Over the next few months we look forward to inviting theatre makers and writers to explore the stories tucked inside Bill Mitchell’s beloved attic.
Bill, a creative force behind WildWorks and Kneehigh, left behind not just a legacy, but a space filled with objects, memories, and the heritage of Cornish storytelling.
Through a mix of writing, performance and installation we’ll be unlocking the potential of these relics, asking what they can teach us about theatre, place, and imagination.
We begin the project by seeking a bold, imaginative writer to collaborate with us on a new interdisciplinary project that weaves together writing, performance, and installation - see information on how to apply below.
This project is part of a wider collaboration between The Ladder, Sue Hill, The Writers’ Block and Creative Kernow and is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Writer Commission for Immersive Storytelling Project
The Ladder are commissioning a writer to develop three interlinked short stories for an immersive installation and performance experience rooted in Bill’s Attic — a creative archive that holds the objects and imaginative legacy of director and theatre-maker Bill Mitchell.
These stories will be installed in The Ladder (Redruth) as part of a larger immersive storytelling space that honours Cornish theatre traditions and makes creative heritage accessible for the next generation.
This piece will be produced in September 2025 by immersive theatre company RIFT.
We're looking for stories that:
Can be inspired by specific objects from Bill’s Attic, based in Krowji
Can reflect on or interpret themes of legacy, memory, imagination, place, and performance
Can work as part of an immersive environment (audiences may move between spaces or encounter the stories out of order)
Are rich in atmosphere, with space for audio, physical storytelling, and/or performance integration
Can engage a broad audience, including young people and schools
Can be experienced either alone or as part of a triptych
The three stories should accumulate into a 30-40 minute performance/audio piece.
Deliverables
3 short stories or performative texts (ready for immersive adaptation) which work together
A short reflection or behind-the-scenes note on your creative process for online blog post
Take part in a rehearsed reading before the end of June 2025.
Final, polished texts delivered in digital format by the 15th July 2025.
Who Should Apply
This commission is aimed at experienced professional writers with a strong track record of producing high-quality creative work. We're particularly interested in writers who can demonstrate:
Experience writing for performance, installation, or immersive settings
A strong, distinctive narrative voice and confidence in working with theme, atmosphere, and character
A proven ability to work independently and deliver to deadline, while being open to collaboration and feedback
Commission:
There is a £3,000 fee for this project
We will provide the successful writer with a week of residency time at Bill’s Attic with accommodation and travel within the UK during this period.
To apply please send:
A short paragraph about your interest in this commission
A writing sample (1–2 pages of relevant work)
A brief CV or biography
In a single document to: grace@riftexcursions.com by the deadline: May 30th 2025
About Bill’s Attic at Krowji
Bill’s Attic is a physical and digital resource of incredible artefacts, a gift for the artist in everyone, and aimed at inspiring a fresh generation of creators, makers, thinkers and radicals. The collection was bequeathed by Bill Mitchell, internationally recognised Artistic Director of WildWorks and Kneehigh Theatre, who died in 2017.
The collection has been rehoused in the upstairs of the Old School House, Krowji –and is looked after by Creative Kernow. The design of the space and curation of objects is new, but the spirit of the original Attic remains the same. There is also a digital version of the original Bill’s Attic available. https://billsattic.org/
