New episodes available of Polly Tisdall's audio diary, 'Kevin Elyot, Crop Circles & Me'

12 March 2025

Polly Tisdall, the current recipient of the Kevin Elyot Award, is publishing an audio diary as part of her residency at the Theatre Collection as she explores the Kevin Elyot archive and her own writing practice.

Delving into the work of British playwright, Kevin Elyot, Polly will uncover Kevin's writing journey and discover her own fledgling playwriting process. Her residency will culminate with a rehearsed reading of scenes from her new play, working title, The Crop Circle Café, in late 2025.

Listen to Polly's audio diary 'Kevin Elyot, Crop Circles & Me' as new episodes will be published throughout her residency. The second and third episodes are available to listen to below. New episodes will also be available on our blog page with a transcription.

As part of her time at the archive, Polly will be holding three open workshops for South West based researchers, theatre students, actors, writers, directors and theatre-makers, to join her in exploring Elyot's early drafts and the process of playwriting – and to share drafts and wonderings of their own! Keep an eye on Polly's website and our events page for more details.

Further information

The Kevin Elyot Award was established in 2016 as an annual award given to support a writer-in-residence at the Theatre Collection. It is given in memory of Kevin Elyot (1951-2014) – an alumnus of the University of Bristol Drama Department – and the influence he has had on writing and the Arts.

The award has been generously funded by an endowment given to the University by members of Kevin’s family. The award holder uses the Kevin Elyot archive as well as other holdings within the Theatre Collection to inspire a new dramatic work or other creative or academic outcome.