HALESWORTH, England (AP) — Richard Curtis, the Bafta-winning screenwriter behind Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Esther Freud, author of the autobiographical novel Hideous Kinky, bring fresh stage works to their home county this spring.

Curtis’s play, Portrait, centers on a celebrated actress who hires a professional artist for a commission. Freud’s contribution, Signs and Whispers, follows a couple heading home from a magic show when they encounter a figure from their past. Both pieces debut at the INK Festival, marking its 10th year in the Suffolk market town of Halesworth.

The four-day lineup from April 16 to 19 showcases 70 short plays penned by local talent. Productions unfold in diverse spots: a traditional theatre, the town’s food larder, a bowling club and a scout hut. Festival organizers also schedule talks alongside free events for youth and community groups.

Julia Sowerbutts, the festival’s artistic director, traces its roots to a modest 2015 debut. Back then, just 15 shorts from emerging writers filled the program. “It’s hard to believe all those years ago what began as a tiny showcase of 15 shorts has now grown into the world’s biggest carnival of new short plays,” Sowerbutts said. “Yes, ten festivals is a lot of festival.”

Halesworth, a town of about 5,000 in eastern England, hosts the event amid Suffolk’s rolling countryside. Curtis and Freud, both residents, join dozens of playwrights in spotlighting untested scripts. The festival’s growth reflects rising interest in short-form theatre, Sowerbutts noted, with performers and audiences drawn to the format’s bite-sized intensity.

Past INK editions have launched works that later toured nationally. This year’s expanded slate highlights the festival’s pull for established names like Curtis, 68, whose films have grossed hundreds of millions worldwide, and Freud, 61, daughter of painter Lucian Freud and great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud.

Tickets go on sale soon via the festival website. Organizers expect crowds to swell venues, from the intimate scout hut to the echoing bowling club lanes repurposed as stages. Free community sessions aim to engage younger residents, with workshops on playwriting and performance.

The INK Festival positions Halesworth as a hub for new writing. Local writers dominate the program, but high-profile premieres from Curtis and Freud elevate its profile. Sowerbutts credits volunteer crews and town support for sustaining the event through a decade of expansion.

Suffolk’s theatre scene thrives on such grassroots efforts. Nearby venues like the Aldeburgh Festival draw international crowds, but INK keeps things local and accessible. Attendees can catch multiple plays daily, mixing established voices with fresh talent.