In these tough economic times new opportunities for theatre people are harder to come by so full marks to West Yorkshire Playhouse for running their New Writers Season.
The Playhouse is putting its money where its mouth is inviting applications that will give writers, directors and theatre makers a chance to develop their talents.
They are looking for one writer to be in residence at the theatre for a week during the New Writing Season which runs from 28 May to 1 June 2012.
If you’re interested you will expected to::
- Write a short piece each day for performance/installation in the building and/or website. They want the pieces to be in response to the city, the theatre and the season.
- Mentor less experienced writers. There will be some contact and preparation work with the mentee writers in advance of the week, but most of the contact will happen during the residency week.
- Run one masterclass for writers/theatre makers.
For this post the Playhouse is looking for writers who have had at least 2 professional paid productions, and the good news is that the fee is £600 for the week, plus travel and self-catering accommodation if necessary.
But there are also opportunities for two newer writers to join their innovative mentoring scheme. These writers will be attached to the writer-in-residence for the week. They will developing their own work and craft, and will be expected to write a short piece each day.
They are looking for new writers who have had no more than one professional paid production. This position is unpaid but reasonable travel expenses will be paid for any travelling from more than 25 miles outside Leeds.
The Playhouse is also running an interesting Matchmaker scheme to create matches between theatre makers so they can develop a short piece for showcasing in the new writing season.
The Matchmaker scheme is open to all types of theatre maker, but some suggestions are:
A writer with a script looking for a director
A director looking for a writer
A director looking for performers
A movement director looking for a dramatist
A writer looking for a movement director
Each pairing will be then resourced to spend three days in rehearsal with performers to prepare twenty minutes of material for showcasing on Tuesday 29 May at West Yorkshire Playhouse.
Even more good news on the funding front as rehearsal time for all participants will be paid at £80 per day plus reasonable travel expenses for anyone travelling from more than 25 miles outside Leeds.
The Playhouse is really pushing the boat out during this season and they are hosting a Speedating event where writers and directors can network – fast.
Working with Upstart Theatre they will be putting 6 writers and 6 directors in a room together on Saturday 26 May who will get 3 minutes with each of the others. In the end you may have found your artistic match made in heaven – or not.
To launch the New Writing Season, and provide a fun and relaxed way of meeting other artists, they are running an artistic ‘date night’ on Thursday 24 May, the opening night of Napoli by Leandra Ashton.
It’s open to all, but you have submit a 100 word profile of you, and your work, include a photo if you like, and any WLTM you have, e.g. I am a writer and I Would Like To Meet a producer with lots of money and a GSOH.
The evening will kick off pre-show from 6.30pm with drinks offers at the bar and music to make things go with a swing. Even better producers and associated artists from the Playhouse will be around on the night for a chat as well.
To apply for any of these exciting opportunities all you have to do is:
Writers: please send a C.V., an example of your writing and a covering letter outlining your reasons for applying.
Directors and other theatre makers: please send a C.V., a covering letter outlining your reasons for applying and, if possible, a DVD or link to examples of your work.
Send applications BY POST by 5pm on Monday 30 April to:
Alex Chisholm
Associate Director Literary
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Quarry Hill
Leeds LS2 7UP
Please mark your envelops clearly with the scheme you are applying for: RESIDENCY; MENTORING; MATCHMAKER, SPEED DATING, DATE NIGHT.
West Yorkshire Playhouse is working to achieve equal opportunities in all it does. They are particularly keen to hear from applicants with disabilities and applicants of BME backgrounds who are currently under represented in the organisation.
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