Call for Playwrights
(closed)
Why are we calling YOU?
We're looking for writers, actors, activists, journalists, art critics, and wannabe playwrights to participate in the May 2023 Wakefield Writers Fête! Interested? Read on...
On May 25, In Their Own Words: An Evening of Verbatim Theatre will present six short (15 minutes max) readings of new plays that address current social issues, written by writers like yourself.
ITOW is funded by Canadian Heritage and managed by Writers Fête. Joel Bernbaum and Yvette Nolan provide playwright mentoring and play direction, and Theatre Wakefield produces the play readings.
On May 25, In Their Own Words: An Evening of Verbatim Theatre will present six short (15 minutes max) readings of new plays that address current social issues, written by writers like yourself.
ITOW is funded by Canadian Heritage and managed by Writers Fête. Joel Bernbaum and Yvette Nolan provide playwright mentoring and play direction, and Theatre Wakefield produces the play readings.
How does it work?
1 - Interested writers submit a short (one-page maximum) proposal answering three questions:
January 9, 2023 (noon): Deadline for submitting your proposal to joel.bernbaum@gmail.com and cc: to peteragillies@gmail.com
2 - Joel and Yvette will review all proposals and invite selected writers to attend the one-day workshop in person (or online via Zoom).
3 - January 15, 2023: Joel will hold a one-day workshop covering short play writing and the verbatim theatre genre (a form of theatre without sets or full costumes). See workshop details at Verbatim Theatre Workshop.
4 - Joel and Yvette will then choose six writers to develop their own full 15-minute play.
5 - February-early May: Chosen writers will interview people appropriate to their topic, recording the interviews. The writer transcribes the interviews and turns them into a short verbatim theatre play. During this process, Joel and Yvette will mentor each writer via Zoom.
6 - Monday, May 22–Wednesday, May 24: Play rehearsals by Theatre Wakefield actors directed by Joel and Yvette. Playwrights are encouraged to attend.
7 - Thursday, May 25: Performance of each of the six plays at Writers Fête 2023.
- Who are you?
- What is your writing background?
- What social justice issue would you like to explore?
January 9, 2023 (noon): Deadline for submitting your proposal to joel.bernbaum@gmail.com and cc: to peteragillies@gmail.com
2 - Joel and Yvette will review all proposals and invite selected writers to attend the one-day workshop in person (or online via Zoom).
3 - January 15, 2023: Joel will hold a one-day workshop covering short play writing and the verbatim theatre genre (a form of theatre without sets or full costumes). See workshop details at Verbatim Theatre Workshop.
4 - Joel and Yvette will then choose six writers to develop their own full 15-minute play.
5 - February-early May: Chosen writers will interview people appropriate to their topic, recording the interviews. The writer transcribes the interviews and turns them into a short verbatim theatre play. During this process, Joel and Yvette will mentor each writer via Zoom.
6 - Monday, May 22–Wednesday, May 24: Play rehearsals by Theatre Wakefield actors directed by Joel and Yvette. Playwrights are encouraged to attend.
7 - Thursday, May 25: Performance of each of the six plays at Writers Fête 2023.
What's in it for you?
- Honorarium for recording and transcribing interviews and playwriting
- Professional play development with Joel and Yvette (Feb to early May)
- Opportunity to work with Joel, Yvette and Theatre Wakefield actors during rehearsals (for those in the West Quebec area)
- A reading of your play at Writers Fête 2023
