WRiTEON FIRST STAGE Winter 2017- SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
First Stage Winter 2017is a series of staged rehearsed readings of new short pieces of drama for oneto six actors, to be presented in the function room of the Boathouse, 14 Chesterton Road Cambridge, CB4 3AX, on Sundays, 19th, 26th November and 3rd December 2017at 7pm each evening,followed by an opportunity for audience feedback.
Scripts (which mustadhere to our formatting requirements and include the submission form below) should be e-mailedto (we cannot accept scripts by post).Scriptsmust be received bymidnight on Sunday 17th September 2015.
ELIGIBILITY
You must be a paid-up WRiTEON Memberto submit. There is no additional submission fee. Membership is £20for the year (concs £15).Membership runs from 1stApril to 31st March so, if you have not joined/renewed your membership since 1st April 2017, you will need to do so. For details of how to join/renew for 2017-2018, by PayPal, standing order, credit card or cheque, go to:
CRITERIA
Scripts must be your own original work.
Scripts may be for any number of actors from oneto six.
Scripts can be as short as you like and a maximum of 30 minutes.It is always useful to carefully time your piece if it looks like it is getting close to the maximum as it is very easy to underestimate duration.
Ideally, we are looking for DRAMA (serious or comedy) with credible characters, which tells an interesting story, uses the limitations of time, space, number of actors and simplicity of staging to its advantage, will inspire a director, provide satisfying roles for actors and delight an audience.
Scripts may be in any style and on any topic you like but please note that we get a lot of submissions on the themes of pedophilia, dementia and euthanasia and a lot of characters who turn out to have been dead all along, so we recommend that you avoid these subjects unless you have a really original take on them or they are just one aspect of something more complex.
Writers may submit an extract or the beginning of a longer piece only if it makes sense in isolation and will provide a satisfying experience for an audience.
Writers may submit a maximum of three scripts.
THE DEAL
WRiTEON is an open collective of writers, actors and directors; including professionals, former professionals, aspiring professionals and amateurs. We existto provide a service to writers, enabling them to see how their work translates from page to stage and to offer valuable experienceto directors and actors in working with new writing.
Selected scripts will be cast as appropriately as possible from our pool of available actors.We reserve the right to withdraw scripts if suitable actors cannot be found.
Scripts will typically have 2-3 rehearsals with a director before being presented as script-in-hand staged readings, following which, audience feedback will be invited.The writer may be able to attend one or more rehearsals at the discretion of the director.
The performing space (Boathouse function room) seats around 35 and hasa small, slightly raised, uncurtained, stage, basic lighting and sound system.There is room for minimal furniture e.g. small table and chairs.Sound effects, if used, should be kept simple. The wings are minimal.This is for your information so that you know what is feasible. It is not necessary to be prescriptive about how the stage is used, as this can be left to the director.
Writers whose submissions are accepted are expected to attend the staged reading and will be allocated one complimentary ticket for their own use. Additional tickets may be purchased for friends and family.
Writers are welcome to attend the Casting Session as observers. Date, time and venue to be confirmed.
SCRIPT FORMAT
Scripts should be in Microsoft WORD.Please use a clear 12 point font.
Pages must be numbered.
Please remember that actors will need to read from the script on stage so make this as easy as possible with a consistent clear layout, character names in CAPITALS, clearly distinguishable from speeches, stage directions in CAPITALS or italics [bracketed where they appear within the dialogue] and a space between speeches.
The file name should be the title of the play (only).
A completed form must be included at the front of each script submitted. Copy and paste the form below onto your submission and complete it before e-mailing.Do not attach it as a separate document. Please make sure that all the information you need to give is included on the form, rather than in a covering e-mail, as the e-mail will not be seen by the selection panel.
Scripts are anonymised prior to being read and considered by our panel so your name must appear only on the submission form.Identifying details will be removed from the forms before circulating to the panel. No name or other personal details should be included anywhere on the script itself, in the header or footer or in the file name.Please do not reveal your identity elsewhere on the submission form e.g. by listing other pieces you have had performed by us or referring to other aspects of your involvement with WRiTEON. If the play is selected, your details will then be given to the appropriate producer and director.
- You should receive an acknowledgement within 72 hours of submitting your script. If you do not, please feel free to e-mail to check that it has been received. A list of selected scriptsshould appear on our website ( and on ourFacebook group page (Saturday 21st October.
- N.B. We can no longer routinely e-mail unsuccessful writers to inform them of our decision. If your script is selected, you will be sent an e-mail from a different address to confirm performance date and other details so check your Junk folder.
WRiTEONFIRST STAGE WINTER 2017- SUBMISSION FORM
(attach to front of script & expand as necessary)
The contents of this box will be removed prior to circulating the script to the reading panel.NAME OF WRITER:
BIOGRAPHY OF WRITER (maximum 50 words)[1]:
WRiTEON MEMBERSHIP NO. (or date & method of payment, if no. not known/not yet received):
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER/S:
E MAIL ADDRESS:
TITLE OF PLAY:
APPROXIMATE RUNNING TIME (max.30 minutes):
NUMBER OF ACTORS REQUIRED (rule = 1- 6 for this season):
NAME/S OF CHARACTER/S WITH GENDER AND APPROXIMATE AGE PLUS (OPTIONAL) DESCRIPTION (maximum 10 words per character):
Please don’t ignore the following questions or put “see script”. The idea is to have all the important information summarised in one place and not have to keep wading through the script to find it.
SET REQUIRED:
PROPS REQUIRED:
ANY ESSENTIAL COSTUME ITEMS REQUIRED:
ANY SOUND AND OR LIGHTING EFFECTS REQUIRED:
(N.B. staging is minimalist so it may not be possible to meet your requirements)
DESCRIPTION OF PIECE FOR PUBLICITY USE (maximum 50 words)[2] NB Think of this as a teaser, not a synopsis of the plot.
IS THE SCRIPT COMPLETE IN ITSELF OR PART OF A LONGER PIECE? (if the latter, please explain)
HAS THE PIECE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED/STAGED AS A READING? (if so, give details and say whether or not it has since been revised)
IF SELECTED, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM HAVING THIS PIECE STAGED BY WRiTEONAS A REHEARSED READING?
IF SELECTED, ARE THERE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE THE AUDIENCE TO BE ASKED DURING THE FEEDBACK SESSION, IF POSSIBLE?
ON WHICH OF THESE DATES WOULD YOU BE AVAILABLE TO ATTEND, IF YOUR SCRIPT IS SELECTED:
Sunday 19thNovember YES/NOSunday26th November YES/NO
Sunday 3rdDecember YES/NO
WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING REHEARSALS AS AN OBSERVER IF THE DIRECTOR AND ACTORS AGREE TO THIS?
ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION: (Do not include anything here which may reveal your identity to the panel)
WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO HELP WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF FIRST STAGE (E.G. FRONT OF HOUSE)?
[1] These may be used in publicity and/or the programme. We reserve the right to edit.
[2]These may be used in publicity and/or the programme. We reserve the right to edit.