India Harrison Peppe

How did you get into writing?

I was involved in theatre a lot growing up, and I went to a state school in London that did a lot of performing arts, where I was drawn to directing and acting. Then I studied English Literature at the University of Bristol, and while I was there I realised I was drawn to the language side of things. My friend Philippa Lawford and I started a theatre company called Bomb Factory in London, just before the pandemic. We’d only written bits and pieces before, and we wanted to use this to elevate other women and non-binary artists, as well as to write our own stuff. We got a really good reception. I was writing a lot over the pandemic and I started looking at master’s degrees because I wanted to learn more about the craft, but practically. Bristol Old Vic was one of the only fully practical courses where you’re in every week doing workshops.

What was the application process like?

You write a personal statement and submit a 20-page extract of your work, which can be an extract from a longer play or a complete short piece. After that there’s a shortlist and you are invited to interview. I was preparing all of the wrong things for the interview – but it’s actually just an informal chat with the leaders of the course, Stephanie Dale and David Edgar.

What advice would you give to other applicants?

Show as much of your style in the extract as possible, because they will be looking at applicants based on different styles. Don’t write what you think they want to read, write what you want to write. In our cohort this year there was such a mix of styles and ambition, and I think that was quite a deliberate thing. We all came to writing from a different perspective, so be true to yourself in that application process.

How did you choose Bristol Old Vic?

I looked around the country and I knew there were scriptwriting courses at universities, but I wanted to do one at a drama school. I wanted to be around other actors, directors and writers, because you meet so many people doing that – it’s an exercise in making connections. I’ve already put a play on since with one of the directors at the school called Jessy Roberts.

What was it like after you graduated?

You write a signature script on the course, which is the script that you show to people, and I submitted mine – Something of my O.W.N – for the Bloomsbury Festival Theatre new-writing award. The script won, so it’s going to be on at RADA next year. I’ve also been accepted on to the Royal Court Writers’ Group. I wouldn’t have been able to do that if I hadn’t done this MA, because I wouldn’t have had the confidence to apply.

CV India Harrison Peppe

Training: BA in English Literature, University of Bristol (2016-19); MA in drama writing at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (2020-21)
First staged work: Girls with Wings and Trauma at the Bomb Factory Art Foundation in London (2021)
Agent: None

For more information on Bristol Old Vic’s MA in drama writing go to: oldvic.ac.uk