‘Fleabag’ creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge has donated a London flat to help early-career writers from disadvantaged backgrounds afford to live in the capital.
As stated by The Guardian, Waller-Bridge bought the property for Writers’ Block, an initiative aimed at tackling class barriers in theatre. Writers selected for the scheme will pay only utility bills. She has also made a “generous financial contribution” to support its work.
Screenwriter Jack Thorne, co-creator of ‘Adolescence’ and writer of ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’, is also backing the initiative financially. He said affordable accommodation was essential for writers who otherwise struggle to balance creative work with the cost of living.
“For many writers, the need for a roof makes writing impossible,” Thorne said, stressing the importance of ensuring that people from all backgrounds could tell their stories.
Other supporters include playwright and screenwriter James Graham, ‘Happy Valley’ creator Sally Wainwright, ‘The Crown’ writer Peter Morgan and filmmaker Martin McDonagh, Waller-Bridge’s partner.
Research by the Sutton Trust and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre found that only 16% of people working in the creative industries came from working-class backgrounds. The research also indicated that class inequalities were more pronounced in the sector than in any other.
Graham said the industry’s efforts to improve representation continued to overlook class. Recalling his early years in London, he said he had slept on friends’ floors and worked in call centres and bars while writing.
He added that schemes offering affordable accommodation could help emerging writers pursue their careers rather than abandon them because of financial pressures.
Writers’ Block developed from the Adopt a Playwright Award, founded in 2008 by Sofie Mason and Diana Jervis-Read to provide affordable accommodation for writers travelling to London for meetings, rehearsals, performances and career opportunities.
The scheme invites London residents to offer spare rooms at reduced rates, capped at £30 a night or £500 a month. It has secured 15 homes and helped 12 writers find accommodation, ranging from overnight stays to longer placements.
Organisers say the initiative could also benefit older people living alone who would welcome companionship and additional income but may feel uncomfortable advertising rooms to strangers.
