Jilly is a Northern female writer from a working-class background. Jilly trained as a Teacher of the Deaf at Manchester University and has moved between teaching and a career in making theatre for many years. She made original plays and inclusive cabaret nights with Disabled adults at the Dukes Theatre Lancaster and established Dukes Deaf Drama group and toured plays that were created and performed in British Sign Language.
In 2021 Jilly completed an MA in Scriptwriting at Manchester Writing School, with distinction. Jilly has been longlisted for BBC Writers room and Box of Tricks/Sky Studios Award and a finalist in the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2021 with a radio drama called Driving Lessons. She was part of Bush Theatres Emerging Writers group and selected as part of Channel 4 Screenwriting in 2023. An excerpt of her play Julie Townsend Is a Slag was staged at HOME as part of Box of Tricks BOXFRESH showcase in 2023.
Jilly has a range of television drama and comedy projects optioned and in development with various production companies including Balloon, Lime Pictures, Pulse Films and New Pictures.
Her writing is inspired by real people, lesser-heard voices and her hometown of Barnsley.
Last Updated: 14 January 2025