Suzanne Bell is currently the New Writing Associate and Dramaturg at the Royal Exchange Theatre. She has worked on a number of award-winning productions of new work and has led writer development workshops at Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Royal Court Theatre, Soho Theatre, Live Theatre, Gate Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Theatre West, various universities and for companies in Brazil, Turkey, Canada and the USA. Suzanne was the first Literary Manager and Dramaturg to be appointed at the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, where she worked with a number of playwrights including Jonathan Harvey, Chloe Moss, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Esther Wilson and Lizzie Nunnery. She also worked on the award-winning production of UNPROTECTED, winner of the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award. In her role at the Royal Exchange Theatre, she oversees the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, Britain’s biggest national playwriting competition.

A partnership between the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and property company Bruntwood, the Prize is an opportunity for writers of any background and experience to enter unperformed plays to be judged by a panel of industry experts for a chance to win part of a prize fund totalling £40,000.

At the heart of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is the principal that anyone and everyone can enter the Prize – it is entirely anonymous and scripts are judged purely on the basis of the work alone and with no knowledge of the identity of the playwright. Since its inception in 2005 over 15,000 scripts have been entered, £304,000 has been awarded to 34 prize winning writers and 26 winning productions have been staged in 38 UK wide venues. In 2015 it celebrated its 10th anniversary and is now recognised as a launch-pad for some of the country’s most respected and produced playwrights.

Each winner enters into a development process with the Royal Exchange Theatre in an endeavour to bring their work to production. It is not guaranteed but we aspire to produce each play and find co-producers to give the plays a longer life and further reach. There have been co-productions with Lyric Hammersmith, Live Theatre, Soho Theatre, Bush Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, Sherman Theatre, High Tide and the Royal Court Theatre. Work has also gone on to be produced internationally from Australia, USA, Germany, France, to Canada and Sweden.

InTheRoom Series Three is sponsored by Actors Coaching International. An Acting school with an ethos of trust, authenticity, and connection. At ACI, everyone has a voice, everyone will be seen and heard. Please visit: actorscoachinginternational.com/#home to find out more.

Actors Matthew Philip Harris and Christian Lee Smith, want to try and answer the question “how do I get in the room?”

While it’s a multifaceted question they believe every creative can find their answer. They hope to do this for themselves and their audience.

Discussions packed with advice, motivation, and entertainment from the top professionals in our industry. Casting Directors, Agents, Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers and more!

Come and join Matthew and Christian, InTheRoom.

JBR has been in the industry for almost 40 years, having made their West End debut at the London Coliseum in 1985.

Interposed with a long career as a performer, JBR picked up degrees in Film, TV & Drama from Bristol University, a PGCE in English, Media & Drama from London Met and an MA in Performance from Mountview.

They have been Editor of The Drama Student Magazine, a theatre journalist for First Act Magazine, Musical Stages and The Irish Tribune. They have been a judge on the Olivier panel, the Amateur Stages playwriting competition, a recurring judge for the Stiles & Drewe New Musical Award and adjudicated on various film festival panels. They have also been a venue manager, a comedy host, a drag queen, a cabaret performer, a producer and a director.

After retiring from performing, JBR joined Simon & How Agency building their musical theatre book and developing the company as Chief Operating Officer.

With a wealth of industry experience across a number of fields JBR launched JBR Creative Management in 2019.

In 2021 Nick Hern Books published JBR’s first book, Getting, Keeping & Working With Your Acting Agent - a complete guide for actors which explains everything actors need to know about agents.

JBR also teaches at Associated Studios Drama School on the BA and MA Musical Theatre courses.

They became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2022.

InTheRoom Series Three is sponsored by Actors Coaching International. An Acting school with an ethos of trust, authenticity, and connection. At ACI, everyone has a voice, everyone will be seen and heard. Please visit: actorscoachinginternational.com/#home to find out more.

Actors Matthew Philip Harris and Christian Lee Smith, want to try and answer the question “how do I get in the room?”

While it’s a multifaceted question they believe every creative can find their answer. They hope to do this for themselves and their audience.

Discussions packed with advice, motivation, and entertainment from the top professionals in our industry. Casting Directors, Agents, Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers and more!

Come and join Matthew and Christian, InTheRoom.

iD Talent is a sole agency representing talented adults and children for roles in film, TV, commercials, theatre, radio and voice-overs.

Their team is committed to personal attention, quality preparation and working with clients who enjoy performing.

Above all, they want their clients to enjoy sharing their talents and they want to showcase their unique clients.

InTheRoom Series Three is sponsored by Actors Coaching International. An Acting school with an ethos of trust, authenticity, and connection. At ACI, everyone has a voice, everyone will be seen and heard. Please visit: actorscoachinginternational.com/#home to find out more.

Actors Matthew Philip Harris and Christian Lee Smith, want to try and answer the question “how do I get in the room?”

While it’s a multifaceted question they believe every creative can find their answer. They hope to do this for themselves and their audience.

Discussions packed with advice, motivation, and entertainment from the top professionals in our industry. Casting Directors, Agents, Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers and more!

Come and join Matthew and Christian, InTheRoom.