Actors & Writers London (AWL) is London’s longest-running professional play-reading forum for actors and writers. It was established in 1973 at Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios and was known as Hammersmith Actors and Writers Group until July 2004.

AWL meets in Hammersmith, London W6, on alternate Monday evenings for rehearsed readings and chaired discussions of new plays.

AWL has been instrumental in bringing actors, writers, directors and producers together to launch numerous theatre companies, including Red Needle, Tricolore, BEST, Historia, Entire, Rare Fortune, And Tomorrow, Novanda, Living The Drama and Pack A Punch Theatre Companies. There have also been a number of one-off productions.

You are welcome to attend our meetings, whether you are a theatre professional or just interested in theatre.

What We Do

Writers

We support writers by enabling them to:

• see their work brought to life before an informed audience;
• benefit from objective, expert feedback.

Actors and Directors

We support actors, directors and aspiring directors by enabling them to:

• take part in and influence the development of new plays;
• work with friends old and new;
• gain performance credits that extend the range of their work.

We work to the highest standards.

• Readings are directed and performed by established professionals.
• Plays are rehearsed, usually on the Sunday afternoon before the reading.
• Participants abide by strict guidelines similar to the rules governing their paid work.

Admission