Make Me

Molly Naylor is an award-winning writer and performer. Her stories and plays have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and she has performed at festivals and events across the world.

Molly has been working with High Tide and Norfolk & Norwich Festival to produce a new theatre piece, Make Me.

Molly facilitated creative writing workshops with Hewett Academy’s Year 10 pupils in Norwich. These workshop sessions taught writing techniques such as structure and form, and supported the pupils to develop ideas and find inspiration.

‘It’s interesting to see how to develop those ideas and take them further, that’s definitely something that I have learnt, like the dilemmas, challenges and how the character will change throughout rather than just staying the same…. it’s interesting to see the more professional side of it, how things are really done. I’m enjoying it.’  Pupil, Hewett Academy

At the end of the process the GSCE pupils presented the script pitches to a cohort of Year 7 pupils. Having an artist in residence, gave the pupils insight into the sector, the creative process and the unique chance to work with a professional writer and performer.

Molly was able to take insights from the pupils to develop the evolving script for Make Me, which is set around a struggling local secondary school. It tells the story of Emily, an inept drama teacher with a saviour-complex, and the three young women she’s determined to save.

Make Me received a work-in-progress showing at Norfolk & Norwich Festival in 2024 at Hewett Academy’s Walter Roy Theatre to an audience of around 100.

Artist

Molly Naylor

Location

Norwich, Norfolk

Participants

10 GCSE pupils from The Hewitt Academy

Partners

Hight Tide