15 Dec 2023
Playwrights will have the chance to see their scripts performed next year at a two-week long New Writing Festival to be held at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans.
Local drama group, The Company of Ten, is putting on the Festival in July 2024 to give emerging writers much needed stage time and contact with audiences willing to offer encouragement and constructive feedback in order to help them take their writing further.
The festival will provide a showcase for previously unperformed plays of up to 45 minutes duration.
Jenny Kilcast of The Company of Ten said: “We want this event to really celebrate all things drama by supporting new writing for the stage and giving actors and directors the chance to show off their talents too. Due to Covid and the current cost-of-living crisis opportunities for playwrights have been greatly diminished recently. With this Festival we want to show our commitment to them.”
Perhaps you have a script languishing in a bottom drawer? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to write a play but not got round to it yet? Or you and your friends are keen to collaborate on a theatre script? If so, here is your chance to possibly see your creation fully realised on the Abbey Theatre studio stage.
“Each selected entry to the festival will have stage time for a simple technical rehearsal and one performance,” said Jenny. “There is no theme, so writers can explore any topic they feel passionate about.”
Only UK-based writers can be considered for this festival, and submissions must be the playwright’s own original work. Funding is regrettably not available.
Jenny added: “Festival participants will be given plenty of time to cast and rehearse their shows in preparation for the big night. And should casting be a problem, The Company of Ten may be able to supply actors and directors. And, just so no one is left out, entry is completely free.”
The submission window is now open until February 29 2024.
For more information, see https://bitly.ws/VIBr
