Pembroke Spotlight: Alumnus Alex Joynes Wins People’s Play Award

Pembroke alumnus Alex Joynes (2012, Theology) was recently named the winner of the People’s Play Award for his first full-length play Sides, staged at the People’s Theatre in Newcastle in May. 

Since graduating from Pembroke, Alex has worked in community arts in the North West, focusing on creative projects with refugees and asylum seekers and learning-disabled adults and young people.

He also writes plays and short stories, having graduated from the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Young Writers’ Programme in 2013. His work has since been staged on the Liverpool Everyman stage, the Liverpool Playhouse Studio and Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. In 2022, his short story Fledglings won Bronze Prize in the Creative Future Writers’ Award. 

We spoke with Alex to find out more about his new play and how his time at Pembroke has influenced his career path so far. 

What has been the biggest ‘pinch-me’ moment of your career so far?

This was probably when I walked into the theatre where Sides was being staged. The wonderful team at the People's Theatre had created and built a set which was exactly how I imagined the setting of the play in my head. This was followed by the performances of the three actors who encapsulated the characters so well. Hearing the lines I'd written come to life was an incredible moment, although one that I could only fully appreciate afterwards once my nerves had subsided. 

What is your new play ‘Sides’ about and what motivated you to write it?

'Sides' tells the story of three employees in a chain sandwich shop. Terry has worked there for twenty-five years and is handing over the reins to Charlie. Beth is a local delivery driver who comes into the shop everyday and has developed a unique friendship with Terry. Terry is devoted to the shop whereas Charlie couldn't care less, so the play explores the characters' relationships to work and how much (or little) it means to them all. 

I was inspired to write the play because I find the world of work fascinating on many levels. Some people build their lives around their profession while to others it's a means to an end. I'm also interested in how different generations relate to one another in work. 

How would you describe your time at Pembroke and has it influenced your writing in any way?

Pembroke taught me so much about how to write. Working on two essays a week helped me to write clearly and succinctly and I quickly learned how to balance different projects at the same time (I work full-time, so I have to fit my writing in around my job). My degree was in Theology but it taught me so much about people: how they think and how they live; their hopes and dreams and fears. 

Do you have any advice for any budding Pembrokian writers?

My advice would be to seek out any schemes or groups for writers. When I graduated from Pembroke, I joined the Liverpool Everyman Young Writers' Programme for a year and it taught me so much about playwriting - and it was completely free. I'd also say: go for it. You learn so much about writing in the doing, so write as much as you can - even if that sometimes means half an hour at the start or end of the day. 

Many congratulations to Alex on winning the People’s Play Award. You can read a review of Alex’s play here.