I compiled a list of new writing companies in the UK for www.playsonthenet.com, so until they edit and post it, I'll post it myself for any other new playwriting Junkies out there. In exchange for using my super helpful list, you must promise to at least try to read the prose I posted earlier today. So I barter for readers, so what?
New Writing Companies- UK
London:
Paines Plough- http://www.painesplough.com/
Paines Plough is an award-winning nationally and internationally renowned touring theatre company, specialising exclusively in the commissioning and development of contemporary playwrights and the production of their work on stage.
Bush Theatre- http://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/
With around 40,000 people enjoying productions each year, The Bush has produced hundreds of ground-breaking premieres since its inception 34 years ago. The theatre produces up to eight productions of new plays a year, many of them Bush commissions, and hosts guest productions by leading companies and artists from all over the world.
Soho Theatre- http://www.sohotheatre.com/
Soho discovers and nurtures new writers from the broadest backgrounds. They do this through a wide range of Writers' Centre activities, aimed at developing writers to work in theatre as well as film, TV and radio; and through education work, aimed at encouraging people to write for performance and to connect with theatre as an art form.
Hampstead Theatre- http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/
Hampstead Theatre is a company fast approaching its fiftieth, with a particular mission: to find, develop, and produce new plays to the highest possible standards. Their work remains rooted in London’s community but is both national and international in its scope and ambition. Occasionally, Hampstead will do a revival of an old play but only when there is an artistic and financial imperative to do so.
Red Room- http://www.theredroom.org.uk/
The Red Room exists to free the imagination against the status quo. They aim to create work that is original, daring, provocative and inspiring, for audiences who question the changing world. The work is meant to impact on wider society, so they actively develop artists and audiences from the widest variety of social and cultural backgrounds. They also involve ourselves in debates and activism around culture and politics. The Red Room believes that theatre should be a genuinely public art form.
Gate Theatre- http://www.gatetheatre.co.uk/
The Gate is London's only theatre dedicated to producing international work. The Gate encourages emerging artists to push boundaries- as writers, directors and set designers.
Arcola Theatre- http://www.arcolatheatre.com/
Located in the centre of Hackney, Arcola has a young writer’s group and a focus on new work, but does not accept unsolicited scripts.
Royal Court Theatre- http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/
The Royal Court Theatre is Britain's leading national company dedicated to new work by innovative writers from the UK and around the world. The theatre's pivotal role in promoting new voices is undisputed - the New York Times recently described it as 'the most important theatre in Europe'.
London:
Paines Plough- http://www.painesplough.com/
Paines Plough is an award-winning nationally and internationally renowned touring theatre company, specialising exclusively in the commissioning and development of contemporary playwrights and the production of their work on stage.
Bush Theatre- http://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/
With around 40,000 people enjoying productions each year, The Bush has produced hundreds of ground-breaking premieres since its inception 34 years ago. The theatre produces up to eight productions of new plays a year, many of them Bush commissions, and hosts guest productions by leading companies and artists from all over the world.
Soho Theatre- http://www.sohotheatre.com/
Soho discovers and nurtures new writers from the broadest backgrounds. They do this through a wide range of Writers' Centre activities, aimed at developing writers to work in theatre as well as film, TV and radio; and through education work, aimed at encouraging people to write for performance and to connect with theatre as an art form.
Hampstead Theatre- http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/
Hampstead Theatre is a company fast approaching its fiftieth, with a particular mission: to find, develop, and produce new plays to the highest possible standards. Their work remains rooted in London’s community but is both national and international in its scope and ambition. Occasionally, Hampstead will do a revival of an old play but only when there is an artistic and financial imperative to do so.
Red Room- http://www.theredroom.org.uk/
The Red Room exists to free the imagination against the status quo. They aim to create work that is original, daring, provocative and inspiring, for audiences who question the changing world. The work is meant to impact on wider society, so they actively develop artists and audiences from the widest variety of social and cultural backgrounds. They also involve ourselves in debates and activism around culture and politics. The Red Room believes that theatre should be a genuinely public art form.
Gate Theatre- http://www.gatetheatre.co.uk/
The Gate is London's only theatre dedicated to producing international work. The Gate encourages emerging artists to push boundaries- as writers, directors and set designers.
Arcola Theatre- http://www.arcolatheatre.com/
Located in the centre of Hackney, Arcola has a young writer’s group and a focus on new work, but does not accept unsolicited scripts.
Royal Court Theatre- http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/
The Royal Court Theatre is Britain's leading national company dedicated to new work by innovative writers from the UK and around the world. The theatre's pivotal role in promoting new voices is undisputed - the New York Times recently described it as 'the most important theatre in Europe'.
National Theatre- www.nationaltheatre.org
In three theatres on the South Bank in London, the National presents an eclectic mix of new plays and classics, with seven or eight productions in repertory at any one time. It aims constantly to re-energise the great traditions of the British stage and to expand the horizons of audiences and artists alike. It aspires to reflect in its repertoire the diversity of British culture. The National also runs an extensive education program for new writers, and a Studio space to explore new work.
Fringe London
White Bear- http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/
The White Bear is one of London's oldest fringe venues. It specialises in new writing and is well-eastbalished breeding ground for new writers - Joe Penhall, Kwami Kwei Armah and Torben Betts all started their careers at The White Bear.
Camden People’s Theatre- http://www.cptheatre.co.uk/
CPT produces, promotes and supports professional theatre from innovative emerging companies. Placing special emphasis on movement, gesture, and visual impact, recognising that these are integral in making theatre accessible on a cross-cultural basis, CPT prioritises work which has been developed through collaboration. CPT is also invested in connecting with its community of South Camden/ West Euston.
Grey Light Productions- http://www.greylightproductions.co.uk
Grey Light Productions is a young professional theatre company set up to produce and promote new writing.
Tabard Theatre- http://www.tabardtheatre.co.uk/
The Tabard Theatre opened in Chiswick in 1985 and built a strong reputation for new writing, something which continues to this day. However, the theatre now hosts all kinds of live entertainment from experimental work to Shakespeare and enjoys the support of a loyal local audience and, thanks to its location, visitors from all over London.
Finborough Theatre- http://www.finboroughtheatre.itgo.com/
Founded in 1980, the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre presents new British writing, UK premieres of overseas drama, particularly from the United States, Ireland, Canada and Australia, music theatre and an idiosyncratic selection of unjustly neglected work from the last 150 years. Finborough Theatre hosts the Pearson Playwriting Residency prize every year, awarded to an emerging playwright.
England
Warehouse Theatre Croydon- http://www.warehousetheatre.co.uk/
Through their International Playwriting Festival the theatre has discovered and launched the career of a host of successful writers and it has also had much success in transferring plays to the West End and other London theatres, and touring both nationally and internationally.
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse- http://www.everymanplayhouse.com/
Liverpool Everyman has a busy Literary Department, working to nurture the next generation of Liverpool playwrights. A wide-ranging Community Department takes the theatre’s work to all corners of the city and surrounding areas, and works in partnership with schools, colleges, youth and community groups to open up the theatres to all. Liverpool Everyman is the city’s major employer of theatre artists, artisans and skilled support staff.
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester- http://www.royalexchange.co.uk/
Once a year The Royal Exchange Theatre hosts the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition, the most prestigious playwriting competition in the UK- awarding 20,000 pounds and a production to an unproduced play. The Royal Exchange has presented over sixty premieres since it opened in 1976, and recently opened a ninety seat studio dedicated to new writing.
Wales
Drama Association of Wales (Cymdeithas Ddrama Cymru)- www.amdram.co.uk
A registered charity since 1934, the association offers a wide range of services to Community Drama.
Clwyd Theatr Cymru- http://www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk/
Home of a highly acclaimed producing company, which also presents much of its work on tour throughout Wales and the rest of the UK. The company produces mainly in English, but also in Welsh. There is a fully integrated Theatre for Young People department which uses the same performers, technicians and creative staff to achieve the same high production values as the mainstream product. The theatre also hosts a variety of touring drama, dance, music and a community Festival in the Summer. There are around 900 public performances per year.
Scotland
Traverse Theatre- http://www.traverse.co.uk/
The Traverse has an unrivalled reputation for producing contemporary theatre of the highest quality, invention and energy, commissioning and supporting writers from Scotland and around the world and facilitating numerous script development workshops, rehearsed readings and public writing workshops. The Traverse aims to produce several major new theatre productions plus a Scottish touring production each year. It is unique in Scotland in its exclusive dedication to new writing, providing the infrastructure, professional support and expertise to ensure the development of a sustainable and relevant theatre culture for Scotland and the UK.
Arches Glasgow- www.thearches.co.uk/theatre.html
The Arches Theatre Company run two annual festivals of new work each year: the Arches Theatre Festival in April features plays by the two winners of our Arches Award for Stage Directors run in conjunction with NTS, the Tron and Traverse Theatre, which offers commissions to the most exceptional young directors and playwrights working in Scotland. Arches LIVE! a September festival, offers a supportive environment allowing young companies a platform for creative experimentation and risk-taking. Nurturing emergent talent is at the core of the Arches philosophy, and they’ve recently developed a programme of Scratch Nights inspired by London’s BAC, which will further encourage artistic collaborations and generate new work.
Tron Theatre- http://www.tron.co.uk/
The Tron focuses on both new writing and dynamic productions of classic texts, making full use of available Scottish talent.
Edinburgh Fringe Venues
Assembly Rooms- http://www.assemblyrooms.com/
Aurora Nova- http://www.auroranova.org/
UnderBelly- http://www.underbelly.co.uk/
C-Venues- http://www.cvenues.com/
Official Edinburgh Fringe website: http://www.edfringe.com/
Edinburgh Fringe New Writing Opportunity
New Work at the Forest- http://www.theforest.org/
For the first time in 2007, Arts Venue the Forest will host readings, workshops and scratch performances for emerging writers and companies over the Edinburgh International Fringe. Rental of venue for performances is free. Visit the Forest website for more information on how to apply.
1 comment:
Hey Deb,
It's www.playsonthenet.com
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