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Writing for Stage Writing for Screen Writing for Radio | E-BULLETIN: May 2011Welcome to Playwrights' Studio, Scotland's May These monthly bulletins contain information about future Playwrights' Studio projects and activities, as well as many other opportunities available to dramatic writers across the UK and internationally from a range of sources. This page of the e-bulletin is divided into sections which list information about Playwrights' Studio projects as well as opportunities and events for stage writing, screen writing, and radio writing. Please click through to the section that interests you for more information about these events. Our final section, What's On, contains a list of some of the new work by Scottish writers coming up in the next few months. We would appreciate any feedback you have on our | |||
| Studio News | ||||
Writing for Stage | ||||
Writing for Screen | ||||
Writing for Radio | ||||
What's On | ||||
| Studio News | ||||
New Creative Director Announced | ||||
Fiona is currently Head of Communications at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. She has worked for several important theatre companies in England and Scotland, including the Citizens Theatre, the Royal Lyceum Theatre and the Orange Tree Theatre. She recently held posts in the public sector with the Scottish Arts Council and the Scottish Government/National Health Service. Linda McLean, Chairwoman of Playwrights’ Studio’s Board of Directors said "We are delighted that Fiona will be joining us as our new Creative Director. Her dedication to new writing and playwrights coupled with her experience in the wider arts' sector puts her in an excellent position to steer the organisation through its next phase." Fiona will take up the post from August 2011 as Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland moves forward with new projects and partnerships, which will see continued growth in the scale and reach of what it can offer. Fiona Sturgeon Shea commented, “I am delighted and honoured to join the talented staff team and board in building on the tremendous legacy achieved under the leadership of Julie Ellen. Most importantly, I am excited to continue working with Scotland's playwrights who have already given me so much inspiration and joy particularly during my time with the Traverse, Scotland's new writing theatre. Current Creative Director Julie Ellen is leaving to take up the post of Artistic Director for Greenock's new arts centre The Beacon.
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Crossing The Lines
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The Arches & Playwrights' Studio, Scotland The Arches & Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland present new event Crossing the Lines - adventures of a textual nature - a performance evening that pushes the boundaries of the theatrical experience while firmly focusing on text. Artists of any genre are invited to take a piece of contemporary playwriting and illuminate within a live setting. Whether you’re a director, musician or movement specialist we’d love to help you celebrate and interrogate the delivery of text. Similar to Scratch nights, these short pieces will be performed to a supportive audience who will offer feedback in the bar afterwards. It you’re interested in Crossing the Lines contact crossingthelines@hotmail.co.uk or visit http://www.thearches.co.uk/events/arts/crossing-the-lines or for more information, or to book. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210720472283569
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Stage to Page | ||||
Playwrights' Studio, Scotland Come and explore freshly written play scenes with fellow writers, actors and directors. This is an opportunity to play, create, influence and collaborate with each other. Play scenes will be cast and directed by those in attendance on the night, workshopped, and read for the group. Stage to Page will take place at 7pm in the CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD on the following dates:
Stage to Page are grateful for the support of:
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Call for Scottish plays performing at The Edinburgh Festival During August 2011 we will be based in Traverse Theatre Bar, Edinburgh, with our Bookshop and Information Point. We would like to hear from any Scottish Playwrights who are having their plays performed at this year's festival, for promotion at our Information Point. Please email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk with the following performance information:
E-Bulletin If you are a Scottish playwright or a playwright based in Scotland and have a production coming up, please e-mail info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk with the details and we would be happy to include it in the What's On section of the e-bulletin. If you are an organisation planning an event/competition/opportunity which would be of interest to playwrights, please send details to the above e-mail address for inclusion in the e-bulletin. Please note, details must be received before the 15th of each month. Play Library Amnesty If you have one of our plays or books lying around dusty and forgotten somewhere, please let us know and return them. They are easily identified as they will have a Playwrights’ Studio label on the spine. Our Play Library is one of Playwrights’ Studio’s most important assets so it’s crucial that we keep it well stocked and up to date for everyone to access. Thank You. The Space Don't forget about this fantastic resource for writers. The Playwrights' Studio has a private office space available to writers for the following purposes:
Use of the space is subject to availability. To book a time to use the space, please contact Emma on 0141 332 4403 or emma@playwrightsstudio.co.uk Playwrights' Studio, Scotland on Facebook If you would like to stay in touch via Facebook and remain updated on all our news and upcoming events, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pages/Playwrights-Studio-Scotland/31578930993 Playwrights' Studio, Scotland Twitter Page Please visit http://twitter.com/Pwrightsstudio to follow all our latest news and find out about future events. | ||||
| Writing for Stage | ||||
| Opportunities | ||||
| Scotland | ||||
Giant - Artist Opportunities This summer, a temporary island will be appearing in Glasgow. To make sure it is exciting, curious and multi art form, Giant invites proposals from artists working in different disciplines. They are interested in proposals that may take the shape of: An artwork; Pop-ups; Interventions; Performances; Workshops. For more information visit www.curiousgiant.org/pdfs/ArtistsProposal.pdf
Tom McGrath Trust 2011 Maverick Award - Applications Open Tom McGrath Trust Location: Scotland-wide Deadline: 10 June 2011 The Tom McGrath Trust is set up to honour the life and legacy of Tom McGrath, poet, playwright and creative maverick, who died in 2009. The Trust aims to be a source of inspiration, stimulation and support for artists seeking to develop their craft. In 2011, thanks to an anonymous donation and in memory of Tom’s well loved traits as a maverick, inquisitor and explorer, a single project will benefit from a one off award of £1000. This award will be given to the best application for a creative project that departs from the routine and starts to explore new and imaginative possibilities. For full details of how to apply, visit http://tommcgrathtrust.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/maverick-award-application-guidelines.pdf or email tommcgrathtrust@gmail.com Head5pace 2011 WACtheatre Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Deadline: 30 June 2011 WACtheatre want 10 new five-minute monologues about what it means to live with, or be affected by mental illness – from whatever point of view you like. They will make the selection; cast, direct, rehearse, film and present them as part of their contribution to the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival in October 2011. Monologues must be able to be performed by one actor and should be up to five minutes in length. They’re looking for work on the general theme of mental illness, from any point of view – carer, patient, relative, etc. In addition, monologues can also be inspired by this year’s Festival themes, which are memory and dreams. Please note, WACtheatre are only looking for submissions from writers who live in the north east of Scotland. For further details, contact colin@wactheatre.com
WACtheatre Playwriting Competition 2011 WACtheatre Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Deadline: 30 June 2011 The WACtheatre playwriting competition this year is part of WACtheatre’s contribution to the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. They are looking for full length plays on the subject of mental health, or inspired by the Festival themes for this year; memory and dreams The competition is open to anyone who is over 16 years, living in the North East of Scotland (particularly those based in Aberdeen City and the surrounding area). Writers should submit two copies of 10 to 15 pages of script (approx 10 minutes) which should be an extract from a longer play, or a piece intended for development. For further details, contact colin@wactheatre.com
Tom McGrath Trust - Writer Opportunities Tom McGrath Trust Location: Scotland-wide Deadline: Ongoing The Tom McGrath Trust is set up to honour the life and legacy of Tom McGrath, poet, playwright and creative maverick, who died in 2009. The Trust aims to be a source of inspiration, stimulation and support for artists seeking to develop their craft. Small Grants Award For details of how to apply, visit http://tommcgrathtrust.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/small-grants-awards-application-guidelines-doc.pdf or email tommcgrathtrust@gmail.com Writer and Translator Residencies Scottish and international playwrights and translators will have opportunities to be in residence and can work together or independently to develop new plays, new translations and new working relationships. It is anticipated that residencies will commence in summer 2011. For further information, visit http://tommcgrathtrust.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/residency-guidelines.pdf or email tommcgrathtrust@gmail.com
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| UK and Worldwide | ||||
ECLA Postdoctoral Writing Fellowship Opportunity The European College of Liberal Arts is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral Writing Fellow. The Writing Fellow will be the first faculty member at the school whose specific responsibility is the teaching of writing. Upon hire, the Fellow will devise a format for this teaching in a way that integrates it with the school's broader mission.
International Performing Arts Conferences - Presentation Proposals Accepted IUGTE Location: Austria Dates: 20-24 May, 25-29 August, 17-21 December 2011 The conferences are open to performers, performing arts educators and teachers from all over the world representing various art genres, techniques and forms - theatre, dance, music, circus, visual and multimedia art, interested in the research of topical questions and processes in contemporary performing arts education and training. You are welcome to take part in the conference as a Speaker, Presenter, Participant or Observer. The conferences are accepting presentation proposals. Presentation formats are as follows: practical workshop/master class; work in progress; performance fragment not requiring special technical conditions; reading/lecture; other ways of demonstration offered by Speaker/Presenter can be considered. For more details or to apply, visit May event: http://www.iugte.com/projects/conf-may August event: http://www.iugte.com/projects/conf-aug December event: http://www.iugte.com/projects/conf-dec ScriptSpace - Play Reading Opportunity The Space Location: London, UK Date: 22 May 2011, 5.30pm ScriptSpace is a reading service at The Space, offering writers an opportunity to hear their plays read outloud for the first time by professional actors. If you are interested in attending this event, and/or being added to their mailing list, please email scriptspace@space.org.uk For further details, visit http://space.org.uk/
MAD Submissions Now Open WRiTEON Location: Cambridge, UK Deadline: 27 May 2011 MAD (Monologues and Duologues) 2011 is WRiTEON's hugely popular festival of staged rehearsed readings of new short pieces for one or two actors.
Sky Arts Ignition - Applications Open Sky Arts Location: UK-wide and Ireland Deadline: 31 May 2011 Sky is to expand further its support for the arts in the UK and Ireland with the launch of a major new programme to support new arts projects and emerging artists. The programme involves the creation of a new arts fund, Sky Arts Ignition, with two distinct and complementary strands: The Sky Arts Ignition Series and Sky Arts Ignition Futures Fund.
The Royal Court Young Writers Festival 2012 The Royal Court Theatre Location: London, UK Deadline: 31 May 2011 The Royal Court Young Writers Festival has an unrivalled reputation for discovering new voices and for showcasing the best plays by the most exciting young talent. Over the years it has launched the careers of many now established and admired UK playwrights. For details on how to enter, visit http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/playwriting/the-studio/young-writers-festival/
Pint-sized Plays Writing Competition - Applications Open Pint-sized Plays Location: UK-wide Deadline: 31 May 2011 Your play can be funny, it can be poignant... if it can be performed in a pub, with two or three characters, you could be one of the ten winners of Pint-sized Plays 2011. Little Pieces of Gold - Submissions Accepted Little Pieces of Gold Location: London, UK Deadline: 1 June 2011 Little Pieces of Gold stage five short plays which are cast and rehearsed to performance standard by their five up-and-coming directors. Past shows have been a great success with some of their writers, garnering interest from literary departments and agents. Writers Avenue Writers Avenue UK Theatre Company Location: UK-wide Deadline: 1 June 2011 Writer's Avenue offers new playwrights a platform to develop their skills through new writing events and supports them through their development process.
Off Cut 2011 In Company Theatre Location: UK-wide Deadline: 1 June 2011 In Company Theatre have launched Off Cut 2011 and are accepting short play submissions from new and undiscovered playwrights. For more information, visit www.theoffcutfestival.com
firstCrucible Writers Night - Submissions open Sheffield Theatres Location: Sheffield Deadline: 3 June 2011 Sheffield Theatres are looking for submissions of original new plays to be performed on their firstCrucible Writers night on Monday 11 July. This is open to writers of all experience levels who wish to have their work performed at the Crucible Theatre.
For more information, contact a.loretto@sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Jerwood Blue Touch Paper Bursary The London Sinfonietta Location: UK-wide Deadline: 6 June 2011 Blue Touch Paper aims to provide the context and space for composers and collaborators to forge creative partnerships, to instigate and develop multi-disciplinary ideas, and to present new work at major festivals and venues across the UK. The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting - Submissions Accepted The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting Location: UK-wide and Ireland Deadline: 6 June 2011 The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is the search for great new plays and great writers. It is Britain’s biggest playwriting competition and has so far awarded £80,000 in prize money. The Bruntwood is open to anyone aged 16 or over living in the UK or Ireland. Scripts are submitted anonymously so we can judge them equally. Don’t worry if you are new to writing, this website has all kinds of ideas and support to help you write. For more information, visit http://www.writeaplay.co.uk/ MK Community Foundation Arts Bursary MK Community Foundation Location: Milton Keynes, UK Deadline: 10 June 2011 An Arts Bursary of £8,000 has been specifically created to support the professional development of a promising Milton Keynes talent. Writers are eligible. The Bursary demonstrates the continued drive to support the city’s arts community and to encourage artistic endeavors in Milton Keynes. Clore Leadership Short Courses - Applications Open Clore Leadership Location: London, UK Deadline: 27 June 2011 The courses are based on the highly effective residential element of the Clore Fellowship Programme and are designed for people in the middle ranks of larger cultural organisations or those near the top of smaller ones, who have a minimum of 5 years' work experience. Clore Leadership particularly welcomes applications from people working in libraries, archives, design, individual artists and those working in small and medium sized performing arts organisations. Such a diverse range of participants brings invaluable experience for the group to share and learn from. Previous participants have included representatives from Akram Khan Company, Arts & Business, Magpie Dance, The National Theatre, the National Trust, Oxford Playhouse, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Scottish National Galleries, Tate, Welsh National Opera, Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Youth Music, as well as a range of smaller organisations, freelance practitioners and consultants. The following courses are available: Eynsham Hall - 26 September - 7 October 2011 For further information, visit http://www.cloreleadership.org/page.php?id=55 The Ted Walters International Short Story, Poetry and Playwriting Competition 2011 The University of Liverpool Creative Writing Society for Lifelong Learning Location: UK-wide Deadline: 30 June 2011 This is the 5th annual competition and in each category the 1st prize winner receives £200, the 2nd prize winner £50 and the 3rd prize winner a £15 Book Token. One Act Plays may be on any subject or theme and must be type written, double spaced and on one side of the page only, including a cast of no more than four characters. Good presentation and a list of characters and any other relevant information must be included. Submissions must be 20 minutes maximum. Open One Act Playwriting Category: £6 for the first play and then £5.50 for each and every other play after that. Please send all of your competition entries to: New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest New Works of Merit Location: World-wide Deadline: 5 July 2011 This contest is in its Ninth Year and is now accepting scripts. New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest accepts and encourages exciting new works that: For guidelines and to apply, visit Next Best Page Submissions Collaborative Theatre Company Location: UK-wide Deadline: 31 December 2011 The aim of Next Best Page is to produce a highly collaborative and innovative piece of theatre by uniting 52 voices to tell one story over 2011. To find out more, visit http://www.nextbestpage.co.uk/home
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| Events | ||||
| Scotland | ||||
Liz Lochhead at Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival Liz Lochhead is one of Scotland’s best-known poets and dramatists, with her books and poetry attracting wide critical and commercial success. She is also a tireless performer and screenwriter, performing all over the UK and overseas. Liz Lochhead is being supported by two friends, Gerda Stevenson, actor/writer/director who has worked for over 30 years on stage, television, radio and film throughout Britain and abroad and Patsy Seddon who is one of Scotland’s favourite and most innovative celtic harp players. Lochhead manages to bridge the gap between the literary and the popular with her lively, witty takes on modern life and relationships, particularly her poems on the lot of modern women. The language she employs is rich in the spoken Scots of Glasgow, and filled with a warmth and humanity that never fails to truly connect with her audience. To book a place, visit http://www.dgartsfestival.org.uk/events/literature/liz-lochhead/
The Visitors - Brothers of Thunder by Ann Marie Di Mambro The Visitors supported by Playwrights' Studio, Scotland Location: The Old Hairdressers, (opposite Stereo) Renfield Lane, Glasgow Date: 25 May 2011, 7.30pm This month's play focuses on a young man who is HIV positive taking refuge with a Roman Catholic priest. Events for the coming months: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199714520064037 Scenes @ Beanscene More Theatre Location: Beanscene, Shawlands, Glasgow Dates: Every Saturday evening Scenes @ Beanscene is an hour long show consisting of 4 -5 different stand - alone comedy duet scenes (not sketches). Each original scene lasts 10 -15 minutes each and follows a certain theme. There will be a new theme each month. To help stick to the theme (and for fun) each author must quote the theme at least once within the dialogue. July is RELIGION, POLITICS...RUBBISH: Deadline of 3 June 2011 Send themed scene(s) (limit 2 scenes per author/per month) as pdf. or doc. to seemore@moretheatre.com by the deadline. Find out more by visiting www.moretheatre.com Writing and Storytelling Fellowships Creative Scotland Applications are invited from suitable host organisations to employ writers or storytellers to develop their own work within specific communities. Fellows will work on their own projects and may also interact with specified groups within the host environment. Level of Grants: Deadline: For further information and to apply, visit http://www.creativescotland.com/investment/investing-in-arts/literature
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| UK and Worldwide | ||||
Playwriting 2 Workshop A continuous weekly workshop for playwrights and comedy and drama writers who have work in progress or starting a play: an opportunity to review the elements of a play or performing piece and to continue working on your own draft. City Lit (Covent Garden, London) will hold Playwriting 2 weekly classes, for playwrights and drama/comedy and performance writers who have a work in progress or are starting a new play. To enrol, call 0207 4922652 or email humanities@citylit.ac.uk For more information, visit www.citylit.ac.uk Playwriting with Fraser Grace The Ace Foundation Location: Cambridge, UK Dates: 1 June-6 July 2011 The Ace Foundation is sponsoring this six week workshop in central Cambridge, in which award winning playwright Fraser Grace will address the following topics: 1. A situation of my own making 2. People like me - characters real and imagined 3. Speaking in hammer and tongues - what dramatic language is 4. How plays speak without talking - adventures in narrative 5. Rituals, games and other useful stuff 6. Goodbye to all that - the joy of rewriting Participants should be willing to share their writing in a supportive, positive environment. For more details, visit www.acefoundation.org.uk or call 01223 499707 Stephen Jeffreys Playwriting Materclass Stephen Jeffreys Location: London, UK Date: 10-12 June 2011 The Masterclass is designed to be stimulating, entertaining and career-changing for the experienced playwright and beginner alike. The course gives a practical guide to every aspect of the art and craft of writing plays. For more details, visit www.stephenjeffreys.co.uk To book a place, contact Maeve McKeown at admin@stephenjeffreys.co.uk 'Getting to Where You Want to Be' Workshop The Writers's Compass in partnership with Cyprus Well Location: Exeter, UK Date: 15 June 2011 Cyprus Well is the literature development agency for the South West. Using exercises from the Writer’s Compass DIY guide to professional development planning, this workshop with writer and experienced workshop leader Anne Caldwell will provide you with a structured opportunity to explore where you want to get to professionally and to start planning your next steps. The workshop is aimed at writers at all stages of their career living and working in the South West and further afield. If you are considering a change in direction, starting out or simply want to take stock and check you’re still on track, then you are likely to find it particularly useful. One-to-One Sessions for Writers The Writers's Compass in partnership with Cyprus Well Location: Exeter, UK Date: 16 June 2011 Does the idea of spending 90 minutes reflecting on your career and what you’d like to achieve with the help of someone experienced, impartial and supportive sound attractive? Perhaps you’re feeling a bit stuck and not clear how best to move forward? Like the workshop illustrated above, professional development planning is all about exploring where you want to get to with your career and creative work in a structured way. Playwriting at Salisbury Arts Centre Salisbury Arts Centre Location: Salisbury, UK Dates: 11 June - 9 July 2011 New Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced courses starting in June. Beginners: all the basics of writing for theatre. Participants will write a short play using playful writing exercises. IETM Autumn Plenary Meeting in Krakow ITEM Location: Krakow, Poland Dates: 6-9 October 2011 Come to... Party! The IETM Autumn Plenary Meeting in Krakow, will take place under the sign of..."party". Party as fun, party as conviviality and engagement, participation and international cooperation. With their collective movements, together IETM participants will find ways to prove the value of culture in society: For more details, visit http://www.ietm.org/index.lasso?p=information&q=eventdetail&id=460&l=en
Online Playwriting Course Live Theatre Newcastle Location: UK-wide Dates: Rolling Live Theatre Newcastle has launched a unique new online script writing course. For further details, visit http://www.beaplaywright.com/
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Writing for Screen | ||||
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Opportunities and events for screenwriters can now be found through a direct link to The Writers’ Factory monthly e-bulletin. The Writers Factory is invested in by Creative Scotland and is coordinated by the Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland. For more information about The Writers' Factory, please visit the website www.writersfactory.co.uk The monthly bulletins contain information about future Writers' Factory courses as well as information relevant to screen writers across the UK and internationally. The Writers' Factory E-Bulletin is divided into three sections: Factory News: For upcoming Writers' Factory events To view the full e-bulletin, please click here | ||||
| Writing for Radio | ||||
BBC Radio Scotland Drama Newsletter April-July 2011
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| What's On | ||||
A Slow Air by David Harrower Top Table by Rob Drummond The Steamie by Tony Roper Macmillan's Marvellous Motion Machine by Jules Horne I Heart Maths by James Ley Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy) by Anna Karena The Visitors: Brothers of Thunder by Ann Marie Di Mambro Sins of Fathers by Patrick Harkins A Conversation With Carmel by Barrowland Ballet Crazy Gary's Mobile Disco by Gary Owen Classic Cuts Season: Daphis & Chloe by Longus, by Hattie Naylor Knives in Hens by David Harrower Classic Cuts Season: Wind in the Pines, by Paddy Cunneen Page to Stage by Tron Studio A Conversation With Carmel by Barrowland Ballet
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The Playwrights Network The Playwrights Network links regional organisations which work to develop playwrights (and sometimes writers working in other media too) across the UK. | ||||
The Scottish Society of Playwrights (SSP) A professional members' organisation that represents, develops and promotes the interests and craft of professional Scottish playwrights working within the theatre sector. To become a member or for more information about the Society, please see their website www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk Note: Could any member who has recently changed address or contact details please send in their most up to date information? Thank you. | ||||
The Playwrights' Studio, Scotland is grateful for the support of: | ||||
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