The principal event in our first season of 2006 is our co-production with Bristol Old Vic of Peter Kesterton’s Air Guitar. Please make sure you come to see it on our group outing on 31 January.
All meetings take place in the Macready Room at Bristol Old Vic. Ask at the bar on the first floor for directions. Everyone attending pays £1.
Tuesday, 17 January at 7.30pm: Our Friend Eric by Heather Lister
A reading of Heather’s entry for this year’s Scottish Community Drama Association competition: It’s a new life, sharing a house with three other students, so why not re-invent yourself? Over these struggles for identity presides Eric — warm, supportive, non-judgmental — everything you could want from a sofa.
Tuesday, 24 January at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Tuesday, 31 January at 7.30pm: Air Guitar in the BOV Studio
This two-and-a-half week run of Peter Kesterton’s play (which won our competition last year) is the first time that Bristol Old Vic has selected a work by one of our writers for full production. Venue said of this piece: “exceptionally well-drawn characters and some sharp, on-the-button themes. peppered with sharp humour”.
Tuesday, 7 February at 7.30pm: Open Workshop
Tuesday, 21 February at 7.30pm: The Bust-Up by John Colborn
First reading of an early draft of John’s new play about, well, a bust-up — in a slightly heightened reality.
Southwest Shorts 2006
Don’t forget that Southwest Shorts 2006, our new Short Film competition for group members is up and running. To enter, all you need to do is write a five-minute film script which will be judged for plot, character, structure and dialogue. The two winning entries will be filmed, entered into various competitions, and be available for viewing worldwide on our website. The closing date has now been put back to Tuesday, 7 February 2006.
One to record
Our President, Michael Jenner, has an episode of EastEnders going out on Tuesday, 17 January — so it looks like you’ll have to record it because you’ll no doubt be coming to our meeting that night.
Feature and TV scripts for Marchmont Films
Marchmont Films is an acclaimed new production company dedicated to producing original and entertaining film and TV projects. They’re looking for feature films and single TV dramas from you.
The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition
Bruntwood in conjunction with The Royal Exchange Theatre have announced a new national playwriting competition aimed at “discovering” and “celebrating” talent for theatre. The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition is open to writers of all ages and experiences throughout the UK and Ireland.Selection is anonymous. The judging panel will be chaired by RT Lord Smith of Finsbury and will include Brenda Blethyn OBE, and playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah among others. The top prize is £15,000 and a full production at the Royal Exchange Theatre. The deadline for entry will be 30 April 2006.
The Bruntwood Playwriting Competition
Bearded Ladies call for sketches
Bearded Ladies will be returning to Radio 4 for their third series in the spring. This is a fresh, comic and contemporary sketch show which explores modern themes and instantly recognisable situations. The show comments on the way we are today by being funny to both its male and female audience. There are four female performers and one male. Please submit only finished, polished sketches, both short ones (half a page to a page) and longer ones (three to five pages) in radio script format.