Plays of Innocence and Experience

11 July 2012
Posted in Theatre

Major free development project for theatre writers launches Writers' Guild charitable foundation

The deadline for applications to this project has now passed

Update (25.9.12): 

We have contacted our chosen group of writers for this project so, if you've not been successful this time, we would like to thank you all for your submissions. With over 130 applications, the response was impressive indeed - proving to us what a huge demand there is for workshops like this and the potential of the Guild's partnership with RADA. Therefore we trust that you will not be discouraged as, undoubtedly, there will be other opportunities in the future. We will be announcing the names of the successful writers very soon on the Guild website, once their acceptance and arrangements have been consolidated. We will also be mailing everyone personally to thank you for your participation.

>>

Emerging and established playwrights (whether Writers' Guild members or not) have a rare chance to come together to explore their work in an inspiring new development weekend, FREE to the chosen writers with expenses paid. Plays of Innocence and Experience is a major new project for the Guild, run in partnership with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. This scheme is open to all writers, at different stage of their careers, to work on an unperformed play with actors, directors and dramaturgs of the highest calibre.

Funded by the Writers Foundation (UK) - which has been set up by the Guild to expand their work in promoting writing through education, training, competitions, awards and in other ways - the first event of this partnership will be a weekend in October focused on developing plays of great promise through a process of readings, selective workshops and constructive criticism.

Each writer will work with a company of actors provided by RADA from their alumni and postgraduate students, in close collaboration with a professional director and/or dramaturg. There is also potential that this partnership would enable the most distinguished plays to emerge from the weekend to progress further, possibly to more refined development and public showcasing.

To apply, candidates should: 

• Submit three hard copies plus an electronic copy of a draft of an unpublished, unperformed dramatic piece. This needs to be either the first act of a full-length play or a one-act play or a dramatic piece of equivalent performance length. The text should include a cast list, essential production notes and, if it is part of a longer script, a resume/ scenario of the whole piece.  
• Include a letter of application, of no more than 700 words, setting out your reasons for wanting to develop this piece, its potential as a drama and your aspirations for it. And in what way this experience would be valuable in terms of your personal development as a writer. This letter should also include all your contact details plus a stamped, addressed envelope if you wish your scripts to be returned. 
• Include a brief biography of your experience and career to date.

The weekend will take place at the RADA Studios (previously The Drill Hall) in London, from 6pm on Friday 19 October to 6pm on Sunday 21 October 2012. The workshops will be FREE to the chosen writers, who will also receive travel expenses and (if necessary) an overnight allowance. However, owing to the considerable task of selection, it will not be possible to offer a critique or respond to those candidates who have not been selected.

All applications and hard copies should be sent to the Writers' Guild of Great Britain, 40 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4RX, FAO Richard Pinner. And please note the deadline for applications has been extended to Monday 10 September 2012. Electronic copies should be sent to admin@writersguild.org.uk

If you have any questions or need more information about this project then please do not hesitate in contacting Richard Pinner at admin@writersguild.org.uk