So You Want To Be A Writer? Showcase
After The Rainfall
Beautiful Thing
The Look of Love & Benchmark
Ooh La La It's BollywoodAnother script reading day is imminent. If you sent scripts in over the last 6 months apologies that I haven't managed to get to read them yet - you will hear back soon (ish). Here is an overview of script submission process:
When your script arrives it is logged and put into a large 'to be read' pile. Three times a year we bring script readers together at the Playhouse for a reading day. There is a 'pool' of about 15 script readers - mainly other writers and directors - from whom I drawn 6 or 7 for the day. At the start of the day I do what I call 'triage' whereby approximately the first 10 pages of every play is read. This isn't exact; they will keep reading to the end of a scene or section if that is longer than 10 pages but it is enough to get an idea of the piece. Based on that initial reading a short report is done with recommendation to read whole play or not and why. We then read all of the plays recommended for a full read. Doing it all together gives us the opportunity to check in with each other and get second or third opinions on plays which may be challenging or just not to one person's taste. I'm in there all day and read a selection of the plays including those read by others to check we're not missing anything.
A report is written for the plays fully read and a letter goes back to everyone with as much honest feedback as we can give. Where a play has been given a particularly good report it will be passed to me to read and I may pass it to others in the theatre. Following on from that I may ask to see other work by that writer or arrange to meet up to discuss their play and future work.
We do read ALL scripts sent to us though it does take some time to read and respond. We do have a bias towards writers and artists in and from our region (loosely Yorkshire, Humberside and its environs) and so you are more likely to have a full read, a full report and a meeting if you are from here. Otherwise we are more likely to suggest you contact a theatre or producer in your region.
Here is a recap of the script submission dos and don'ts:
DO
Put your name and full contact details (address/phone/email) ON YOUR SCRIPT. Not just on the letter that comes with it (even if you have emailed it). Page numbers and legible type are helpful too.
Include a Stamped Addressed Envelope if you want your script returned (NB not just stamps or even worse those irritating international mail order things).
Include a Stamped Addressed Response Card if you want acknowledgement of receipt.
Include the whole script NOT just the first 10 pages.
Print and post the script (ie don't send by email unless we've specifically requested it) to
.
Alex Chisholm
Associate Director (Literary)
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Quarry Hill
Leeds LS2 7UP
DO NOT
Call after a few weeks. It can take around 6 months for a script to be read and processed, longer if we are busy. We will get in touch once we've read it.
Send your only copy. We really try very hard not to lose scripts, but with many plays going through many hands occasionally it does happen.
Send more than one script at a time. We'll ask if we want to see more of your work.
Re-submit a play unless we've asked to see it again. Particularly don't re-submit a play that we are currently looking at - it gets very confusing.
Thank you and questions or comments please post below. I look forward to reading your plays.