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Markets for Playwrights
Dateline: 21st November, 1999
There are markets for new plays. There are theatres which have a "new
writing" policy. The trouble is, there are vastly more new plays and
new playwrights than there are new writing companies and slots within
their programmes. These companies are inundated with scripts, but that
could be the aspiring playwright's first mistake: quite a few don't
want to see scripts to begin with. Rather they want to make contact
with writers with whom they think they could work, so they ask for contact
to be made by letter (occasionally - but rarely! - by phone) with a
synopsis and, often, a personal statement about what the writer wants
to do with his/her writing.
And do watch out for cast sizes: many of these companies are small
and have very limited funds, so they can't employ lots of actors. And
that means they want small cast plays. Some even stipulate a maximum
cast size, usually six or eight.
Most, too, want new work, not work which repeats what's gone
before, so if aspiring new writer Joe Bloggs thinks he's the new Sarah
Kane or Mark Ravenhill, they will probably not be interested. They might
be interested in Joe Bloggs, just as long as he has his own voice and
is not working "in the style of" someone else.
And if Joe Bloggs is working in a garret somewhere, starving for his
art, he's likely to die of starvation before he even gets an answer
from most companies. The majority don't have readers or literary managers
and it can take them up to six months to reach a decision - and even
then the decision is likely to be, "let's talk about developing something
new for us."
So here is an incomplete list of companies that are likely to look
at new plays. It's incomplete because small companies come and go, small
and larger companies change their policies, and, in any case, information
either isn't available or I haven't been able to contact the company
concerned. So mplease don't shout at me if this information is out of
date - things change from week to week!
The List (A - L)
Bush Theatre
Shepherd's Bush Green
London W12 8QD
Tel.: 0171 602 3703
Email: thebush@dircon.co.uk
"A writer's theatre" - takes about 3 months to come to a decision -
small number of commissions.
Send MS to Literary Manager with small sae for acknowledgement and small
sae for script return.
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Broad Street
Birmingham B1 2EP
Tel.: 0121 236 6771
Unlikely to use a submitted script: prefers to develop relationship
with writers and commission. Contact Literary Officer.
Bootleg Theatre Company
23 Burgess Green
Salisbury
Wilts
Tel.: 01722 421476
Socially relevant scripts invited.
Borderline Theatre Copany
Darlington New Church
North Harbour Street
Ayr
KA8 8AA
Scotland
Tel.: 01292 281010
Committed to new writing, especially for young people. Send synopsis
with cast size.
Bright Ltd.
1-2 Henrietta Street
London WC2E 8PS
Tel.: 0171 379 7474
Email: chapman@dircon.co.uk
Aimed at young audiences (not children!) - scripts which deal
with modern issues and push back boundaries.
Bristol Express Theater Company
24 Well's House Road
East Acton
London NW10 6EE
Tel.: 0181 838 4482
Committed to new writing through rehearsed readings, workshops and productions
- interested in challenging work which is also entertaining.
Chester Gateway
Hamilton Place
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2BH
Tel.: 01244 344238
Emphasis on new work - cast of 8 or less - synopsis first.
Clwyd Theatr Cymru
Mold
Flintshire
CH7 1YA
Tel.: 01352 756331
Email: drama@celtic.co.uk
Plays by Welsh writers or with a Welsh theme.
Colchester Mercury
Balkerne Gate
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1PT
Tel.: 01206 577006
Mss welcome - theatre has a playwright's group for serious writers
Coliseum
Fairbottom Street
Oldham
Lancs
OL1 3SW
Tel.: 0161 624 1731
"Popular" work, preferably with a northern flavour. Send script.
Crucible
55 Norfolk Street
Sheffield
S1 1DA
Tel.: 0114 276 0621
Will read scripts but tend to approach writers themselves.
Derby Playhouse
Eagle Centre
Derby
DE1 2NF
Tel.: 01332 363271
Send letter, CV, synopsis and ten pages of script.
Dundee Rep
Tay Square
Dundee
DD1 1PB
Scotland
Tel.: 01382 227684
New Scottish writing "by prior arrangement."
Estern Angles TC
Sir John Mills Theatre
Gatacre Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 2LQ
Tel.: 01473 218202
Regional writers only - work suitable for a rural audience.
Graeae TC
Interchange Studios
Dalby Street
London NW5 3NQ
Tel.: 0171 267 1959
Minicom 0171 267 3164
Scripts from disabled writers dealing with disability themes.
Hampstead Theatre
Swiss Cottage Centre
Avenue Road
London NW3 3EX
Tel.: 0171 722 9224
Interested - can take 2-3 months for a decision.
Hiss and Boo
1 Nyes Hill
Wineham Lane
Bolney
West Sussex
RH17 5SD
Commercial plays (mystery, thriller, comedy etc.) - synopsis and letter.
No phone calls.
Hull Truck TC
Spring Street
Hull
HU2 8RW
Tel.: 01482 224800
Mainly commissions. Will read scripts - cst of 8 or under.
Pola Jones Associates
14 Dean Street
London W1V 5AH
Tel.: 0171 439 1165
Comedies and musicals.
Stephen Joseph Theatre
Westbrough
Scarborough
North Yorks.
YO11 1JW
Tel.: 01723 370540
Encourages new writers. Send script and sae.
Komedia
Gardner Street
North Lane
Brighton
East Sussex
BN1 1UN
Tel.: 01273 674101
Send script.
Leicester Haymarket
Belgrave Gate
Leicester
LE1 3YQ
Tel.: 0116 2530021
New writing welcome - wishes to promote Asian work.
Library TC
St Peter's Square
Manchester
M2 5PD
Tel.: 0161 234 1913
Outline only. Prefers to commission. Does rehearsed readings.
Live Theatre
Trinity Chare
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 3DF
Tel.: 0191 261 2694
Keen on new writing: productions, workshops, rehearsed readings.
Lyric, Hammersmith
King Street
London W6 0QL
Tel.: 0181 741 0824
Interested in developing projects - send synopsis and CV.
Continued
Articles Indices:
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