New Narratives for the North East | Commissioned Writing

Early in 2020, fifteen writers were commissioned to create new work about the North East in an ambitious project from New Writing North and the North East Culture Partnership.

We believe that in order to thrive we need strong narratives and stories, which help shape our collective imagination.  We believe that the North East needs new narratives to tell its story and to help shape its future.

In late 2019, we launched the call-out for New Narratives of the North East, a major commissioning strand for new work across genres.

The project was announced following massive political events for the region, including the Brexit vote and the 2019 General Election. The commissions were made during a global pandemic in which areas of the North East have been amongst the worst hit in Britain.

Yet, the 15 writers are asked to look beyond the flux and rhetoric of the current moment to capture something deeper and more lasting about the contemporary North East and its people.

You can read each of the writers’ resulting responses below.