News and Events
30 June 2010

Free Panel Discussion - The Cambridge Film-making Scene
Followed by the WRiTEON AGM

Interested in working in film? Local film-makers David Clouter, Emily Blickem, Brendan Shepherd and Malcolm Greenhill will join WRiTEON at B Bar this Thursday, 1 July for a free one hour panel discussion on the local film-making scene, chaired by actor Robert Jezek, who himself has recently co-produced a short film in Cambridge. How can you get involved as a writer, actor or crew? What sort of scripts work for film and what sort of scripts are Cambridge film-makers looking for? If you have a script or idea already, how can you get it produced? And what happens to independently produced films once made? Arrive at 7.30 for a drink and networking - panel discussion is 8-9 and will be followed by the WRiTEON AGM.

This discussion is free but please book by writing to michelle@writeon.org.uk. For more information on Cambridge film-making, see www.cambridgefilmmakers.com

WRiTEON AGM - Have Your Say
The WRiTEON AGM is your chance to have a say in how WRiTEON events are organised and what we do in the future. If you would like to stand for one of the WRiTEON offices of Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer, or wish to join the WRiTEON Committee, please write to michelle@writeon.org.uk.

The Cambridge Film-making Scene - a Panel Discussion
Thursday, 1 July 2010, 8pm
Followed by the WRiTEON AGM at 9 pm
B Bar, Market Passage, Cambridge (Function Room)Programme, 4 July 2010

Week 3 of our MAD Festival - Book Now!

This Sunday's instalment of our Monologues and Duologues festival features work by two former EastEnders writers, Trevor Suthers and Graeme Curry, plus the comedy talents of our own Alan Morgan, whose work will also feature in July's Cambridge Comedy Festival. Absurdity, murder, insanity, kidnapping - there's something for everyone at the ADC Bar this Sunday. With our first two weeks total sellouts and tickets going fast for week three, don't hesitate to book now!

SOMETHING OFF THE MENU by Rupert Haigh
Performed by Stefan Haselwimmer and Polly Watkin, Directed by Anita Lehmann
A man's inability to decide what he wants tests the waitress’s patience to the limit. Just one thing is clear - the strength of his views on Ovaltine. But is there something tempting waiting at the back of the storage cupboard?

NOTHING TO WEAR by Felicity Norman
Performed by Francesca Brown and Pam Jenner, Directed by Julia Bolden
An age old problem for women; what to wear on that special date. Especially when it’s the first time you’ll have actually met him...

CRUISING by Diane Moules
Performed by Sarah Ingram, Directed by Pam Jenner
Teresa agrees to go on a cruise with her friend Maureen, thinking a week is a pretty short time, until circumstances change her mind.

A TICKET TO VALHALLA by Graeme Curry
Performed by John Parry and David Geasor, Directed by Sarah Ingram
When Morris Bird realizes how dangerous his obsession with the music of Richard Wagner has become, he takes drastic action. How many will perish in the flames of Valhalla?

TAKEN by Diane Moules
Performed by Simon Jones, Directed by Michelle Golder
Carl is an easy laid back short of chap until the bird shit lands on his towel.

STUMBLE by Trevor Suthers
Performed by Sarah Ingram, Directed by Michelle Golder
An elderly lady having spent many years in a psychiatric unit prepares to go back into the community.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF MIKE AND KATE by Alan Morgan
Performed by Colin Woodham and Anne Marie Eeles, Directed by Michelle Golder
Mike and Kate have known each other for years but recently certain strong feelings have emerged that lead them to expand the boundaries of their platonic friendship. Or maybe they’re just lonely, bored, and horny...

A MATTER OF TASTE by Kei Bailey
Performed by Simon Jones, Directed by Michelle Golder
Efficient, tactful and a stickler for hygiene, Gladwin is the best food taster in the business. But when his ostentatious boss drops down dead at the dining table, tongues start to wag in the kitchens. A medieval murder mystery.

WRiTEON's MAD Festival Week 3
Sunday, 4 July 2010
7 - 9.30 pm
ADC Bar
Tickets £5/£4
Book free online: www.adctheatre.com
Box Office: 01223 300085

Writing Opportunities

Script writer, MokitaGrit Productions

Critically acclaimed MokitaGrit Productions are launching a search to uncover the best in new-writing. New script competition 'The Script 2011' will be building on the already considerable reputation of MokitaGrit as one of the most prolific independent production houses in the UK.

We are looking for scripts with complex, engaging text and the potential for multimedia or mixed-media production. Submitted plays need to engage with contemporary society, either politically or culturally, and give a voice to strong and diverse characters. We are happy to accept scripts that need development.

The company will read all scripts. The top scripts as chosen by the full company, will be developed with the writers. They will then have extracts performed over a week. These performances will take place in front of an industry-led panel and a public audience in Spring 2011. The winner of the festival will be taken to full production by MokitaGrit, for which funding is already in place.

Entry into the competition is by hard-copy only. Please send scripts to MokitaGrit Literary Department, 33A Station Road, London RM3 0BS. Please include an email address for correspondence. If you would like your script returned please include a stamped, addressed envelope.

Closes: Saturday, 11 September 2010
Unpaid
Contact: Emily Agnew emily@mokitagrit.com

Submissions Sought for Little Pieces of Gold

Little Pieces of Gold is a bi-monthly showcase for new writing at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden. The evening will feature 4 short plays or extracts from full-length works. We are looking for submissions from writers who would like their plays performed, as well as directors who would like to collaborate with Little Pieces of Gold to direct one piece for the evening.  The first performance is on Monday, 27th September.  For more information and submission details please go to www.littlepiecesofgold.com. 

Writers' submission deadline: Monday, 16th August.
Unpaid
Contact: suzette.coon3@btinternet.com

International Playwriting Festival 2010 - Call for Entries

The 25th Annual International Playwriting Festival 2010 competition accepts entries from all over the world, and is judged by a panel of distinguished theatre practitioners. The best selected plays will be showcased at the Festival weekend, held in London in March 2010, with a view to further production. For further information, click HERE or email Ted Craig at ted@warehousetheatre.co.uk

Deadline: 31 July 2010

John Whiting Award

This year’s John Whiting Award is now open for submissions. Awarded annually to the new play which best demonstrates an original and distinctive development in dramatic writing, The Whiting Award, worth £6,000, has been instrumental in the development of the careers of some of the best-known British dramatists in the last 45 years. For more information, click HERE.

Deadline for entries: 20 August 2010.

New Writing Initiative, The Space

ScriptSpace is a new writing initiative brought to you by SpaceWorks, the resident theatre company at The Space, Mudchute, London. Writers are invited to submit their new work to be read by professional actors and receive valuable feedback from fellow writers and other industry professionals.

ScriptSpace offers an opportunity to hear your work out loud and network within the theatre community as well as accessing advice on how to proceed both on the page and in the practical world of theatre.

Interested parties should email their work to info@space.org.uk marked SCRIPTSPACE.

We are also interested to hear from directors/producers/actors who may be interested in becoming part of ScriptSpace.

No Deadline Provided
Contact: Lucy Frederick: info@space.org.uk

Workshops and Training

Study Days at The Script Factory

London based training centre The Script Factory is offering three one day genre based study days for aspiring screenwriters this July. Topics include horror, thrillers and fact based scriptwriting. Visit www.scriptfactory.co.uk  for more information - they have recently expanded enrolment for these courses but the new spaces are filling fast.

Community News and Events

Off Cut Festival Success for Julia Bolden
WRiTEON member Julia Bolden (whose Sofa Stories were performed in MAD Week 1), has had a play accepted for the 2010 Off Cut Festival taking place at the Old Red Lion Theatre, Islington later this year. Her 15 minute play, Falling Apart (which was first performed in WRiTEON's MAD Festival 2009), will be staged by In Company along with  23 other selected scripts. Audiences will vote for their favourites and two plays from each night will go through to a final judged by a panel of industry professionals. The festival dates are 21st September to 9th October 2010 - watch this space for details of the performance.

Submit Your Community News, Events and Opportunities

The WRiTEON newsletter goes out to over 500 self-subscribed readers from all over the world (but mostly local!) We will publish items of interest to members of the WRiTEON community. This includes: notices of or reviews of performances of/by writers or actors associated with WRiTEON; industry related successes/acceptances/commissions of WRiTEON members; notices of castings or submission opportunities (note: non-script based submission opportunities are only published if based in Cambridge or surrounding area); other performances/exhibits in the local area of interest to our members; and so on. Publication of notices is at the editor's discretion. Send notices to news@writeon.org.uk. Publication is every Wednesday during performance seasons and monthly out of season.