Ryan Leder is a playwright from Northamptonshire.
He is represented by Berlin Associates and has written for theatre, radio, podcasts, virtual reality and hard print.
Ryan is currently in rehearsals for Firewall, a new commission from Derby Theatre that will tour UK schools in October before transferring to Porto, Portugal.
Photography: Ian Dearman
Ryan’s writing for theatre specialises in co-creation and genre-fiction, often telling stories of a strange or unusual nature with sentiment and heart. His work has been praised for its theatrical playfulness, humour and ambition, as well as its focus on unrepresented communities or aspects of popular culture.
Ryan is also a community artist. This work can take many forms, but always with the voice of participants clear and at its root. The work is often supported by a research period focused on social conversation and formal interviews with participants.
Accolades
Dame Janet Suzman Playwriting Prize (Numbered Days) – Winner
The Fifth Word Award for Most Promising Playwright (Still Here) – Runner Up
Through The Mill Playwriting Prize (A Story About Time Travel) – Shortlisted
Associations
Paines Plough, Mentored Writer – 2024
Nottingham Playhouse, Writers Group – 2024
Made With Many, Associate Artist – 2020 – 2023
The Core at Corby Cube, Playwriting Tutor – 2018 – 2023
Pentabus, Young Writer (National) – 2021
BBC Arts & Arts Council England, New Creative – 2019 – 2021
Northamptonshire Music & Performing Arts Trust, Drama Teacher – 2018 – 2020
New Perspectives, New Associate – 2019
Interplay Europe, Delegate for United Kingdom – 2016
To contact Ryan, you can do so here.
List of Works
Morality Play (Adaptation)
Theatre
Commissioned by Royal & Derngate, Northampton.
Art Work: California State University San Marcos
Headlock (Work-in-progress)
Theatre
Directed by Grace Duggan.
Produced by Royal & Derngate.
Performers: Rachel Seagroatt, Ed Gamester
Burger Chef (Work-in-progress)
Theatre
This Pain Is Mine (2022)
Virtual Reality
Commissioned by The Core At Corby Cube.
Directed by Grace Duggan.
Produced by The Core at Corby Cube & LIVR.
Performer: Rachel Bardwell
60 Miles by Road or Rail (2021)
Theatre
Commissioned by 60 Miles by Road or Rail ltd.
Directed by Andy Routledge.
Produced by 60 Miles by Road or Rail ltd & Royal & Derngate.
Performers: Dan McGarry, Helen Crevel, Davin Eadie, Jo Blake, Subika Anwar-Khan
Photography: Ali Wright
A Short Story About Time Travel (2021)
Audio
Commissioned by BBC Arts & Arts Council England (New Creatives).
Produced by Rural Media.
Performer: Jonny Donahoe
You Must Stay At Home (2021)
Publication
Commissioned by Made With Many.
Produced by Made With Many & Support Northamptonshire
Illustration by Mark Reeve
Hometown (2021)
Audio
Commissioned by 60 Miles By Road Or Rail Ltd.
Produced by 60 Miles By Road Or Rail Ltd.
Featured: Ryan Leder, Elspeth Robb, James Jip, James Robb (sitting)
Patrick (2021)
Audio
Directed by Polly Thomas.
Produced by Naked Productions for Pentabus.
A Story About Time Travel (Work-in-progress)
Theatre
Directed by Andy Routledge.
Produced by PROTOTYPE (New Perspectives & NonSuch Studios).
Performers: Grace Cordell, Edward Spence
Photography: Ian Dearman
Loop (2019)
Theatre
Co-devised with and performed by Helen Crevel.
Directed by Kathryn King.
Produced by Theatre In Black and Carbon Theatre.
Performer: Helen Crevel
Photography: matthewcawrey.com
Numbered Days (2017/2018)
Theatre
Winner of the Dame Janet Suzman Playwriting Prize.
Directed by Ryan Leder.
Produced by Theatre In Black.
Performers: Georgie Cunningham, Joy Carleton
Photography: briansaylephotography.co.uk
BUS (2015)
Site-specific
Co-written with Kevin Dyer.
Devised with Action Transport’s Young Actors.
Directed by Nina Hajiyianni.
Produced by Action Transport Theatre.
© Visit Chester.
Core Playwrights Ensemble (2018 – 2023)
Tutorship
Produced by The Core at Corby Cube
Featured: Rachel Bardwell, Grace Duggan, Vimal Korpal, Millie Wyvern.
Still Here (Work-in-progress)
Runner up for The Fifth Word Award for Most Promising Playwright.
Interplay Europe, Festival of Young Playwrights (2016)
Playwright & Delegate for United Kingdom.
What Do We Do Now? (2013)
Staged Reading.
Directed by Ryan Leder.
Produced at Royal & Derngate.
The Case of Whilton College (2013)
Directed by Chris Sudworth.
Produced by The Core at Corby Cube.