our Story introduction episode is out now.

LGBTQ+ young people and allies from Mansfield learned new creative skills, then interviewed trans and gender-diverse people of all ages across Nottinghamshire about their lives, identities, moments of resistance, joy and community. Those conversations inspired every play in the series.

Give it a listen and tell us what you think. 💜

🎧 Listen free on all major podcast platforms and the Fifth Word website: https://fifthword.info/productions/our-story-2/

📅 Episode One, The Kids Are Alright by Chris Bush, lands Fri 30 Oct with new episodes every Friday

With:
Mansfield Museum and Art Gallery, Inspire Nottinghamshire Libraries, Loughborough University, Nottinghamshire Archives, MyPlace@ Westfield Folkhouse Young People’s Centre, East Midlands Oral History, East Mids Transgender Network.

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

27/10/2026

Start here. 🎙️ The Our Story introduction episode is out now.
Before the plays, there’s the project. LGBTQ+ young people and allies from Mansfield learned oral history, photography, filmmaking and more, then interviewed trans and gender-diverse people of all ages across Nottinghamshire about identity, resistance, joy and community. Those conversations inspired every play in this series. Press play, then tell us what you think in the comments. 💜
🎧 Listen free on all major podcast platforms and the Fifth Word website, link in bio
📅 Episode One, The Kids Are Alright by Chris Bush, lands Fri 30 Oct with new episodes every Friday
With Mansfield Museum Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, Loughborough University, NLoughborough University, NCC Mansfield Youth Teamry and East Mids Transgender Network. Supported by The National Lottery HeritThe National Lottery Heritage FundLeicester New PerspeCurve Leicester New PerspectivesaMermaidstage

26/10/2026

We're excited to announce the Our Story Podcast!

Listen to our newly released trailer for a snippet of how LGBTQ+ young people and allies from Mansfield learned oral history, photography, filmmaking and more, then interviewed trans and gender-diverse people of all ages across Nottinghamshire to inspire a new audio play series.

🎧 Listen free on all major podcast platforms and the Fifth Word website: https://fifthword.info/productions/our-story-podcast/

📅 Series launches Fri 30 October with new episodes every Friday
With Nottingham Archives, Mansfield Museum and Art Gallery, Inspire Nottinghamshire Libraries, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

With support also from MyPlace@ Westfield Folkhouse Young People’s Centre, East Mids Transgender Network, East Midlands Oral History and Loughborough University.

Special thanks to Mermaids, Curve and New Perspectives.

29/09/2026

Closing midnight tonight! We’re so pleased to have achieved so much in 2026, but we’re planning our next workshops, artist offers and commissions - and we want to co-design them with you.
Your voice matters: whether you are starting your very first script or an established playwright navigating the ups and downs of the industry, we want to hear from you by so please take just 5 minutes to tell us what works for your life, your craft, and your career. Your anonymous feedback directly shapes our future programming and artist provision: creating maximum impact.
Take the survey via our link in bio.

28/09/2026

You’ve heard from our friends, read the stats but what about the writers themselves? Read what our Fifth Word Playwrights had to say about our Playwrighting Group & opportunities.
Our Writer and Artist survey is live, but tomorrow midnight is your last chance to make sure Fifth Word truly serves you, we want to know what you need, and what is most helpful and impactful right now. This focussed survey takes just 5 minutes to complete. Tell us what works for your life, craft, and career. Your anonymous feedback directly shapes our future programming and artist provision: creating maximum impact.

Take the survey via our link in bio.

26/09/2026

Hear what our friends and collaborators have to say about our work on Year One of Fifth Word Playwrights. After our first year of workshops, artist offers and commissions, we want to co-design the next year with you.

Your voice matters: whether you are starting your very first script or an established playwright navigating the ups and downs of the industry, we want to hear from you by midnight on Tuesday 29 September.

Please take just 5 minutes to tell us what works for your life, your craft, and your career. Your anonymous feedback directly shapes our future programming and artist provision: creating maximum impact.

Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/VpdMkyMYZazjGTAz8

24/09/2026

Reminder ahead of the weekend! Fifth Word is planning its next workshops, artist offers and commissions - and we want to co-design them with you.
Your voice matters: whether you are starting your very first script or an established playwright navigating the ups and downs of the industry, we want to hear from you by midnight on Tuesday 29 September.
Please take just 5 minutes to tell us what works for your life, your craft, and your career. Your anonymous feedback directly shapes our future programming and artist provision: creating maximum impact.

Take the survey via our link in bio.

18/09/2026

Shape Fifth Word’s Future Playwriting Provision! Our Writer and Artist survey is live, but to make sure Fifth Word truly serves you, we want to know what you need, and what is most helpful and impactful right now. This focussed survey takes just 5 minutes to complete. Tell us what works for your life, craft, and career. Your anonymous feedback directly shapes our future programming and artist provision: creating maximum impact.

Take the survey via our link in bio.

17/09/2026

A Year of Fifth Word Playwrights in Numbers! We're so pleased to have achieved so much in 2026, but we're planning our next workshops, artist offers and commissions - and we want to co-design them with you.

Your voice matters: whether you are starting your very first script or an established playwright navigating the ups and downs of the industry, we want to hear from you by midnight on Tuesday 29 September.

Please take just 5 minutes to tell us what works for your life, your craft, and your career. Your anonymous feedback directly shapes our future programming and artist provision: creating maximum impact.

Click through our stats and take the survey here: https://forms.gle/VpdMkyMYZazjGTAz8

14/09/2026

For all the joy we’ve had this last week, we recognise it’s been a tough week for the industry. With cuts across the arts, we want to recognise the tireless work of some of our friends. Our hearts go out to all the staff, artists, playwrights and audiences of the Gate Theatre, whose vital legacy of international dialogue, playwriting and inspiring global artistic solidarity can and will never be erased. A sore loss and sign of the times, and a feat to have fought so valiantly to survive so long after their devastating 2022 funding cut.
The building and company may have been lost but their legacy lives in on in the writing and stories of all the creatives they’ve championed over the years.

Team Fifth Word x

Address

Derby

Website

http://www.fifthword.co.uk/

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