It’s that awkward moment after the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where aspiring and early-career theatremakers are searching for their next project. From student-focused to wider early career writing opportunities, these are the best ways to get involved with playwriting.
If you want to write plays, the best thing you can possibly do is meet people who make theatre, and see what resonates with them. The production of any play is never the outcome of a singular vision, but a dialogue and collaboration between Writer, Actor, Director, and Designer – as well as a plethora of often unsung roles. Build a greater understanding of various disciplines, from acting or directing to lighting and set design. Understand the form, cultivate relationships, and you will have a rich context in which to write work – emboldened by the talent of others. Go and support new writing, chat to people, make new connections – this is the best way of understanding how artists are currently engaging with society.
Playwriting at The University of Edinburgh.
There are many university theatre societies that are always looking for new writing. The Edinburgh University Theatre Company (EUTC) produces 40 projects a year, often including student playwriting. Proposals are currently shut until next semester, but if you are a first-year, the Freshers Slots are an upcoming opportunity for you to put on a show at Bedlam Theatre with support and advice from the committee. Last year, three original scripts were produced over two nights.
Theatre Paradok is the university’s experimental theatre society. They have a lively program of workshops, including a weekly writing session led by Huw Turnbull, a graduate of the University’s (now defunct) MSc in Playwriting. As a previous attendee, I know these workshops are a great way to stretch your thinking about writing and touch on some great tips and processes.
The EUTC also has a dedicated theatre company, Candlewasters, specialising in the production of new work. The company and scripts have been selected for Autumn, but this year Candlewasters is also broadening its program to include workshops with early career professionals, a socials program where the company can meet and dream up work, and a bi-weekly playwriting meet-up, which will be a space to write and develop ideas.
Upcoming Playwriting Events in Edinburgh
The Gateway Writing Festival has closed its submissions for this year, but it is an enormously exciting project. Now in its third year, it has been growing in scale and ambition and developing work which goes on to great success – most notably Mary: A Gig Theatre Show. It has some of the most exciting creatives in Edinburgh participating and going to support, so it is definitely a space to watch! This year, nine new plays will be showcased at The Festival Theatre’s Studio Theatre in early November.
PenPal Productions hosts a bi-monthly themed scratch night at the Leith Depot. This is a great excuse to have some pints with friendly playwrights, and often sells out to a regular community of theatremakers and theatregoers. Other Edinburgh-based companies holding recurring scratch nights include Not So Nice!, whose most recent scratch night Return to Sender played back in July; and Shark Bait, whose Fish Food nights are also relatively regular.
These are just some examples of new writing spaces in the university and beyond. New playwriting opportunities are vast and exciting, not just during Fringe.
Illustration by Berenika Murray, @photograberry