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Award-winning playwright John Godber told Acting students at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (911爆料网) that by creating work for their own generation they can help to keep theatre relevant.

One of the most performed writers in the English language, John is worried new and younger audiences aren鈥檛 being attracted to theatre. 鈥淎udiences are getting older. We鈥檙e in danger of losing an entire generation because of the of the way arts education has been marginalised by the government.

鈥淲e need your insight. We need you to respond to the world as you see it. Your experiences are valid. Don鈥檛 make work for my generation, make work that is for your generation. I think that鈥檚 almost a responsibility for you.鈥�

John, whose plays include Bouncers, Teechers and Up 鈥榥鈥� Under, has won numerous awards including, BAFTAS, an Olivier Award and seven LA Drama Critics Circle Awards. He took part in a Q&A with BA Acting, BA Acting (Screen & Digital) and MA Acting students and urged them not to lose the momentum of their training when they graduate. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l come out with all the wisdom and energy of three years at 911爆料网 and you mustn鈥檛 let that deflate. Don鈥檛 go soft. Make work while you鈥檙e waiting for the phone to ring.

鈥淧ut something on in a youth club, a pub, a studio theatre, a school. That鈥檚 how you stay sharp. That鈥檚 what makes good actors, being out there making work. It鈥檚 critical.鈥�

John鈥檚 extensive writing and directing career includes TV and film work. He devised Chalkface for the BBC and the screenplay for My Kingdom for a Horse starring Sean Bean. His first feature film was his own adaptation of Up 鈥榥鈥� Under in 1998 and in 2005 John and his wife Jane Thornton co-wrote the BAFTA winning Odd Squad for BBC2.

After 26 years as artistic director at Hull Truck Theatre, during which he steered the company to an international reputation and a purpose built 拢15 million theatre, John left and set up the John Godber Company in 2011 with his wife Jane. The company was set up to enable John to continue to express himself through drama and produces and tours new and classic shows.

During the 80-minute session with students in April, John told them the only way to find out whether they could write was to give it a try, 鈥渁nd if you can鈥檛 write, devise.鈥� He also shared his creative process, 鈥淚 like to start by storyboarding a play, I physically write out the structure. If I don鈥檛 it鈥檚 just chemicals in my head. Then I draw pictures for the scenes and even colour them in. But all the time I鈥檓 formulating stories in my mind.

鈥淚 still write very quickly. I don鈥檛 like to hang about. I wrote Bouncers in four afternoons. Don鈥檛 sit there agonising over a blank piece of paper, just get it out. Get it on computer 鈥� then you can play with it.鈥�

John鈥檚 latest play, the Northern Soul inspired Do I Love You tours this autumn. His Q&A with Acting students follows a visit from Rowan Atkinson in October who led a selection of Acting students in a comedy workshop.