SCREAM QUEENS, delivered by Cariad Productions and Terror Arcade, summoned six women and non-binary writers for a short horror script development lab. Over four weeks, selected participants developed their spooky seed of an idea into a monstrous polished short film script. BFI NETWORK South West were delighted to support this programme.
Meet The Participants
Sarah Dawes (she/her)
Sarah is a writer, producer, and actor based in Bristol. She co-created and produced the supernatural, interactive series Shadow Peak, with its 2nd season set to release online in 2026. She’s dedicated to creating more opportunities for women in horror and ensures equality on her productions as a standard.
Corinne Walker (she/her)
Corinne is a Bristol-based writer, director, creative producer and performer passionate about telling diverse stories which champion regional, underrepresented talent. She completed the C4 New Writers Scheme and is an alumni of We are Parable’s Momentum scheme, BFI Network SW’s New Voices scheme and BFI NETWORK’s Script Development Lab.
Katie Walker-Cook (she/her)
Katie writes for stage, radio, and screen. Katie was a member of Pentabus’s National Young Writers’ Programme and the Writers’ Block Emerging Playwrights’ Programme. She is under commission with Theatre West and her first short film, Make Believe, is in development. Her plays have been performed at the Bristol Old Vic, Arches Lane Theatre, the Minack Theatre, and Theatre503.
Helen Tompson (she/her)
Helen is a Somerset-based screenwriter. She has taken part in the WFTV Kay Mellor Screenwriting Lab and the TV Foundation’s The Network and is passionate about stories that challenge expectations while staying rooted in truth and place.
Lauren Clifford-Keane (she/they)
Lauren is a writer and director who recently graduated in Filmmaking at Bristol UWE. She is particularly interested in horror’s ability to tackle taboo topics. Previous projects include short films and podcasts, as well as working on projects focused on community and diversity.
Bea Roberts (she/her)
Bea is a multi-award winning script writer from the west country. Her play And Then Come The Nightjars won the Theatre503 International Playwriting Award and was adapted into a feature. Bea has written for the National Theatre, the Royal Court, the Young Vic and the RSC. Bea was part of the BBC Writers’ Academy and now writes for BBC’s EastEnders. Represented by Jessica Cooper at Curtis Brown.
