Untitled Document

Women's Writers Group Launches in Edinburgh
Hana Mackechnie and Lauran Kelly
Location: Edinburgh
Date: 19 May 2010, 7:00-8:00pm

Women writers are under-represented in Scotland. This all female Writers Group is a unique chance for women to come together and discuss their writing. If you have any plays, stories, poems, articles or any other work that you would like feedback on, or would just like to help other women develop their work, please come along.

Leafing the Green is a two year project centred on a writer in residence. The writer will be commissioned to:

generate their own new body of work (50% of the residency)
generate creative writing activity with schools and their communities using the historic urban environment as a stimulus for learning and creativity.

They are seeking a professional, practising writer with a proven track record of high quality work and with an interest in developing their socially engaged practice.

For more information, visit www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/artseducation

For an information pack on the project and how to apply contact Heather Evans on 01224 346361 or hevans@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Open.Stage - Voting Now Open
Tron Theatre
Location: Glasgow
Deadline: 21 May 2010

The Tron invites you to place your vote for their winning Open.Stage trailer. The three short-listed playwrights have had their plays made up into trailers for the public.

To vote online for the play that you like the most or which you feel has the most theatrical potential, please visit http://www.tron.co.uk/openstage/

Arches LIVE - Call for Proposals
The Arches
Location: Glasgow
Deadline: 4 June 2010

Arches LIVE is an annual celebration of brave new work from local artists of all disciplines. It supports experiment, work that is bold or work which subverts established boundaries. Arches LIVE is an opportunity for audiences and artists to come together, to create a community, to feel hopeful, to feel defiant and to feel transformed.

Dates for this year's festival are 16th-26th of September. Arches Live pre-production meeting takes place on June 22nd.

For further information, or to submit a proposal, please e-mail to LJ Dodd at lj@thearches.co.uk

Playfest: Phase One
Glasgay!
Location: Glasgow
Dates: 11, 17, 25 June 2010

A short season of new works in develop at The Citizens' Theatre. Glasgay! explores the theme of sexuality and gender, and invites you to attend the readings and give your critical feedback.

Professionally performed theatre with writers and driectors present. Join the debate.

To view the flyer please click here.

Early booking is essential and spaces are limited. To book, please email tickets@glasgay.com

SAC Bursary Deadline - Writers and New Writers Bursaries
Scottish Arts Council
Location: Scotland
Deadline: 14 June 2010

Application forms and guidelines are now available on the Scottish Arts Council website for 2010/2011. Please note the deadline date of 14 June 2010 for Writers’ and Storytellers’ Bursaries, Book Publication and Programme Publishing.

For further information, visit http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/funding/apply.aspx

The Scottish Society of Playwrights' Annual General Meeting
The Scottish Society of Playwrights
Location: Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Date: 26 June 2010, 11am

The Scottish Society of Playwrights' AGM starts at 11am and playwrights of all levels are more than welcome.

The AGM is an opportunity to find out what the SSP has been doing over the last year, discuss the current climate for playwrights in Scotland, as well as raising any queries you may have. The SSP will also be putting forward a proposal regarding their contract with the FST and electing a new council. There will be a guest speaker, Louise Stephens, who will be talking about her project in conjunction with the Playwrights Studio which aims to create a comprehensive database of all Scottish playwriting.

SSP membership is £10 and as well as providing representation and advocacy membership, gets you discounted tickets at The Traverse, The Tron, The Lyceum and The Citizens.

For further information or to register your interest, please email scottishsocietyofplaywrights@gmail.com

The McLellan Award for Play Writing 2010
Arran Theatre and Arts Trust
Location: Arran, Scotland
Deadline: 31 July 2010

This award asks for plays in contemporary living Scots, in any urban or rural dialect. Plays should be for a cast of up to 5 actors, without doubling, with a running time of between 40 and 90 minutes.

The winning playwright will receive prize money of £1000 as well as the McLellan Award 2010 created by sculptor, Marvin Elliot and, funding permitting, the opportunity to workshop their play with Nutshell Theatre Company culminating in a script in hand performance at the McLellan Arts Festival in September 2010.

Previous winners include Shetland writer, Jacqui Clarke and young Ayrshire writer, Fiona Connor. Among the judging panel is Julie Ellen, Creative Director of Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland

For entry details and more information, visit www.mclellanartsfestival.co.uk or contact Heather Gough on 01770 302 670 or gough.carlo@virgin.net

Writing Retreats at Glencanisp Lodge
Top Left Corner
Location: North-West Highland, Scotland
Dates: Various weeks between June 2010 - April 2011

Glencanisp Lodge in the north-west Highlands of Scotland is an ideal environment for a a writing retreat. Writers are welcome for a week of writing inspiration - there are no qualifications required and no compulsory activities, just an opportunity for writers or other creative people to develop their work in progress in a peaceful and stunningly beautiful environment.

For more information, visit www.topleftcorner.org or contact Mandy Haggith by email tlc@topleftcorner.org or telephone 01571 844020.

PlayGroup
Traverse Theatre
Location: Edinburgh

Traverse Theatre have launched a brand new script discussion group. Just like a book group, you will read a script and then meet to discuss it.

PlayGroup takes place in the fun, informal setting of the Traverse Bar Cafe, led by Traverse Literary Officer, Jennifer Williams.

To book, or for more information, please call Jennifer Williams on 0131 228 3223.

City Literary Institute - Playwriting 2
City Literary Institute
Location: London
Dates: 15 April - 17 June 2010

Playwriting 2 is a continuous workshop for playwrights and comedy and drama writers who have work in progress: an opportunity to review the elements of a play and to continue working on your own draft.

Classes are held on Thursday afternoons, from 3.30 pm to 5.30pm.

For more information, please contact jagsw2@yahoo.co.uk

Everyword 2010 - Tickets Now On Sale
Liverpool Everyman Playhouse
Location: Liverpool
Dates: 18 - 29 May 2010

Everyword, the annual new writing festival, is back and is extended to two weeks. Everyword offers workshops, readings, discussions, works-in-progress and performances in what will most likely be the last Everyword in the old Everyman building.

This year the programme includes Question and Answers with award-winning writers David Eldridge and Jeremy Dyson, and workshops with some of the finest new writing companies in the UK, Paines Plough, RSC and Soho Theatre and Writers’ Centre . Readings include new work by Robert Farquhar, Laurence Wilson and Kellie Smith.

To book, call 0151 709 4776, or visit www.everymanplayhouse.com

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices
Ideas Tap
Location: London, UK
Deadline: 24 May 2010

Ideas Tap are looking for the most fearless, talented and original actors, directors, producers and writers to take on the ultimate theatrical challenge. If you are 18 -25 and feel ready to launch yourself into the world of professional theatre, they want to hear from you.

Following rigorous auditions and workshops successful applicants will have just 24 hours to prove their talent for creating engaging, edgy theatre. The results will be seen by 1,000 industry professionals, family and friends.

For further information, visit http://www.ideastap.com

Annual Networking Party
London Playwrights' Collective
Location: London
Date: 24 May 2010, 7pm

A fun and friendly social affair where people can network informally. This year London Playwrights' Collective will be introducing some selected writing and theatre organisations to their wider network. Representatives will be on hand to chat, answer questions and talk about up coming events.

For further information, visit http://www.londonplaywrights.co.uk/ or email playwrights@hotmail.co.uk

Vibrant - An Anniversary Festival of Finborough Playwrights
Finborough Theatre
Location: London, UK
Deadline: 25 May - 19 June 2010

To celebrate its 30th anniversary year, the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre presents an anniversary festival of thirty new works for the stage by thirty UK and international playwrights, discovered, developed or championed by the Finborough Theatre, featuring many premieres of brand new plays by some of the famous playwrights who began their careers at the Finborough Theatre. Iain F MacLeod is amongst the celebrated artists.

For more information, visit www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk

StorySLAM
The Albany
Location: London, UK
Dates: 27 May 2010

The Albany are hosting StorySLAM:Live on 27 May. Following the success of the first StorySLAM:Live season, this is another chance to win a £100 prize for your 5 minute story, told on stage by you, with the theme The Seven Deadly Sins. Expect live music, book stalls and networking.
Tickets: £7

For more information, visit: http://www.thealbany.org.uk/

Call for Monologue Submissions
The Good Ear Review
Deadline: 1 June 2010

The Good Ear Review—a dramatist's literary journal—is a website dedicated to publishing stand-alone monologues that share a moment in time with the reader (and, eventually, the audience). They are committed to posting original and quality writing from both established writers and emerging playwrights.

Please send monologue submissions, in the body of the email, to: submit@thegoodearreview.com

Please visit www.TheGoodEarReview.com to read posted monologues to get a sense of the layout and the work that The Good Ear Review publish.

For submission guidelines, visit http://thegoodearreview.com/submission-guidelines/

Writers Wanted - Off Cut Festival 2010
In Company Theatre
Location: London
Deadline: 1 June 2010

In Company Theatre is now accepting submissions for the Off Cut Festival 2010. Finalists will have their work perfomed in front of a panel of industry professionals, headed by Moira Buffini (The National Theatre's Writer-in-Residence) and Lisa Babalis (literary agent for The Agency). Four prizes will be awarded including a production package from In Company Theatre and The Old Red Lion.

For more information and to view the Off Cut promotional video, please visit http://www.theoffcutfestival.com/

For application guidelines, please email Trudi Boatwrigh at t incompany@ymail.com

The Fast Track Introduction to Playwriting
Europhoric Ink
Location: London
Dates: 5 - 6 June 2010

The Fast Track Introduction to Playwriting is a brand new weekend course for older playwrights. The course introduces playwriting skills and theory through a combination of practical exercises, class activities and engaging discussion. No experience is necessary and writers will have the opportunity to ask questions about the new writing industry.

For more information, visit: http://euphoricink.co.uk/playwriting_workshops or contact info@euphoricink.co.uk

Writing Plays for Young People
Dealing with Writing
Location: Kent, UK
Dates: 5 - 6 June 2010

This weekend workshop, led by playwrights Lin Coghlan and Philip Osment, will look at ways in which the lives and experiences of young people, and the worlds they inhabit, can offer the writer rich new avenues for their creativity. It will be a mixture of stimulating practical work, reference to a range of published texts, films and radio and the opportunity to begin to develop your own new work for young people.

For further information, visit www.dealingwithwriting.com

To book, email info@dealingwithwriting.com or call 01304 367625.

Short Playwriting Competition
Churchill Theatre
Location: London
Deadline: 7 June 2010

Churchill Theatre, Bromley are inviting submissions for its 12th annual short playwriting competition. They are looking for original short plays, no more than 20mins playing time, for no more than 6 characters. The winning submissions will be performed in rehearsed readings on stage at Churchill Theatre Bromley on Thurs 22 July 2010.

For entry guidelines and an application form, please email jennybatt@theambassadors.com or call Jenny on 020 8464 7131.

New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest - Call for Scripts
Merit Theatre and Film Group, Inc
Location: New York, America
Deadline: June 30 2010

The New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest bring works of social significance to the general public, works that might not otherwise have the opportunity to be presented. This contest accepts submissions from all over the world, and encourages new work from emerging playwrights.

For submission guidelines and further information, visit http://www.playwritingcontest.cjb.net/

International Playwriting Festival 2010 - Call for Entries
Warehouse Theatre Company
Location: London, UK
Deadline: 31 July 2010

The 25th Year International Playwriting Festival 2010 competition accepts entries from all over the world, and is judged by a panel of distinguished theatre practioners. The best selected plays will be showcased at the Festival weekend, held in March 2010, with a view to further production.

For further information, visit www.warehousetheatre.co.uk/ipf10.html or email Ted Craig at ted@warehousetheatre.co.uk

The Art of Playwriting 2010
Faber & Faber
Location: London, UK
Dates: 15 - 19 September 2010

This course is aimed at those who want to write a new play or develop an existing idea. It will consist of group work and one to one feedback. Within the three days you will discover and develop what you really want to write about, whilst refreshing your process with new techniques and detailed feedback.

The course is devised and directed by award-winning writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz and Nina Steiger, director of the Writers’ Centre at London’s Soho Theatre.

Cost: £375

To find out more, visit: http://www.faber.co.uk/article/2010/2/art-of-playwriting-2010-writing-new-plays-and-deve/

Free Script Reading Service
Live Theatre
Location: Newcastle, UK

Live Theatre offers a free script reading service which provides an opportunity to get professional and objective feedback on your script prior to sending it out to theatres and agents for consideration.

For more information,contact Degna Stone at degna@live.org.uk or visit http://www.live.org.uk/newwriting/scriptreadingservice.php

The Lowdown
North West Playwrights
Location: Manchester, UK-wide
Dates: Ongoing

Aimed at anyone interested in new writing for performance, The Lowdown is a mix of industry news, comment and reflection. You'll find debates on current topics, and updates on all things connected to North West Playwrights.

Writers On Writing:

North West Playwrights ask writers who have benefited from their workshops and classes to share their experiences. If you'd like to contribute, The Lowdown would be delighted to hear from you.

Writers' Opportunities:

North West Playwrights also include details of local, national and international workshops, competitions and training opportunities. If you have any writing opportunities to share with other subscribers, please email newplaysnw@hotmail.com with the subject line: LOWDOWN OPPS.

To subscribe to The Lowdown, please visit http://www.northwestplaywrights.co.uk/the-lowdown/the-lowdown/subscribe-to-ld/

E-BULLETIN: May 2010