<June 2007>


	SCRIPT is the West Midlands agency for dramatic writers.

SCRIPT NEWS - June 2007

VACANCY AT SCRIPT - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lead Script in a dynamic partnership with our Programmes Director, building on past successes and providing creative leadership for expansion in the future.

These are challenging times for the Arts and we need a focussed and energetic individual to represent, advocate for and raise the profile of the company.

Script develops new writers for stage, screen and radio in the West Midlands. If we want creative writers for the future, we must continue to nurture them now.

Applicants should be strategic thinkers with fundraising and managerial skills and at least two years relevant experience in theatre, film, tv, radio or similar.

This is currently a part-time post (18.5 hrs pw by arrangement) initially on a fixed-term contract. Salary £24,000-£26,000 pro-rata. Based in the creative heart of Birmingham.

Script welcomes applications that reflect the cultural diversity of the communities within which we work.

For an application pack, e-mail: info@scriptonline.net or call 0121 224 7415.

Closing date for applications: 9 July 2007

SCRIPT LINKS UP WITH BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY FOR PLAYWRIGHTS' WORKSHOP - JUNE 14

This year, two writers who have received mentoring from Script will have extracts of their work performed alongside those of the students on the MPhil (B) in Playwriting Studies course at Birmingham University.

The writers being showcased by Script are William Gallagher and Deborah McAndrew. They will work with director, Caroline Jester, and a company of professional actors to present work in progress.

Date: Thursday 14 June 2007

Venue: The Patrick Centre, The Hippodrome Theatre, Birmingham.
Time: 11.15am-1pm Extracts by MPhil Students, 2.45pm-4.15pm Extracts by Script writers.

Cost: This is an open and free event but please RSVP to the email address below:

j.a.batham@bham.ac.uk

For further information please contact info@scriptonline.net

TYP-TAP FESTIVAL - NEW STAGE WRITING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

MAC (MIDLANDS ARTS CENTRE) BIRMINGHAM

TUES 10 & WEDS 11 JULY 2007

**Special Offer for members of Script's mailing list**

Typ-Tap is the culmination of the TYPES scheme, a scheme to develop adult writers in the Midlands in the field of children's theatre funded by Arts Council West Midlands and Awards for All and run jointly by MAC and SCRIPT.

Click Here to download the full festival programme or visit www.macarts.co.uk

Prices/Booking:

Prices quoted are for the Script Special Offer. To take advantage of this, please quote 'Script' when booking otherwise you will be charged the full price.

Delegate ticket both days: £30
Delegate ticket one day: £17

Individual tickets: £3.50

To reserve delegate tickets please return a booking form which can be downloaded from www.macarts.co.uk or contact Roisin Caffrey on: roisin.caffrey@macarts.co.uk

0121 446 3374.

To book individual tickets please contact the mac's box office on 0121 440 3838.

SOAP AWARD FOR ONE OF OUR READERS.

Claire Bennett, a regular reader for Script, was a winner at the British Soap Awards 2007. Her script, 'Aftermath', was one half of the 'Doctors' 2-parter that emerged victorious in the Best Episode category.

Congratulations to Claire!

OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING AND COMPETITIONS...

STAGE...

PAINES PLOUGH SEEKS YOUNG WRITERS

Paines Plough has launched Future Perfect, a year-long attachment for playwrights aged 18-30, aiming to 'create a space for writers to explore their individual voices'. The submission deadline for the initiative is 11 June and you can find further details at www.painesplough.com

TEN IN A BED THEATRE

Ten in a Bed Theatre seek new theatre writing to premiere as rehearsed readings at their regular monthly event in the Clerkenwell Theatre. If you are a budding or emerging theatre writer with a script that you would like produced as a rehearsed reading, they want to hear from you.

Ten in a Bed Theatre can only accept scripts submitted by post. As well as plays, they will also consider excerpts, works-in-progress, sketches, sit-coms and radio plays. As they are dedicated to new writing, they cannot consider any work that has received a full professional production.

For more information, including how to submit your manuscript, please visit www.teninabedtheatre.org

VERITY BARGATE AWARD 2007
Soho theatre and Writers' Centry have announced the launch of the 2007 Verity Bargate Award

Every two years Soho Theatre launches a national competition to find the best new play by an emerging writer. The winner will thrill London audiences with their imaginative, daring and relevant work

The winner will be given £5000 (in respect of an exclusive option), a residency at Soho Theatre and the chance to have their play producedat Soho Theatre. Plays must be full length and unproduced. Entries are limited to one per writer.

For more information visit: www.sohotheatre.com

Deadline: 6th July 2007

WAREHOUSE THEATRE- INTERNATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION 2007
Warehouse Theatre Company's International Playwriting Festival celebrates 22 successful years in 2007.
The festival is held in two parts.
The first is the competition with entries accepted from all over the world and judged by a panel of distinguished theatre practitioners...
The second is the festival itself which showcases the selected plays from the competition.
The festival takes place on 24 &25 November 07For more information visit: www.warehousetheatre.co.uk
Deadline: 30 June

NEW WORKS OF MERIT PLAYWRITING CONTEST
Now accepting scripts until June 30 2007 for new works that:
1) Enhance self-realization
2) Support peace and social justice
3) Foster new understanding of minority issues that focus on racial, ethnic and gender discrimination both in the United States and abroad
4) Empower youth to build healthy inner foundations
5) Educate to gain further insight into healthy social/emotional living
6) Shed new light on religious, spiritual, and cultural differences and issues
7) Build respect for cultural expression and identity in a world that is experiencing rapid globalization
8) Explore the widening gap between the values this country was founded on and the values we present to the world today
For Guidelines and Application Form:
www.playwritingcontest.cjb.net

MCLELLAN AWARD 2007

Scripts are being accepted for the McLellan Award 2007- Play Competition. Plays should be 60-90 minutes long and be in any form of Scots of dialect and be capable of being performed by no more than 5 actors. The prize is £100 and a production of the play by Netshell.
Deadline 15th June

For more information visit: www.mclellanfestival.com

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY FROM BOGNOR REGIS DRAMA CLUB

Playwrights could earn cash prizes, the Alice Mortimer Challenge Cup and performances of their work in the 2007 playwriting competition organised by Bognor Regis Drama Club.

The three winning plays will all be performed by the group in Spring 2008. Entries should last 20-45 minutes and should not have been previously performed. Entry fee, £4. This year's judge is Kate Betts, winner of Channel Four's talent search, 'The Play's the Thing'.

For more information please email c.hoff@btinternet.com

RADIO

THE ROYAL TAPES - BBC WRITERSROOM AND FIVE LIVE

Throughout July, Five Live will be looking at the monarchy - and The Royal Tapes will develop the debate through dramas starring Alistair McGowan.

They're looking for scripts up to three minutes long with two characters in them, inspired by the role that the monarchy plays in our lives. The five best scripts will be made into radio plays and broadcast on Matthew Bannister's programme.

Your entry can be funny, surreal, poignant or challenging, about anyone, and set anywhere - so be original, provocative and dramatic.

Remember, you're writing for the multi-voiced and multi-talented Alistair McGowan so the sky's the limit - although of course any female characters will be cast separately!

Entries should be emailed in a word document to writersroomcompetition@bbc.co.uk or posted to:

The Royal Tapes

BBC writersroom

1st Floor

BBC Grafton House

379-381 Euston Road

London

NW1 3AU

Closing date: 12noon on Friday 29 June.

The BBC are also running a number of free radio writing workshops throughout June in Newcastle, Birmingham, Bristol and London. For full details of dates and how to book, visit:

www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/programmes/royal_tapes_workshops.shtml

SCREEN...

25 WORDS OR LESS

The UK Film Council is using this scheme as part of their plans to fast-track writers with the ambition to write high concept screenplays which are aimed at the international market and have commercial appeal.

25 Words or Less is running in partnership with 3 of the UK's low budget production financiers: Warp X, Vertigo Films and Slingshot Studios. The production partners and the UK Film Council's Development Fund will jointly select 3 writers to develop a first draft script inspired by each of the production partner's chosen genre. Involvement of these partners will provide access to their expertise in developing low budget features.

Funding of £10,000 will be awarded by the UK Film Council to each successful writer. The Development Fund will assign a script editor to each project - the cost of which will be attributable to the project but met by the UK Film Council.

Applicants must have secured the services of a literary agent and/or be a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain with 'Full Membership' status before applying for this scheme.

For details on how to submit projects and an application form visit www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

Deadline: 13 July 2007

SUBCULTURE FILMS SEEKS SCRIPTS

Newly formed production company, Subculture Films, is looking for a number of scripts to take to their private investors. Subculture is looking for dialogue/story-driven scripts from £150,000 budgets to £1.5 million.

As well as your script, a treatment or story (no longer than 6 pages) should be included. Please post your script and treatment to: Subculture Films, 95 Herkomer Road, Bushey, Herts WD23 3LS.

To find out more visit www.subculture-films.com

BRITISH SHORT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION (BSSC)

The BSSC is now accepting submissions for their sixth annual competition and it will be the biggest and the best. This year for the first time the BSSC will not produce one winning screenplay but three winners will go into production.

Early deadline: 27th April 2007

Final Deadline: 22nd June

For more information visit: www.kaosfilms.co.uk

SCREENWRITERS' FESTIVAL 2007 - FEVER PITCH
You may have a great idea for a film, but have you got what it takes to convince a panel of tough industry professionals that your idea is the best, in only 5 minutes?

The Screenwriters' Festival '07 in association with 4Talent want to give you the opportunity to pitch your amazing movie or TV idea to a stellar industry panel.

The three winners of Fever Pitch will get the chance to talk to Film4 executives about their ideas as well as receiving a ticket and free accommodation to the rest of the Screenwriters' Festival, Thurs 5 and Fri 6 July 2007.

To enter you need to submit your pitch in 25 words, then on a separate page, expand the synopsis to 150 words. Ten shortlisted entries will attend the festival on Tues 3 July, and have a special coaching session on Weds 4 July before the live pitching session.

For full details on how to submit visit www.screenwritersfestival.com/fever-pitch.php

Entries should be emailed to: feverpitch@screenwritersfestival.com

Closing Date: Friday 22 June 2007 at midnight.

CO-OPERATIVE YOUNG FILM-MAKERS

They've put out a call for entries for the 2007 Festival, which is happening in October. Each year, Co-operative Young Film-Makers hold a festival at the National Media Museum in Bradford. They screen 100 short films made by children ang young people on the big screen. The festival offers young film-makers the opportunity to receive feedback and advice on their films from professionals.

The closing date is 6th July. For more details on how to submit visit: www.3bears.co.uk/festival/2007.html

EVENTS...

ECLIPSE THEATRE READINGS AT BIRMINGHAM REP

The Eclipse Theatre initiative is a unique collaboration of English producing theatres which annually produce black theatre on the middle and large scale. Partial Eclipse is an event to showcase new work by black playwrights. Birmingham Rep are featuring a different staged reading each evening from Thursday June 7 -Saturday June 9.

Thu 7 June

7.30pm - The Devil's Apprentice by Rashan Stone.

Friday 8 June

5pm-6.30pm A writers masterclass with Mustapha Matura.

7.45pm At the Gates of Gaza by Juliet Alicia Gilkes

Saturday 9 June

7.45pm Positive by Lorna French and Migration by Trevor Williams

To book, please email ryan.wootton@birmingham-rep.co.uk or call the box office on 0121 236 4455 and quote 'Eclipse Invite'. All readings will take place in The Door.

Click Here to download more information about the programme.

SWAN PLAYWRIGHTS PRESENT: LAUGH A MINUTE - A SKETCH SHOW DIRECTED BY SUE DOWNING

Covering a range of subjects, from dysfunctional relationships and coming of age, to the odd brush with authority, Swan Playwrights are giving you the opportunity to enjoy some new material by talented local writers.

Weds 20 & Thurs 21 June

The Rose Theatre, Kidderminster at 7.30pm

£7.50 (£7 concessions)

Box Office: 01562 743 745

Fri 22 June

Worcester Arts Workshop at 7.30pm

£8 (£7 concessions)

Box Office: 01527 836 451

Saturday 23 June

The Artrix, Bromsgrove at 7.30pm

£10 (£8 concesssions)

Box Office: 01527 577 330

BIRMINGHAM BOOK FESTIVAL

This year's festival will run from 11th-21st October.

Writers confirmed to-date include Jonathan Coe, Jim Crace, Alice Sebold, Lionel Shriver, Mil Millington and Val McDermid - with plenty more names to come.

The Festival will also include a Readers' Day, a Writers' Symposium, recordings of BBC RAdio 4's A Good Read (presented by Sue Macgregor) and a day of creative writing workshops.

Full details will be released over the summer with tickets on sale from July 2007.

THE BILLIE HOLIDAY STORY

Script member Brian Langtry's collaboration with jazz musician, Len Holden, 'The Billie Holiday Story', is now again on tour in the UK and Ireland. The current show stars Rain Pryor (jazz vocalist and daughter of comic, Richard Pryor) and Louis Emerick of Brookside fame and has Matthew Freeman of 'The Rat Pack' as MD.

The play visits The Drum Theatre, Birmingham - June 28th to June 30th. Further details from www.theatre-productions.com

NEW GENERATION ARTS FESTIVAL

The festival opens on 14th June with a production of the 'Good Person of Sichuan' by Bertold Brecht, directed by the award-winning young director, Tom Wright.

18th June launches The Big Debate, sponsored by Birmingham Post and NEC Group. It will be chaired by Richard Morrison, Head Culture Critic of The Times, with Anthony Sargent, from The Sage, Sir Christopher Frayling, Professor Germaine Greer and Birmingham Post's Art Critic, Terry Grimley. This debate will explore the health of Britain's regional arts scene and question London's cultural role in the UK. Individuals can register their interest at www.thebigdebatebirmingham.co.uk

22nd June marks the opening of the creative writing programme. Award-winning writer, Nicola Monaghan, will offer writing guidance at Waterstones, New Street. This session will be followed on 23 June by 'poetry doctors' Charles Bennett and Carol Anne Duffy. There will also be a showcase of up and coming writers from the region.

For more information about the festival visit www.newgenerationarts.co.uk

SCRIPT SLAM HOSTS - SPIEL

Just a mention for our Script Slam hosts, Marcus Moore and Sara-Jane Arbury, collectively known as Spiel. As ever, they are busy hosting poetry slams around the region. If you're interested in going along, visit www.thepeoplespoet.com/spiel.htm

DO YOU HAVE SOME NEWS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE SCRIPT MEMBERSHIP? If so, then e-mail info@scriptonline.net by the end of the month and it will go into the following month's Newsletter.

DISCLAIMER

Script asks you to note: These listings are drawn from varying sources, all current at time of publishing.

Script endeavours to investigate and validate all information and opportunities listed here. We advise you to make contact with companies before submitting scripts.

ARCHIVE

To view previous editions of Script News, please click on the links below

April 2005

May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005