North Cumbria Scriptwriters (NCS) invites writers resident
in Cumbria to take part in a competition for a play based around a poem. The
three winning plays will be staged in the studio at Theatre by the Lake in April 2017 by local actors with local directors.
Information for Entrants
The play
1. Your play should be 30-35 minutes in length and must not
have been previously performed.
2. It must be suitable for acting by a maximum cast of six,
in traverse setting, with minimal/economical set and costume implications and
with straightforward lighting and sound effects.
3. The poem around which the play is based must feature on
its own as part of the envisaged performance: at the beginning or end of the
piece, as preferred, or divided between the two; lasting not more than five
minutes in all, with this timing to be included within the 30-35 minute overall
requirement.
The poem
1. The poem can be part of a longer piece if you wish;
likewise it can be two or more shorter pieces.
2. It must not be the playwright’s own work.
3. Use of the poem in performance in this project must not
involve NCS in any copyright or permissions issues, whether costs or
negotiations.
Format of scripts
1. Scripts must be typed on white paper in Arial font, size
12, double-spaced, with speaker names ranged left (not above speeches
centrally) and with voice- and stage-directions clearly distinguished (e.g.
italic).
2. Printing must be single-sided with pages clearly
numbered, but without any running headers or footers.
3. Include the poem, with title and author given, and placed
before or after (or part and part) as you intend for performance.
4. Scripts must not
carry any identification of the writer.
Submission
1. The deadline for
submissions is 31st August 2016.
2. Writers should submit one play only.
3. Three printed hard copies of your script are to be
submitted.
4. On a separate A4 sheet, please provide your name, the
title of your play, your Cumbrian residential address and other contact
details, together with a signed and
dated undertaking:
“Except for the poem, this play is my own original piece and
I recognise that NCS has no responsibility for any copyright or permissions
implications financial or otherwise in regard to the poem or to any quotations
and/or music featured”.
5. Acknowledgement of receipt will be made only if a stamped
addressed envelope or card is included.
6. Please send the three copies, the separate sheet and, if included,
the stamped addressed envelope or card, to:
Carol Donockley,
30, Knowe Park Avenue,
Stanwix,
Carlisle,
CA3 9EJ.
Judging and selection of plays
1. Submitted scripts will initially be read by three members
of NCS, none of whom has written a piece for the competition. They will select
five plays to go forward to Ian Forrest, the Artistic Director of Theatre by the Lake who will have been
totally independent of all previous proceedings. He will decide on the
three plays for performance.
2. The three successful writers will then be contacted at
once, with their names and the titles of their plays being posted also on this NCS website. The anticipated timing for this is late October 2016.
3. If any of the three successful scripts is subsequently
withdrawn by the writer, the three NCS members will select one of the remaining
plays on the shortlist for performance instead.
4. Decisions in all cases are final. No opportunity for
discussion or correspondence will be offered.
Subsequent arrangements
1. NCS undertakes to work with local actors, directors and
others to ensure their commitment to the one performance at Theatre by the Lake in April 2017. If at all
practicable, repeat performances elsewhere in the county will be arranged.
Involvement of the writers of the successful plays at all or any stages will be
welcome.
2. The directors of the winning plays will reserve the right, in
consultation with the playwrights, to amend the script where they feel it is
necessary for the successful performance of the play. The director's decision
will be final.
