The Write Event will see four new productions by local playwrights give insight into the lives and works of four well-known authors, and will be presented in March. Andrew Wright reports.

Two new literary double bills celebrating the life and works of Wilfred Owen & Sylvia Plath and Rudyard Kipling & James Joyce are set to be staged at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall on March 16 and 17.

‘A Dream of Wilfred Owen’ returns to the Concert Room in the first two-part double bill and will be performed by writer David Charters and singer Lucia Novosadova.

The play explores the life of poet and soldier Wilfred Owen, whose poetry captured his experiences of the First World War.

The second performance of the night sees the world premiere of ‘The Belfry’ by Dean Johnson and John Gorman.

The play will see Gorman take to the stage to play the neighbour of Sylvia Plath, who will be portrayed by Lucia Novosadova, making her second appearance of the evening.

In the play, the final days of Plath’s tragic life are viewed through the eyes of a retired professor living in the flat below hers.

On the Friday, the Concert Hall will host another world premiere, ‘If Only’ by Lynn Pegler.

The new play explores the life of ‘Jungle Book’ author Rudyard Kipling and the personal consequences of World War One.

He lived through the First World War and was directly involved, writing pamphlets and poetry in support of the UK’s war aims. His son, John, disappeared during the First World War and Kipling later died without ever discovering John’s fate.

The final performance in the double bill of literary performances sees Gerry Smyth’s ‘Nora and Jim’, performed by Jade Thomson and Tom Galashan, based on Irish writer James Joyce.

St George’s Hall manager Alan Smith said: “This literary double bill will showcase great local talent – we look forward to welcoming you to the Hall!”