Founded in 2025 by Stephen Edgerton, CEO of The Epstein Theatre, alongside Programming Manager Hayley Smitton and Artists-in-Residence Trisha Duffy and Mike Dickinson of Naughty Corner Productions, the Creative Corner initiative is officially launching its second year searching for the UK’s next generation of theatrical talent.
Built on the defining motto “The door is open,” Creative Corner was designed to give unrepresented writers, producers, directors, and actors a direct, accessible pathway to showcase original work.
The initiative’s inaugural run proved transformative for its first-ever winner, Hannah Rose Curtis, who recently returned from a funded week-long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Curtis’s production achieved critical acclaim, securing multiple four-star reviews, a five-star review, and an official Fringe Award.
“This opportunity has completely changed my life,” said Curtis. Curtis will bring her award-winning show back to Liverpool for a special homecoming performance on September 30th.
My Beautiful Brain is a lighthearted, heartfelt coming-of-age story following Hannah as she navigates the everyday challenges of adulthood with dyslexia. Applications for the 2027 Creative Corner season will also officially open that same night.
“The new work of today is the classic work of the future,” said Stephen Edgerton, CEO of The Epstein Theatre. “Creative Corner is about removing traditional barriers and offering real, career-defining backing. Winning a fully mounted run at the Edinburgh Fringe gives emerging artists the exact launchpad they need to turn potential into an established career. If you want to take the next step in your creative career, be at The Epstein Theatre on Wednesday, September 30th to see what a winning show looks like—and, more importantly, to get your entry submitted.”
Trisha Duffy of Naughty Corner Productions added: “It was such a special time. Not only did we have our own show performing at the Fringe again this year, but we also had the winner of our first festival there. Hannah’s show did remarkably well, which was so rewarding. We all chose the right performance to debut at Edinburgh, and we really couldn’t be prouder.”
