Here are several late-breaking news items that won’t keep until our next full update in June…
A change to our advertised programme…
Nell Leyshon is now unable to talk to us about her writing career on Tuesday, 26 May. We’re hoping to reschedule Nell’s talk for our summer season, but our meeting on 26 May will now default to an open workshop.
Autumn at the Alma
Pending a successful grant application, Theatre West is planning to produce a script developed by Southwest Scriptwriters as part of its ten-week season of new one-act plays at the Alma Tavern Theatre this autumn. The successful 60-minute play will receive a fortnight’s run between September and November.
If you’d like to write a script for possible production this autumn, your play should be about an hour long, have a cast of four or less with a setting simple enough to be staged at the Alma. Theatre West usually finds that there are fewer strong roles for women and welcomes plays featuring such parts.
We’ll be reading potential scripts for the Southwest Scriptwriters slot in TW’s autumn season at our meetings in June and July and you’ll need to develop your script using feedback from a group meeting for it to be included in the selection process.
Recalling Robeson in Bristol: What does Paul Robeson mean to you?
Produced and curated by (Southwest Scriptwriter) Anna Farthing of Harvest Heritage Arts and Media, Recalling Robeson in Bristol is an arts, heritage and education festival celebrating the life and legacy of the US singer, actor and Black civil rights movement eader, Paul Robeson (1898-1976), at venues across the city between 18 May and 6 June.
Recalling Robeson in Bristol will feature an exhibition, performances, workshops and discussions, with lots of chances to join in.
You are invited to create a short media piece (no longer than two minutes) for the exhibition which will also be posted on the Bristol Stories website that answers the question, ‘What does Robeson mean to me?’ This could be a scripted monologue or a slideshow made up of still and moving images with music (all of which must be cleared for copyright).
Instant Wit at the Tobacco Factory
Improvised comedy company, Instant Wit — co-run by Southwest Scriptwriter Stephanie Weston — is bringing two nights of impromptu mirth-making based on audience suggestions to the Tobacco Factory Theatre on Saturday, 23 and Sunday, 24 May.
A reminder that the Script Space rehearsed reading of Gill Kirk’s play Water’s Not So Thick is also taking place at the Tobacco Factory on Sunday, 24 May.
Pint-sized Plays 2009
Pint-sized Plays is an opportunity for writers to show how imaginative and original they can be in a five- to ten-minute play. Its organisers are seeking scripts that use a pub situation in the most interesting, surprising, dramatic or funny way possible.
Plays should have a minimum of two and a maximum of three characters and be suitable for performance in a pub using only available furniture with props and costumes that can be carried by their casts.
Ten winning scripts will be performed in pubs in Pembrokeshire, starting this autumn at the Tenby Arts Festival and then at various venues around the county. The project also features a theatrical showcase for all ten plays at which an audience vote will decide the winners of the Pint Pot and running-up Half Pint Awards.
Things Kids Say for Barnardo’s
United Press Ltd is seeking contributions for a book to raise money for Barnardo’s. It will feature 100-word short stories on the theme of ‘Things Kids Say’ that are funny examples of the things children come out with. Due to be published in the autumn, half of the book’s £5.99 cover price will go to Barnardo’s.