There are a lot of solo shows at the moment, because actors are rebelling.

"In a solo show you can't bluff it, and audiences know that," says Brighton-based writer and performer Siobhan Nicholas.

"We have got such a crazy world of celebrity but they can't do these kind of plays without some kind of talent or training and some kind of experience."

Siobhan is the writer of Hanging Hooke and author and star of Sam & I, two plays that are being performed at the Devonshire Park Theatre as part of a week of one-person plays.

The season is the culmination of a project to encourage and support new writing, supported by the New Vic Workshop, Eastbourne Theatres and the Arts Council.

The New Vic teamed up with Eastbourne in 2005 when the Devonshire Park put on Telstar, a play that was developed and supported by the workshop.

Tony Milner, the director of the New Vic Workshop, says: "The New Vic Workshop is essentially about new plays.

"Together with Eastbourne and supported by the Arts Council, we have undertaken the New Vic Workshop Eastbourne Development Programme to encourage new writing by authors that are in this part of the world."

Next weekend the Solo Season features the world premiere of Richard Crane's The Quiz, starring David Bradley, and the return of touring show Hanging Hooke.

Both were written with the support and help of the New Vic Workshop.

Also on are two popular one-person plays on farewell tours, both starring Bob Kingdom: Dylan Thomas - Return Journey and The Truman Capote Talk Show.

"It is a brave and positive thing for Eastbourne to make the leap to new plays," says Tony. "We love theatre and this country has produced some of the best on the planet but we have an aversion to new plays.

"We can only reproduce King Lear so many times. Unless a play really flies, you find yourself going cap in hand to do the next one."

Finding funding and support for quality writers is where the New Vic Workshop can help.

"You can talk a good play," says Tony. "But until it is up there on stage it is not worth the paper it is written on."

Siobhan's play Sam & I, the story of Samuel Pepys put-upon wife, is being staged as part of the tercentenary Pepys Festival in London. The play was directed by Chris Barnes, Siobhan's partner in the production company Take The Space, and has toured the country.

It was via this play's success that Siobhan discovered the story of the 17th-century genius Robert Hooke, a man loved by Christopher Wren but loathed by Isaac Newton and largely forgotten by history.

"We were at a party when we met the pilot at Shoreham Harbour who had seen Sam & I, and he said we had to know about Robert Hooke," says Siobhan.

"He ran home and brought back a book for me to read.

"As I read it I knew I couldn't put Robert in someone else's play - he had to have a play of his own.

"And if there was anyone, Chris was born to play him."

Hanging Hooke turned out to be the hardest thing Siobhan had to write so far.

"He was such a genius," she says.

"He was a philosopher, a scientist, an architect - he was an amazing polymath.

"I had to walk into the science world for the first time in my life, which was really hard."

Now Chris and Siobhan are planning their third play for 2008, and it looks like it could be a twohander.

Siobhan says: "We would like to take the work to New York and to Dublin, to go even further."

  • Sam & I: Mon, 7.45pm.
    Dylan Thomas - Return Journey, Tues, 7.45pm, Wed, 2.30pm.
    The Truman Capote Talk Show, Wed, 7.45pm.
    Hanging Hooke, Thurs, 7.45pm.
    The Quiz, Sat, June 16, 2.30pm and 7.45pm, Sun, June 17, 2.30pm.
    Tickets £12, £10 concs, £5 students and under-16s.

Call 01323 412000.