Playwright Torben Betts Launches Series of Tea Time Talks at Stephen Joseph Theatre

Award-winning playwright Torben Betts will be the focus of the first of a series of Tea Time Talks at the Stephen Joseph Theatre.

The writers of the SJT's 2016 Summer Festival world premiere productions - Torben Betts, Vicky Ireland and Alan Ayckbourn - will each be in conversation in late afternoon sessions throughout the summer, followed by a Q&A session for the audience to put their own questions.

The first, on Thursday 23 June at 4.30pm in the McCarthy Theatre, is Torben Betts, one of the UK's most in-demand playwrights. The author of Invincible, which is touring nationwide until mid-June, and the recent adaptation of Get Carter, which was a huge hit for Northern Stage in Newcastle, he has written for the SJT's Summer Festival The National Joke, a searing new comedy looking at three generations of one family and at Britain today (various dates from 8 June to 20 August).

Torben's other plays includes The Swing of Things, Her Slightest Touch and Clockwatching, all seen at the SJT, plus What Falls Apart, A Listening Heaven (nominated as TMA Best New Play in 2001), The Unconquered (winner of Best New Play at the Critics' Awards for Theatre in Scotland, 2007); Muswell Hill, The Company Man, The Error of their Ways, Lie of the Land, Incarcerator, The Lunatic Queen, Five Visions of the Faithful, The Biggleswades, and Silence and Violence.

He also wrote the screenplay for the British independent feature film Downhill, which was released in cinemas in May 2014.

Later Tea Time Talks will be from writers and directors Vicky Ireland (4.30pm on Thursday 5 July in the McCarthy Theatre) and Alan Ayckbourn (4.30pm on Thursday 29 September in The Round).

Tickets for all the Tea Time Talks are £6; to book, please call the Box Office on 01723 370541 or go online:www.sjt.uk.com