Studio News current activities and items of interest;

Writing for Stage
events and competitions

Writing for Screen
events and competitions

Writing for Radio events and competitions

What's On
New works by Scotland's writers

E-BULLETIN: October 2009

Welcome to the
Playwrights' Studio, Scotland's October E-bulletin.

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
E-bulletin and if you have any information that you would like circulated to our subscribers, please email this to info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk by the end of the first week of each month.

Writing for Stage
Open Stage-Coming Soon
WACtheatre Seeking Plays
Scottish Society of Playwrights Online Forum
Edinburgh Fringe 2010-One Act Play Competition
Vital Spark Awards
Tips for Playwrights
Writer Wanted
Seeking Minority Ethnic Emerging Writers
Writing For Performance
ICWD Accepting Submissions for a New Anthology
Court in the Act
Read more...

Writing for Screen
Scotland Writes Competition
Selling Your First Script
Sequel to Cannes Film Script Competition 2009
Seeking Submissions for StoryLand
Get Yourself Online:Free Film-Making Workshops
The Script Factory's TV Forum
Wipst Premier Screenwriting Competition 2009
BBC: My Story
Read more...

What's On
The YelloWing by Julia Taudevin
One Thousand Paper Cranes by Abigail Docherty & Lu Kemp
Grump Charlie Can't Come Out To Play by Theatre Bo
Mish Gorecki Goes Missing by Skye Loneragan
Words Are Never Wasted-various writers
No Phones on Planet Pluto by Colin Garrow & Suzanne Enoch
Love Indeed by John Binnie
Towards the Inevitability of Catastrophe by Colin Garrow & Suzanne Enoch
The Steamie by Tony Roper
Il Panico di Pantalone by Lung Ha's Theatre Company
Read more..

Playwrights' Studio Seeking an Administrator

Playwrights' Studio, Scotland is looking to recruit a new administrator.

Click here to download an application pack and job description

Ignite 2009
Playwriting Competition
Deadline 8 January 2010

Finding the best young dramatists
for radio and stage

Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland and BBC Scotland Radio Drama, have launched an exciting competition, for writers between 16 and 26, to find stage and radio’s best young dramatists.

Winners will get an exclusive opportunity to be supported by a top playwright to turn their idea into a full length play. Extracts from the winning plays will be recorded with professional actors in a unique one day radio experience; in short a wonderful opportunity that could kick start a writing career!

What do you need to do? Please download a competition entry pack from the Playwrights’ Studio website, then submit a synopsis and a scene for a play, either for radio or stage, on any subject you want.

Full details on how to enter the competition and terms and conditions are available on www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk/ignite2009.htm

Workshops around Scotland
For everyone who is keen hone playwriting skills, get inspiring ideas and valuable pointers on how to write well for radio and stage there are free one day workshops taking place this autumn around Scotland. These are great opportunities open to aspiring writers of all ages.

The workshops will be lead by two successful playwrights Nicola McCartney and Chris Dolan and David Ian Neville who is a writer and BBC Scotland radio producer.

Similar workshops have been quite popular in the past, so it’s advisable to book early.

Workshop venues, dates and times
Aberdeen, Lemon Tree, Sat 3 Oct, 11am – 1pm
Dumfries, Crichton Campus, Sat 24 Oct, 11am – 1pm
Dundee, Dundee Rep Theatre, Sat 31 Oct, 11am – 1pm
Glasgow, Tron Theatre, Sat 14 Nov, 11am – 1p
Inverness, Eden Court Theatre, Sun 22 Nov, 2pm – 4pm
Edinburgh , National Library of Scotland, Sat 28 Nov, 11am – 1pm

To book a workshop place, contact Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland on 0141 3324403 or email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk

__ ______________________Radio Drama

Applications are open for the final round of Writer’s Projects funding. You, the professional playwright can apply for up to £3,250 to support any aspect of your writing development.

A limited number of Writer’s Projects are available. In selecting which ones to support we will consider;

• The originality and ambition of the ideas
• The creative development of the playwright
• The career benefit to the playwright

Where other sources of funding are applicable we would encourage applicants to consider those alternatives.

Here are some examples of ways in which you might like support:

• Time on a writing residency
• Research for your writing
• Contracting a director and actors to workshop your script
• Inclusion of other artists in a collaborative process (musicians, furniture makers, dancers, visual artists etc.)

We are however hoping that you will have ideas beyond these suggestions.

We will run the project for you, providing administrative support and handling all the financial management, and will work closely with you to ensure that the project successfully meets your needs.

Application Criteria
Applications to the Writers’ Project scheme must be submitted by individual playwrights. You can apply if you:

• have had 2 or more professional productions
• are living in or are from Scotland

Projects which already have funding will not be considered.

Final Deadline
30 November 2009 (for projects commencing between Jan-March 2010)

How to Apply
Please visit the www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk to download an application form. Completed applications should be sent to Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland, CCA 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3JD. Applications may also be sent via email to info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk

If you wish to discuss your project with us prior to submitting an application we invite you to call our office (0141 332 4403) or send an email to info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk

For more information on how to submit a play to Fuse please visit our website at: www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk/fuse.html

Open Stage- Coming Soon
The Tron Theatre is lauching an exciting new playwriting competition, Open Stage, at the end of October 2009. Watch the Tron Theatre website for more details.

WACtheatre, Aberdeen are on the lookout for new plays - so if you've got an idea, a dog-eared script or just want some help getting to grips with script writing, drop us a line. Guidelines/script layouts are available for submitting unsolicited scripts. Please download them from the website: http://www.wactheatre.co.uk/home.htm

The redesigned website for the Scottish Society of Playwrights is up and running! The website now includes a private online forum for playwrights to discuss the theatre industry and any issues relevant to writers. Members can join by going to the website and registering: www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk

To become a member or for more information about the Society, please visit their website www.scottishsocietyofplaywrights.co.uk or email scottishsocietyofplaywrights@gmail.com

Note: Could any member who has recently changed address or contact details please send the SSP their most up to date information?  Thank you.

The winning script will be performed in a six or seven-night run at an established central Edinburgh venue in August 2010. The winning playwright will be welcome to attend rehearsals and will receive two complimentary tickets to each performance.

For further details regarding competition guidelines please email: AnneRobertson252@yahoo.co.uk

Creative Scotland has committed £1 million from its £5m Innovation Fund for the ‘Vital Spark’ awards to enable new collaborations by creative practitioners. Individual awards of between £20,000 to £100,000 will be offered to encourage work that goes beyond the boundaries of creative disciplines and will support collaborations between Scottish based artists and practitioners working across all the disciplines. 

For more information or to download an application please visit the website: http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/1/funding/vitalspark.aspx

Top Australian playwrights share their tips on how to write a great play. Writers include Hannie Rayson, Andrew Bovell, Louis Nowra, Joanna Murray-Smith, Katherine Thomson, Matt Cameron and Debra Oswald. These short videos are available to watch for free online.

Watch them at http://www.snodger.com.au/shop/tips.php

Director, Laura Casey, is looking for a writer who is keen to work collaboratively with the actors and myself in order to create a unique piece that celebrates the spoken word as well as physical movement in a unique piece of storytelling. This work will be an adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s, The Old Man and The Sea. This post is part-time (£10-£15k pro rata) The piece will play for 3 weeks at a major fringe venue in London with potential to go to various arts festivals around the world.

Please email a CV and letter detailing your writing style and what you might be able to bring to the project to Laura Casey, Director laura.casey@hotmail.co.uk

This is a playwright project for first and second generation born Black, Asian and minority ethnic emerging writers aged 17+ (no upper age limit), based in Yorkshire. A space to say it the way you see it, without borders, without fear and without compromise. If you have a story that theatre needs to hear, then we can help you realise your ambition. Freedom Studios is running a free, seven-week writer's project to support emerging writers in the realisation of original twenty-minute short plays. These short plays will culminate in a work in progress, rehearsed reading presentation to the public and invited theatre writers, performers, directors and producers on Wednesday 23rd November at 19.15.

For more information or to request an application form from hello@freedomstudios.co.uk

As part of London's Inside Out Festival this workshop is open to adult writers who are interested in developing writing for performance. Inside Out  Festival aims to show the rich cultural life of London universities. Participants will produce writing intended for performance rather than being read on the page and the workshop will raise participants' awareness of how to edit their work with the performance audience in mind.

For more details or to book a ticket please contact alice@applesandsnakes.org or visit the website www.lcace.org.uk

The ICWP (International Centre for Women Playwrights) is accepting submissions for a new anthology: "Scenes from a Diverse World".

Members and non-members are invited to submit scenes for 2-4 actors (no monologues or scenes requiring more than 4 actors).

• All roles should be equally challenging
• Each scene should be 5-10 pages in length
• Each scene should be excerpted from a longer work that is readily
  available to students for purchase or performance
• Each scene should be appropriate for teenage actors -- sensitive
  treatment of mature themes is welcome; potentially offensive language should be limited unless essential
• Each scene should feature at least one character who the author
  identifies as a member of a subordinate group within a larger society, and
  reflect themes related to that identity
• Subordinate groups can be defined by differences in gender, race,
  sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic status, language,
  nationality, religion, education, employment or political power from the
  dominant culture
• Opinions may differ regarding the most inclusive definition of
  cultural diversity; if you are in doubt, please send us your work!

Scenes from a Diverse World" will be published by ICWP in 2010 and marketed to an audience of teenage and adult student actors.  Proceeds of the publication will go to ICWP.  Although playwrights need not be members of ICWP to submit their work, playwrights featured in the anthology will be required to join ICWP (no membership fee is necessary). Featured playwrights will receive a complimentary copy of the anthology.

Please submit no more than 3 scenes per author, .doc, .rtf, or .txt format. Deadline for submissions is October 31st, 2009. Send your work as an email attachment to: icwpplaywright@gmail.com

Court in the Act
Otley Courthouse
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Dates: 1, 8, 15, 22 November 2009
Cost: £25/session

Develop your creative ideas into scripted pieces and experience them come to life in script-in-hand performances. Commissioned writer and actor, Irene Lofthouse will guide you through the process on these special Sunday sessions.  The sessions run from November 1-22, each Sunday from 12noon-5pm. Cost, £25 per session.

Nov 1: What is scriptwriting,  Script analysis,  Idea development
Nov 8: Themes – radio or stage, Characters, Dialogue
Nov 15: Development 5/10 minute script for performance on 22nd
Nov 22: Script-in-hand performances with audience feedback (Tickets £3, authors free)

For more information or to book tickets please phone 01943467466

Scotland Writes Competition
BBC Scotland
Location: Scotland, UK
Deadline: 2 November 2009

Are you passionate about writing for television?  Do you have a series idea that you are burning to tell? BBC Scotland is looking for new Scottish voices for television drama.  

This competition is part of Scotland Writes, a writing initiative created by BBC Scotland. It is for writers born or living in Scotland. Writers should submit a 60-minute pilot episode for an original television series or serial which reflects contemporary Scotland. The script can be in any genre: cop drama, supernatural, science fiction, action, relationship drama, or anything else you can think of.

Whatever genre you choose it should feel original and distinctive, with strong character voices and compelling stories. This should be an idea that has a reason to be told. If it feels as though you've already seen it then the chances are it's the wrong idea. And lastly the series must be suitable to sit on one of the BBC Channels.  

Process
The writer judged to have submitted the best script will be awarded £1,500 to help them with their development and there will be a further £500 awarded to the runner up. Up to 20 of the best entrants will be invited along to a masterclass in script writing where they will have a chance to meet the BBC Scotland development team and learn more about the processes involved in writing for television.  

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 2 November 2009
Winners notified: Monday 7 December 2009
Masterclass: January 2009

For more information and entry rules please visit the website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunity/scotland_writes1.shtml

Selling Your First Script
Euroscript
Location: London, UK
Dates: 24 October 2009
Cost: £85

Most screenwriters fall down not for lack of talent or of trying, but from not knowing how to market their ideas. Often it takes only the smallest shift to turn a script or series proposal from good to compelling, a hair's breadth between a script that sells and one that doesn't. On this intensive one-day workshop for a small group, writers will be given practical exercises and personal feedback to help you prepare your script for the market, and know how to track down the right cinema and TV producers.

For more information or to book your place please email charles.harris@euroscript.co.uk or visit the website http://www.euroscript.co.uk/selling_oct.html

The 'Sequel to Cannes' short film script competition is open to anyone over the age of 18 living in Great Britain (including the Channel Islands, Northern and Southern Ireland) at a cost of £20 per script entry.

There’s a 1st prize of £500 cash (sponsored by Creative Dorset) and 2nd and third prizes of £75 and £25 respectively.  For further details please visit the website: www.prequeltocannes.biz

RTÉ is seeking submissions for 6 new pilot drama series to go online from January to June 2010. It doesn’t matter if you’ve made dozens of TV series or have never made anything before, as long as you are over 18 and have a good idea that will engage our over 18 audience for 6 episodes and can convince them that you have a team behind you to pull it off, then they want to hear from you.

Application details are available on-line at www.rte.ie/storyland.  The closing date for submissions is 1 November 2009. 

Would you like the tools to get your work noticed online? Or would you like to learn how to make your own film, looking at themes of difference, discrimination and borders in a creative way? BBC Voices are offering free monthly filmmaking workshops, where you can learn how to make a film using photos, art, music or film footage. You’ll get expert guidance from BBC Voices and no previous experience is necessary. By the end of the day you will have created a two minute film, which will be showcased alongside other films across Europe. You can sign up for one day sessions, on a different theme each month.

Dates are: 
Monday 2 November, Monday 9 November, (Human Rights/Wrongs) 10am-4pm
Monday 14 December, Tuesday 15 December, (Borders) 10am-4pm.

To book or to find out more, call Gary Standley on 07834846081 or email bbcvoices@bbc.co.uk.

If you're serious about a career writing drama then spend two days with The Script Factory finding out how to get your work into living rooms across the land.

With training sessions, guest speakers and panel discussions, TV Forum aims to inspire you to consider how your talents, ideas and aspirations may be suited to the wide range of TV drama opportunities, from soap to single dramas or innovative sitcoms. Both mornings will feature practical training sessions, with afternoons reserved for a range of industry guests - from drama commissioners to working TV writers - who will talk about their

For more information or to book your place, please visit the website: www.scriptfactory.co.uk

If you think you’ve got what it takes to write a script then this is your chance to see your work on the screen. Vibe Tv.Tv Ltd  is an industry partner looking for great stories in any of the following genres: Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Family, Horror, Romantic Comedy, Thriller/Suspense, Documentary, Fantasy, Ghost and Open genres.              

Vibe’s Mission is to create an opportunity for screenwriters to have a 10 minute pilot of their work made available for distribution, e.g. to film festivals or Production/TV/Film companies to promote their work and to generate funding for the full project. The closing date is November 30th 2009, and the overall winner will be announced on January 18, 2010.  A pilot (10 minutes) will be commissioned to promote the screenplay which will be filmed in March/April 2010 at an appropriate location.

For more information about how you can enter the competition or to download attachments please visit the website: www.vibetv.tv

My Story is a new BBC project to gather the Nation’s true stories and publish them online. It launches in early September 2009 on The One Show. The BBC wants to hear from everyone. 15 of the best stories will be made in TV programmes for BBC One.

The My Story website (www.bbc.co.uk/mystory ) will gather and show stories from members of the public and feature celebrities own real-life stories, along with inspiring famous true stories. The site will feature videos and interactive tools to help people plan and structure their stories as well as tips on writing styles and skills.Five of the most compelling storytellers will win a publishing deal which could see the story of their lives on book shelves next to their favourite authors.

Stories should be no longer than 1500 words and accompanied by a short description. They will accept stories by post but these cannot be published online.

For further information please visit the website (listed above) or email mystory@bbc.co.uk

Free Radio Writing Workshops
The Playwrights' Studio, Scotland and BBC Scotland Radio Drama are hosting free and open workshops for writers of any age which will take place all around Scotland. Featuring top playwrights and BBC radio producers, these workshops will give writers valuable tips on writing plays for stage and radio.

Upcoming workshops will take place in:
Dumfries, 24 October, Creighton Campus, 11am-1pm
Dundee, 31 October, Dundee Rep Theatre , 11am -1pm
Glasgow, 14 November, Tron Theatre, 11am-1pm
Inverness, 22 November, Eden Court Theatre, 2pm-4pm
Edinburgh, 28 November, National Library of Scotland, 11am-1pm

To book your free place please contact the Playwrights’ Studio on 0141 3324403 or email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk
_________________________
______Radio Drama

The YelloWing by Julia Taudevin
Tue 13 October- Fri 16 October 2009, CCA, Glasgow
Click here for ticket information

One Thousand Paper Cranes by Abigail Docherty & Lu Kemp
Tue 13 October-Sat 17 October 2009, Tron Theatre
Click here for ticket information

Grumpy Charlie Can't Come Out to Play by Theatre Bo
Tue 13 October-Sat 17 October 2009, Theatre Bo @ Tron Theatre
Click here for ticket information

Mish Gorecki Goes Missing by Skye Loneragan
Sat 17 October 2009, Mitchell Library, Glasgow
Click here for ticket information

Words Are Never Wasted-various writers
19-28 October 2009, Tricky Hat Productions in association with AttFife
Click here for ticket information

No Phones on Planet Pluto by Colin Garrow & Suzanne Enoch
Tues 20 October 2009, Lemon Tree Theatre, Aberdeen
Click here for ticket information

Love Indeed by John Binnie
Thu 22 October 2009, BandBazi@ G12 Gilmorehill Theatre, Glasgow
Click here for ticket information

Love Indeed by John Binnie
Sat 24 October 2009, BandBazi@ Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh
Click here for ticket information

The Steamie by Tony Roper
Mon 26 October-Sat 31 October 2009, His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen
Click here for ticket information

Towards the Inevitability of Catastrophe, Colin Garrow & Suzanne Enoch
Tues 27 October-Wed 28 October 2009, Lemon Tree Theatre, Aberdeen.
Click here for ticket information

Il Panico di Pantalone by Lung Ha's Theatre Company
Thu 5 November-Fri 6 November, Lung Ha's @ Scottish Youth Theatre
Click here for ticket information

Il Panico di Pantalone by Lung Ha's Theatre Company
Fri 13 November-Sat 15 November, Lung Ha's @ Traverse Theatre
Click here for ticket information

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.
Click here to find an organisation in your area.

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
or email scottishsocietyofplaywrights@gmail.com

Note: Could any member who has recently changed address or contact details please send in their most up to date information?  Thank you.