Fay Weldon (1931–2023) was an English author, essayist and playwright. Her novels include The Life and Loves of a She-Devil (1983). Her adaptation of Flaubert's Madame Bovary, subtitled Breakfast with Emma, was staged by Shared Experience in 2003.

Michael Weller is the author of Moonchildren, Loose Ends, Spoils of War, amongst others. He has also written screenplays, including Hair and Ragtime (both directed by Milos Forman), and has been nominated for an Academy Award. 

Tom Wells is a playwright whose work includes: Big Big Sky (Hampstead Theatre, 2021); Stuff (National Theatre Connections Festival, 2019); Drip, with music composed by Matthew Robins (Boundless Theatre, 2017/8); Broken Biscuits (Live Theatre/Paines Plough UK tour, 2016); Folk (Birmingham Rep & tour, 2016); Jumpers for Goalposts (Watford Palace Theatre, 2013); The Kitchen Sink (Bush Theatre, 2011) and Me, As A Penguin (Arcola Theatre, 2010).

Author photo by Richard Mildenhall

Louise Welsh is an author whose novels include The Cutting Room, Tamburlaine Must Die, The Bullet Trick and Naming the Bones.

Her plays in include Panic Patterns (Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, 2010), Memory Cells (The Arches, Glasgow, 2009) and The Importance of Being Alfred (Oran Mor, Glasgow, 2005).

Tom Wentworth is a playwright, broadcaster and journalist. His work for theatre includes: Little Bits of Ruined Beauty (Pentabus, 2022); Burke and Hare (Watermill/Jermyn Street); Bully (recipient of an MGCFutures Bursary and performed at Wales Millennium Centre); Bee Happy (Old Red Lion) and Windy Old Fossils (Pentabus).

West End Producer – or WEP to his friends – was always destined for a career in the theatre after being born on stage during a particularly bloody production of Titus Andronicus. His father was a cross-dressing dame, for whom he used to make outfits; his mother was ‘the butchest Maria von Trapp I have ever seen’, according to Harold Hobson in The Sunday Times; and his first words were ‘Hello, Dolly!’

In his youth, he worked both backstage and onstage at his local amateur theatre, and was voted ‘Most Likely to Go Pro’. One day a director spotted him, plucked him from obscurity, saying he’d be great with ‘a bit of make-up and a hat’ – and cast him in a national tour of Porgy and Bess.

A miserable year on the road saw WEP nearly hang up his show-pants for good – but a chance, late-night encounter with the great impresario Binkie Beaumont inspired him to try his hand at producing. And he’s never looked back…

WEP literally lives, breathes and eats theatre, watching as many new productions as he can cram into his busy schedule. He was a weekly contributor to The Stage newspaper, where for six years his popular column offered practical advice to performers on all aspects of the business. His first book, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Acting (But Were Afraid to Ask, Dear), was a huge success, and was followed by the equally extravagantly titled Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Going to the Theatre (But Were Too Sloshed to Ask, Dear).

At present, WEP spends his days writing and tweeting to his loyal followers, producing, walking around Soho, disciplining actors, making sure everyone faces the right way in auditions, and getting sloshed on as much Dom as possible. He has been called West End Producer for so long that even he has forgotten his real name.

Timothy West is best-known on TV for Brass and on stage for classic roles at the National Theatre, the RSC, the West End and recently with English Touring Theatre. His autobiography, A Moment Towards the End of the Play, is published by Nick Hern Books.

Samantha Wharton teaches English at a secondary school in East London. She has a degree in Communications and media (Brunel University), a PGCE in English and drama (from the Institute of Education, University London) and an MA in Black British literature (from Goldsmiths University).

She is the co-author with Lynette Carr Armstrong of Leave Taking: The GCSE Study Guide (Nick Hern Books, 2024), a guide to Winsome Pinnock's play.