We're excited to see the first green shoots emerge from Climate Comedy Lab, our new commissioning programme for environmentally conscious microshorts. After launching a callout late last year, we’ve now selected five Doncaster-based creatives to take part in the programme and develop a fistful of green-fingered comedy sketches clocking in at 90 seconds or less.

Project development is already underway. Our Lab participants are currently working on ideas and receiving mentoring from two industry experts: chameleonic comedy hero and web funny man Greig Johnson, and Lisa Laws - Project Manager at the award-winning North East Comedy Hot House. After the scripts are complete, we’ll connect our lab filmmakers with a Director and Producer, and our partners at Doncaster Creates will support the projects as they move into production.

We’ll share more news from the Lab as the microshorts develop. In the meantime, meet our Climate Comedy Writers.

Josh’s interest in writing started when he joined the Young Writers Play Scheme at Hull Truck Theatre, which led to a showcase of his short play over two nights in 2013. After graduating university, Josh worked as an assistant to BAFTA-winning Producer Chris Hees where he worked in development and production on feature and short film project, and furthered his passion for scripted work.

Matt Fong has been a stand up comedian since 2011 and, after a decade on the circuit, has honed the art of live comedy. In 2019, Matt brought his debut solo show, BBC: British-Born Chinese to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The successful, sold out run was featured at the Pleasance’s Best of Edinburgh Showcase. Since the pandemic struck, Matt has been focused on writing comedy.

Lauren Townsend is a creative producer working in theatre, live events, film and community arts. In 2019, she was selected to take part in Film Hub North's Creative Producers School; and is currently on Stage One's Bridge The Gap scheme for emerging commercial theatre producers. Increasing diversity in the creative workforce is at the core of her practice and she is interested in establishing collaboration between artforms.

Rowe Woods holds a PGDip in Creative Writing from the University of York and a PGCert in Screenwriting from the University of Salford. Rowe was a participant on New Writing North’s Significant Ink programme in 2016 and Papatango Theatre Company’s Playwriting Course in 2017, and was shortlisted for ITV’s Original Voices screenwriting scheme in 2019. Rowe loves situational comedy, especially if it can deliver a message.

Billy Woolrich lives and works – as a baker – in Doncaster. Billy has recently completed a Masters in Writing for Performance and Publication at the University of Leeds, they developed several scripts and TV pilots. Billy’s writing tends to involve LGBT+ themes and characters, and almost always explores the fantasy genre.