News

As the deadline for our annual new writing competition looms ever closer, we launch a brand new blog that looks behind the scenes of the initiative from the varying perspectives of those involved - the producers, directors, actors… and of course the writers themselves. First up, Script Space co-ordinator, Sophie Lomax, digs herself out from under a pile of freshly minted scripts to give us an overview of the selection process…

Be careful what you wish for – in my case, truckloads of plays to read. Let me tell you the still-unfolding tale of Script Space IV…

A call-out for entries to our annual scriptwriting contest was announced back in the mists of last autumn, prompting the arrival of a gentle pitter-patter of submissions: one or two at a time and with only a smidgeon of queue-jumping from those scripts dressed in attention-seeking fonts. What a difference a looming deadline makes, That gentle pitter-patter has, to strain a metaphor to the outer limits of syntax, become a torrent of words so forceful that this year’s Script Space looks likely to set new records in the simultaneous arrival of Word documents.

Every time I look, there are hordes of excitingly-titled new entries, like marauding literary wildebeests stampeding across the Script Space inbox. And I look often.  I’ve even tried breaking down into manageable chunks the monster-sized job of acknowledging and filing entries, by checking twice, even thrice a day. But this is proving a bit of an own goal because, like some sinister game of exponentially-increasing numbers, there are the same number of plays freshly hatched every time I dare to open one startled eye for a quick peek.

But really, of course, it’s wonderful: ‘bring it on’ is the rallying cry resounding heartily around Script Space Towers. Our forum exists to support and develop these very writers, to help creative people become a valued part of the theatre eco-system of which genuinely original writing is a vital part. So to have hundreds of plays to read is a challenge to be cherished. And we do cherish it. We’re proud that so many writers, many of whom are hugely talented, want to work with the Tobacco Factory and, now, in association with the Bristol Festival of Ideas. We’re kick-starting this blog with the aim of making Script Space plain to understand and inspiring to take part in. There’s no secrecy to how we choose scripts and we’d like to show how we go about selecting plays and writers we work with.

So, what’s actually happening? At the moment, it’s submissions time. We typically receive more than 300 entries, which really are all read carefully. I know this because I read them. Any showing particular promise are sent through to a long-list discussion group, which meets at the beginning of March. Each play gets a thorough going-over by a panel of experienced readers, being read at least twice in these middle rounds, before we select a shortlist. Shortlist discussions can be … what’s the word? Bracing. Opinions are fiercely held, with serried ranks of biro-wielding judges from the theatre forming unshakeable allegiances to different writers and with the final selection hanging tantalisingly in the balance. Finally, we select winning writers and plays, with a careful eye to the development initiatives and performance opportunities on offer each year, aiming to help good writers with the most appropriate support available. Script Space has been running as an open competition for three years. And each time we hope to involve more writers and help with development wherever practicable.

One question that gets asked, often and loudly, is whether we’re looking for good writers or great plays? The short answer, because I’m running out of space, is that we’re after the writer, attached to whom will be the talent to produce a great play. This isn’t semantics: all writers can benefit from developing their work and, wherever possible (yes, we do have funding challenges) we aim to spot potential and help a writer fulfil it. And then, of course, comes even greater creativity.

During the next few weeks you’ll be able to read blog contributions from actors, directors and writers, all involved in elements of Script Space: we salute their generosity towards other artists and willingness to pass on knowledge to others, all through sheer love of theatre-making.  You’re welcome to comment on anything you’ve read, by emailing scriptspace@tobaccofactory.com

To find out more about Scrip Space click here.