News and Events
3 March 2010

WRiTEON Script Reading/Feedback Group
Next Meeting: Tuesday 30th March, 7.15pm
36a The Limes, Harston, CB22 7QT

The regular WRiTEON Script Feedback group met last night with 10 participants; a mix of regulars, second timers and one person joining for the first time. Three long scripts were read:the first 20 pages of a radio play and two stage plays which were read in their entirety. All writers received a mix of praise and constructive criticism which they seemed to find helpful. The next meeting date is above - all are welcome, you do not have to have a script to share. If you are interested in attending, please email the organiser, Julia Bolden, at julia@writeon.org.uk.

WRiTEON Improvisation Workshops
Wednesdays, 8-10 pm
Ross Street Community Centre, Ross Street, Cambridge (off Mill Road)
£8 per session, pay on the night by cash or cheque

WRiTEON's ongoing comedy improvisation workshops, led by members of five star improvisers The Scat Pack (see www.thescatpack.co.uk/ for details of their London performances) started again for 2010 last Wednesday with a full on fun session. Places are still available in the workshops and WRiTEON membership is not a requirement. Workshops are open to anyone who wants to try out their improv skills in a supportive and high energy environment. The membership is fluid and changes each week. If you are interested, please contact michelle@writeon.org.uk.

Workshops

BBC Writersroom Event: Writing for Continuing Drama Q and A
Thursday, 04 March 2010
6:00pm - 7:30pm
The Drill Hall
16 Chenies Street
London, WC1E 7EX
Free

John Yorke, BBC Controller Drama Production & New Talent, will answer questions about writing for continuing drama shows like EastEnders, Holby City, Casualty, and Doctors as well as the BBC Writers Academy in a Q&A session with Kate Rowland, BBC Creative Director of New Writing.

To add your name to the guest list email writersroom.events@bbc.co.uk.

Physical Theatre Workshop, Bred in the Bone Theatre Company
13/14/20/21st March, 2010  (5 hours of work each day)
Chisenhale Dance Space E3/People Show Studios E2
London
Price: £140 full price / £110 students

By using techniques including rhythm and impulse work, acrobatics and space awareness exercises, this course will examine how the performer's inherent expressiveness and imagination can be used to find new sources of creativity. Ideal for those who want to use the body as a key element in the devising process.

Bred in the Bone are an experimental physical theatre company combining movement song and text to create dynamic performer led theatre.

The workshop will be led by Marcin Rudy and Matthieu Leloup, both long term members of Poland's award winning Song of the Goat Theatre. Marcin Rudy  regularly leads his own workshops internationally and works as a movement tutor at University of Essex and Manchester Metropolitan University. Matthieu Leloup  currently teaches the BA Director’s course at Rose Bruford Drama College. He is also artistic director of Bred in the Bone Theatre Company.

For more info or to apply, write: info@bredinthebone.co.uk.

Two Writers' Workshops at Soho Theatre

Jack Bradley Part Two: The Inside Track
Tuesday, 23 March 6-10pm
Soho Theatre, Studio
21 Dean Street
London W1D 3NE
Price: £40/20

This course lifts the lid off what literary departments and West End producers want.  What has worked, what does work, what will work. Part lecture, part Q and A, this session is designed to make you aware of what the industry wants from you.  It will explore ways that writers can navigate a path between being commercial and being original.

Jack Bradley is Literary Associate for Sonia Friedman Productions, one of the most vibrant theatre production companies in the West End and Broadway. He was also Literary Manager at the National Theatre from 1995 - 2007.

Perfect for: Writers seeking a crash course in narrative structure from the basics to the finer points; writers who are curious about what drives and inspires the people who receive and read your work; writers who are seeking strategic advice on how to package their ideas and increase their appeal.

Extreme Playwriting: Telling The Bravest Stories in the Boldest Ways 
Monday, 19th April 7-10pm
Soho Theatre, Studio
21 Dean Street
London W1D 3NE
Price £30/15

Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, playwright of Behud, offers a practical masterclass exploring the processes of telling extreme stories from public and personal sources of inspiration to create new work.

Perfect for: Writers with a strong story to tell; writers who want to draw on the world of the imagination as well as the world around us.

To book for either of these workshops, visit the Soho Theatre website www.sohotheatre.com

Writing Opportunities

Writers Avenue Seeks Submissions
No Deadline - Accepts submissions year round
Central London

Are you a new writer? Would you like to see your play on stage and receive feedback from the audience and industry professionals? If so enter your play for The First 20 Minutes.

Every four to eight weeks the first twenty minutes of three new full length plays by three new writers will be showcased.  After the performance the audience will submit feedback forms to help the writers develop their play further. In 2011 the best twelve plays from The First 20 Minutes 2010 will be selected to be performed again with the writers competing to have their play produced.

Writers Avenue also offer rehearsed readings and a Script Reading Feedback Service.

For more details visit www.writersavenue.co.uk

Call for Play Submissions - High Tide Festival
Submission deadline: 15th May 2010

HighTide is open for play submissions for HighTide Festival 2011. You can submit online via the sign-up section on the HighTide website. HighTide are looking to fully produce and premiere new works by emerging playwrights. HighTide welcome international scripts, written in English. Season 2011 will be announced in Winter 2010.

www.hightide.org.uk/festivals/festival-2010/

The Nick Darke Award 2010: Call for Submissions
Deadline: Friday 12 March, 2010

UK writers are offered the chance to compete for a £3,000 award dedicated to the memory of Nick Darke, one of Cornwall’s best known and finest modern playwrights. Writers are asked to submit a piece of work that pursues an environmental theme to reflect Nick Darke’s lifelong commitment to this issue, and within one of the following four categories: Stage play; Screenplay; Radio play; Documentary film. Full details and application pack can be found here. For more information, email: kerry.taylor@falmouth.ac.uk

Playwriting Competition
Closing date:14th March 2010
Entry free

Rewrite announce the launch of this year's playwriting competition for aspiring writers from the age of 11 - 21. This is the third Rewrite competition and the theme this year is 'Ten'. The play must be a maximum of 7 minutes long. Winning plays will get a staged reading at the Oval House Theatre directed by a professional director and read by professional actors.

For more information go to www.rewrite.org.uk.

Scriptwriter Wanted, Magic Moment Productions
Closes: Wednesday 31 March 2010
Paid
   
Magic Moment Productions is looking for someone to write a 2 hander pantomime, to be about 45 mins long including songs chosen by the producer. Obviously actors would double/triple up on characters. Payment available for the right person.

Contact: Sasha sasharosevear@hotmail.com

Acting Opportunities

Auditions for Brighton Fringe Shows - This Weekend
Saturday (6th March) and Sunday (7th March) from 5pm-7pm
St Vincent's Close Community Centre, St Vincent's Close, Girton
Unpaid

Two Cambridge-based playwrights, Paul Richards and Gytha Lodge, are taking shows to the Brighton Fringe this year. Conveniently, both shows are in the same venue (The Ambassador Hotel, Brighton), and Gytha is directing both of them. The shows take place on 15th and 16th May in Brighton, with other performances beforehand at the Bury St. Edmunds Fringe Festival and CB2 Restaurant in Cambridge. The plays are both new pieces; Cat Food written by Paul Richards and Otherwise by Gytha Lodge. Actors of all ages, gender and experience are required. Auditions for both of the shows take place this Saturday and Sunday from 5pm-7pm. Please let Paul know if you're interested in attending by emailing theboyrichards@gmail.com

Actors Wanted for The Full Monty, Fusion Theatre Company
Expenses Paid  
   
Fusion Theatre Company is producing the musical The Full Monty in May. Looking for talented and committed performers to be part of the team for this inspirational show. Singing and non singing roles available.

Auditions:

7th March 12pm    Campus West Theatre, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6BX

9th March 12pm    Business Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, SG1 2DX

11th March 2.30pm Rhodes Arts Complex, 3 South Road, Bishops Stortford, CM23 3JG

Contact: Sarah Ellis: fusiontheatrecompany@googlemail.com or call Sarah on 07909960490 for further details.

Callout for Actors/Actresses Playing Age 40+, CP Theatre Productions
Closes: Sunday 14 March 2010, From 2.30 pm
Performances 11-23 May
London, Unpaid  
   

Actors are sought to audition for new writing programme involving four plays: No Noah, Bimbo, Usher and That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore. You may audition for all four plays on the day.

Call times:
2:30PM
NO NOAH
BIMBO

4:30PM
USHER
THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE

For a synopsis of each play and casting breakdown, click here.  To register for an audition, please write to tammy@ cp-theatre.org.uk

Actress Needed for Short Film, MA Costume Design for Performance
No Deadline Supplied
Filming begins 22nd March
London, Unpaid  

Working from the text of The Balcony by Jean Genet a female actress is required (playing age 30+), to collaborate on a short film based on the character of Irma, the powerful madam of the brothel. By manipulating fabric and dress to alter the perceived shape of the body, the piece will explore ideas of constructed and multiple identities, identity as a facade and the blurring of reality and the hyperreal.

Filming is due to take place the week beginning 22nd March, exact date confirmed closer to the time.

Please send your details and a photograph to e.ni-bhroin1@fashion.arts.ac.uk or contact Emily Ní Bhroin on 07796220163.

Community Events

Cambridge Wordfest Spring 2010 - Tickets on Sale Now
Wordfest Dates: 9, 10, 11 April 2010
Prices and venues vary
Full Programme at www.cambridgewordfest.co.uk
Tickets from www.adctheatre.com

Tickets are now on sale for the Spring 2010 Cambridge Wordfest literary festival. With over 60 events, there's something for everyone in this year's programme. Highlights for WRiTEON members include workshops in Writing for TV and Writing for Radio, comedy events with Kate Fox and Milton Jones, the cabaret Yes! - a celebration of the work of Adrian Mitchell by Wonderful Beast Theatre Company, Hanif Kureishi (My Beautiful Laundrette) reading from his new short story collection, Franny Armstrong (McLibel, The Age of Stupid) in an event with Tony Juniper, and Philip Pullman with his new book, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. Events are selling very quickly, with Hilary Mantel already sold out, so book early to avoid disappointment.