Elders' Company Project

NCS has joined forces with the Elders' Company at Theatre by the Lake (TBTL), Keswick.  Part of a National initiative, the local company comprises a group of talented, enthusiastic actors with various levels of experience. The group is coordinated by our own Dave Cryer, Learning and Participation Manager at TBTL.

This Summer, they will perform a selection of short plays at the National Trust's Derwentwater Regatta over the weekend 7th & 8th July and, again, in the Studio at TBTL at 4pm on Sunday, 15 July.

NCS was approached in a joint venture to submit scripts for the project. Plays have been selected and workshops and rehearsals are underway!

Picture the Scene - RESULTS!

Our panel of three judges, each read all submissions and agreed a shortlist of 5 plays.  These were passed to Helen Turnbull for the final decision and, after days of reading, we can now announce the 3 winning entries:

Telling by Marilyn Messenger and Mike Smith, 

The Poet Who Painted a Picture by Tash Shaw

and

Carry On Painting by Kevan France.

CONGRATULATIONS!

These 3 winning plays will be performed in the studio at Theatre by the Lake (TBTL), Keswick at 7.30pm on Saturday, 20 October 2018 and at the Penrith Playhouse at 7.30pm on Friday, 26 October 2018.  Tickets available from:

https://www.theatrebythelake.com

http://penrithplayers.org.uk

The runners up were:

You'll Never Walk Alone by Anne Ginty

and

Many Mansions by John Scott.

Picture the Scene

Thank you to all those who submitted scripts for the competition.  Our judges have agreed the shortlist. The 3 winning plays will be announced here as soon as a final decision has been made.

Picture the Scene - Our New Play Writing Competition

DEADLINE EXTENDED! (now 31 March 2018)

See below at Point 1 under the heading 'Submission Arrangements'

North Cumbria Scriptwriters (NCS) invites local writers to take part in our latest competition.

Writers are invited to submit a short play based around a picture.

The three winning plays will be staged in the studio at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick for one evening performance in October 2018 by local actors with local directors.

Entries that do not conform entirely with all the requirements listed in the particulars below will not be considered.

Entrants

1.  Entrants must live or work within Cumbria or have significant Cumbrian connections.

2.  Entries of a single play by two or more writers are welcome as long as this complies with all other criteria in this information.

The Play

1.  The play must be of one act, 30-35 minutes long and not previously performed.

2.  It must be suitable for acting:

• by a maximum cast of six,

• in conventional or traverse setting,

• with minimal, economical and lightweight set,

• with properties and costume implications likewise uncomplicated,

• with straightforward lighting and sound effects.

3. There must be a very clear connection between the play and the picture.

The Picture

1.  A single picture only is permitted. It must be suitable for featuring in black-and-white format in publicity and on programmes for the performance at Theatre by the Lake (TBTL).

2.  Any form of picture, including photograph, may be used and can be the entrant’s own work.

3.  Use of the picture in publicity and outcomes of this competition must not involve NCS in any copyright or permissions issues, whether costs or negotiations.

4. NCS will be happy to feature where practicable the names and briefest contact details of artists who have waived charges for the purpose of this competition.  

Format of Scripts

In order to assist the readers who will be evaluating the entries, entrants’ scripts MUST conform to ALL of the following:

1.  Scripts must be typed on white paper in Arial font, size 12 or larger.

2.  Scripts must be double-spaced.

3.  Speaker names ranged left (not above speeches centrally).

4.  Voice- and stage-directions clearly distinguished (e.g. italic).

5.  Printing must be single-sided with pages clearly numbered, but without any running headers or footers.

6.  Include a copy of the picture at the front of the script.

7.  Scripts must not carry any identification of the writer.

Submission Arrangements

1.  The deadline for submissions is 31 March 2018.

2.  Writers should submit one play only.

3.  Three copies of your script are to be submitted to:

     Carol Donockley

     30 Knowe Park Avenue

     Stanwix

     Carlisle

     CA3 9EJ

4.  On a separate A4 sheet provide your name, title of your play, Cumbrian residential address and other contact details.

5.  On the same sheet provide a signed undertaking worded as follows:

“This script 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 picture or to any quotations and/or music featured”.

6.  Where plays are written jointly, adapt 5 above accordingly, all writers signing the undertaking.

7.  Acknowledgement of receipt will be made only if a stamped addressed envelope or card is included.

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 or has any knowledge at all of any scripts entered by NCS members. They will select five plays to go forward to Conrad Lynch*, Artistic Director at TBTL. He will have been totally independent of all previous proceedings and will decide on the three plays for performance.

* to be confirmed

2.  The three successful writers will then be contacted, with their names and the titles of their plays posted on this blog. The anticipated timing for this is late May 2018.

3.  If any of the three successful scripts is subsequently withdrawn by the writer, the three NCS readers 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 provided.

Performance Companies and Direction

1.  NCS will actively alert known performance companies to this opportunity to perform at TBTL.  Recommendations of companies and directors from writers are welcome, whether for their own plays or more widely in this competition, but NCS must actively make the actual selection.

2.  Once the winning plays are known, NCS will confer with potential performance companies and directors, expecting decisions to be made by 30 June 2018.

Subsequent Arrangements

1.  NCS undertakes to work with local actors, directors and others to ensure their commitment to the October 2018 performance. Once plays and performance companies are known, NCS will also assess whether further performances in the community of all three plays together is practicable, promoting accordingly. In any case, further performances of individual plays locally will be encouraged.

2.  Whilst firmly intending the successful writers to have as full an opportunity as they wish in developing their plays to full production, NCS reserves the right of decision in securing the viability of this venture.

Disclaimer:  NCS reserves the right to extend or vary any of the above particulars where the potential for a successful performance at TBTL is genuinely at hazard. Reasons for any such changes will be posted promptly on our website.

Are you thinking of entering?

To help us in our planning, we would love to have some indication of the likely numbers of entries. If you are thinking of entering, can you please let Carol know by email, phone or post? 

carol.donockley@btinternet.com     01228 547043
Carol Donockley,
30, Knowe Park Avenue,
Stanwix,
Carlisle,
CA3 9EJ.

NB - this is in no way binding! In other words, you may decide to enter at the last minute, or you may find (having intended to enter) that your muse fails you - we've all been there.

We were hoping to provide a template of a suggested format that you could feed your script into. Unfortunately, we find we do not have the technology to do so on this blog. But if you would like a sample of an accepted format, please email conjensen@trifolium.co.uk and Connie Jensen will send you a relevant sample. You can then delete Connie's content and paste in your own.
If this last is not possible, please at least make sure that your entry is typed (i.e. not hand written), with speech and stage directions clearly distinguished, as explained in the instructions in the 'Format of Scripts' paragraph below.

SEARCHING FOR A SCRIPTWRITER - A NEW COMPETITION

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.

 

North Cumbria Scriptwriters' projects before 2011

2010
Dream Department Trainee, by Martin Chambers
Top of the Tree, Bottom of the Garden, by Rick Thomas
Winter Escape, by Rachael Howard
Wordsworth Hearing, Connie Jensen
Howgill, by Jen Mattinson


2009

Ten Plays for Ten Years
To mark our 10th Anniversary, we cooperated with BBC Radio Cumbria to broadcast five, five-minute radio plays written by our members plus one which was to be the winner of a public competition, judged by Radio Cumbria.
We were surprised at the number of entries and delighted with the quality of the writing, but of course there could be only one winner.
This was Mr Robert Armitage from Ambleside, with his piece, 'Cultivating Cumbria'.
We recorded this piece with the help of our friends at Radio Cumbria, for inclusion on a CD of our work. Some of the pieces were selected for broadcast on Radio Cumbria during one winter week.
Due to its success, this became an annual event until 2014. Our thanks to Radio Cumbria and to Rick Thomas for hosting the recordings.


2009 BBC 5-minute radio plays:
Crowned Heads, by Martin Chambers
Eros and the Handbag, by Julia Newsome
Fifth Dimension, by Jenny Yates
The Last Pub in England, by Rick Thomas
Supply Teacher, by Carol Donockley




2008

Write Angles
With Arts Council and Allerdale Council funding, Write Angles 2008 started as workshops with professional directors and writers, and a public competition. These led to script-in-hand performances of works in progress by our members and the competition winner. These were directed by Daniel Bye of the Silvertongue Theatre in York and our own Ian Hinde.
The scripts were read/acted by local amateur actors. The audience, actors and directors were invited to discuss each piece with a view to ways to develop it further. A format emerged and the second and third performances were arranged to include four pieces about 15 minutes long, each immediately followed by discussion. This resulted in many useful ideas and was enjoyed by all who took part.
In April and June, the performances were at Theatre by the Lake in the Studio. In November it was at the Penrith Playhouse.

Workshop 
A script-writing workshop at Bowness on Solway Literary Festival, on ways to extend a script, was also a success.

A Blessed Release
This play by Martin Chambers, was performed by the Black Sheep Theatre Group as part of the Cumbria Darma Festival 2008, on 15 March in Grange over Sands.


2003

Mighty Oak
NCS member Martin Chambers was commissioned by the Nation Trust to write a play about Hardewicke Drummond Rawnsley, one of the founders of the Nation Trust. It was performed in the open air by the Keswick Theatre Club as part of the celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the acquisition by the Trust of Brandlehowe Park.

Acting Workshop
Led by Stefan Escreet and held in the Studio at Theatre by the Lake, the aim was to help writers to write for performance.