Dear Joanna explores obsession, innocence and growing up. The play is about two kids called Dave and Joanna. Dave is an endearing boy with a huge crush on Joanna. As the play progresses and they reach adolescence, this unrequited love story takes an unsettling turn. 

The play lands its audience back into the emotional intensity of childhood and adolescence, reminding us what it was like to feel everything all at once. Funny, dark, and surprising, Dear Joanna combines bold new writing with a sharp exploration of gender and childhood.

“What begins as an innocent form of courtship evolves into a subtle suggestion of the origins of incel culture.” - The Reviews Hub

Nine acts. One live band. Seamlessly woven together.

Blending emerging voices with established theatre-makers, this year’s lineup features work from:

Martina Laird (RSC, Kiln Theatre), Hassan Abdulrazzak (Soho Theatre, Arcola Theatre), alongside Chelsea Bondzanga, Louis Caitliff, Lucy Ellis, Joshua Haigh, Pound Puppy, Julia Rudd, and Isabella Thompson.

Step into the absurd world of chaos where drama, sketch, clowning, and dance collide. 

A celebration of the incredible new writing talent emerging from the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester’s Centre for New Writing.