Gold Bars: the extraordinary journey
from 45-minute radio play to a London triumph
Every great story begins with a spark and sometimes that spark lands somewhere no one expects. For Gold Bars, that spark came from a 45-minute radio script written by Andy Powrie.
A darkly comic, sharply observed heist-gone-wrong set in October 2012, Gold Bars follows a gang of very small-time criminals waiting to rob a delivery of cigarettes in Warrington. But when a freight train grinds to an unexpected halt beside their van, curiosity gets the better of them. Inside the wagon, they discover something far more valuable than they ever imagined: 40 gold bars. Convinced their luck has finally changed, they haul their treasure into their battered transit van, only to discover that what they’ve stolen isn’t just gold. It’s something far more dangerous, with consequences that sweep from a backstreet garage all the way to the Prime Minister’s desk. The story is gripping, chaotic and irresistibly human. And at INK, we saw its potential immediately.
From radio script to stage: how INK champions new work
Now in its tenth year, INK has become the UK’s leading producer of original short plays, selecting over 70 new radio and theatre pieces each year from more than 1000 submissions. Our mission is simple, to offer a platform where emerging and established writers can take risks, explore ideas and bring powerful new stories to life.
Gold Bars is one of the most exciting examples of what can happen when a new piece of writing is supported, nurtured and given room to grow. What began as a radio script became a standout staged reading at the INK Festival. Then it moved into development. Then it moved to London. And that’s when everything changed.
A full house at Park Theatre and a standing ovation of praise
INK’s London showcase of Gold Bars at the Park Theatre played to a packed house, and the response was electric. Audiences loved it. Producers loved it. Even the front-of-house team couldn’t stop talking about it.
One producer called it:
“Glorious!”
A Park Theatre usher said:
“The best thing I have ever seen in this theatre!”
It’s rare for a work-in-progress staging to receive praise this immediate, this loud and this heartfelt. But that is the power of Andy Powrie’s writing and the power of bringing fresh voices into the spotlight.
A major milestone: Curtis Brown joins the journey
We are thrilled to share that Curtis Brown, one of the UK’s leading talent agencies, is now representing the project. This is an enormous step and a tremendous honour, offering Gold Bars the opportunity to reach new stages, new audiences and potentially a full-scale production. Industry interest is already building. The momentum is real. The ripple effect is underway and it all began with a single radio play sent to INK.
A huge thank you
We couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who joined us at Park Theatre, supported the development of Gold Bars or continues to champion the incredible work coming through INK. This is what INK is about, taking new writing seriously, spotting potential early, backing bold voices and helping stories, like this one find their way to the audiences they deserve. Gold Bars is only just beginning its journey and we can’t wait to see where it goes next.