Look to the Sky (2011)

About the writer

Courttia Newland was born in London in 1973 and found success with his first novel, The Scholar (1997) which documents the life of young Black people in London. Reviews focussed particularly on his use of Black Vernacular English. Newland works across all genres of storytelling including theatre and film and co-wrote two screenplays with Steve McQueen for the Small Axe series celebrating Black life in London: Lovers Rock and Red, White and Blue. His novels and short stories range from sci-fi to detective fiction. In 2025 he was shortlisted for the Bruntwood writing prize

Resources

Look to the Sky production page including teacher's resources, Stages of Half Moon website.

Teacher's resource pack including script exercises and character work.

Courttia Newland profile page at Writer's Mosaic