Joe Ward Munrow

Joe Ward Munrow is a Lecturer in Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is an award-winning playwright and educator, known for works such as Screaming Heart (winner of the Mercury Weinberger Playwriting Prize) and Hercules and Phoebe. His plays have been staged at venues including the National Theatre, Liverpool Everyman, and BBC Radio 4. Munrow co-founded New Step Theatre, a community-driven theatre company focused on social and personal change through the arts. He has led scriptwriting groups at institutions like the Royal Court and National Theatre Studio, and has held roles such as Writer-on-Attachment at the Liverpool Everyman and National Theatre Studio.

His research interests center on the accessibility of theatre and its transformative potential in society. He emphasizes collaborative, community-focused approaches to artistic creation.

Awards: Mercury Weinberger Playwriting Prize (for Screaming Heart).

Advising/Grants: Extensive experience mentoring scriptwriting groups at major theatres, though specific grants are not detailed. Collaborations include New Step Theatre.

Labs/Teams: Co-founder of New Step Theatre, dedicated to fostering community engagement through theatre.