As a screenwriter, you can spend years hearing the voices of your characters in your head, but never actually hear real actors performing those roles. So getting picked for the Table Reads at the London International Screenwriters Festival 2026 was an opportunity I wasn’t going to waste.
I chose a very difficult scene in the middle of a romantic comedy, to see if what I heard in my head, was what would come off the page when read by actors. Thanks to the great cast assembled by Chris Jones – Natalie Beran (who played and American so convincingly I was surprised when she spoke in a different accent when not playing the role), Daniel Subin (an authentic American living in the UK), Lin Sagovsky (putting on a fantastic Scottish accent for the role), and Neil Weatherall, and the director Nikita Novikov – I gained so much more than just hearing words on a page coming alive.
Listening to the actors being directed was a valuable process in itself, but what really helped me as a writer was answering the incisive questions of the actors and director about these characters – who they are, what they want within this scene.
Although I had no problem answering, it did really make me think hard about how in each scene I write, I really need to dig much deeper into the motivations and intent of all the characters. Yes, I know all that in my head already – but being part of this collaborative process, it really came home to me how much this experience will improve my craft as a writer.
This table read was so much more than just the thrill of hearing your characters speak, and I am very grateful for the time and talent of those who made this possible.
I will be connecting with all the actors and the director on LI and staying in touch. The other gift from this process is those connections formed, and a real desire to work with them all again in the future.
Suzy Miller
Nicholl Semifinalist & Optioned Screenwriter/Producer
IMDb: https://imdb.me/suzymiller
+44 (0)7525 059634
One Response
Thanks Chris and Bob for making this all possible!