Aspiring and professional playwrights plus those who support them are being encouraged to take part in 'What Do Playwrights Need?' this Sunday (October 13), a symposium created to talk about creating the right environment to help fresh writing flourish in the East of England.

Hosted by the Lakeside Theatre at the Colchester Campus the symposium will look at what factors support playwrights.

Fin Kennedy will provide a provocative opening using the findings from his 'In Battalions: Delphi' report into the effect of Arts Council cuts on theatres' capacity to develop new plays and playwrights.

Rebecca Prichard will contribute with a session on gender and playwriting, Steve Waters has agreed to round off the day with a summing up.

There will be a book stall and there will also be readings and breakout discussion groups. The day will be full of opportunities to network, further ideas and play.

Lakeside director Barbara Peirson said: "We aim also to begin a network of playwrights with East of England connections. We are inviting directors, actors and others who support playwrights or who are involved in the business of playwriting so that the theatre will be full of a rich array of expertise and open minds.

"We have a wonderful resource with the Lakeside Theatre: a building, plenty of people, space and a rich community of those who have been connected to it through the work they've been involved in there throughout its existence. We'd like to give this community a sense of identity, belonging and connection. So this symposium was dreamt up with that in mind."

The day runs from 10.30am to 5pm. The ticket includes a buffet lunch and entry to Elizabeth Kuti's new play Fishskin Trousers, fresh from its run at the Finborough Theatre in London, which starts at 6pm.

For further information visit the Lakeside Theatre website.