News

300 WANNABE PLAYWRIGHTS VIE FOR A SCRIPT SPACE AT THE TOBACCO FACTORY THEATRE

Now in its fourth year, the Tobacco Factory Theatre’s annual series of script-in-hand performances of bright new plays, Script Space, provides a fantastic springboard for writers looking to unleash their work on a live audience, to learn what works on a stage and, taking a peek at audiences’ reactions, see exactly how to develop a fledgling piece until it takes flight.

We’re delighted to announce that the winner of the 2011 Script Space competition is Martin Lytton for The Girl from Sparta Road. Set on two warring housing estates, Martin’s play is a kind Greek tragedy for the Skins generation.  Lennie has left Sparta Road to be with her new boyfriend. Her old gang are having none of it and will come after her to bring her back, no matter what. It’s a tale of choice versus inescapable destiny from the age of bronze told in the age of silicone, and it was chosen from more than 300 submissions.

“I was tremendously excited to be shortlisted for the Script Space 2011 Prize, and for a minute, when they announced that I had won, it didn’t quite connect - can that really be me?  Of course one hopes, but writing is a business which involves many pitfalls, many stunted expectations.  But not this time. Winning this prize, and having the chance to have my work shown in some form in collaboration with the marvellous Tobacco Factory Theatre, will be a step further along the road to independence.” Martin Lytton, Script Space 2011 winner

Tobacco Factory Theatre Director, Ali Robertson, said: “Martin’s script stood out straight away. It’s hugely ambitious in scope and vision and we’re excited to have discovered such an original new voice.”

Three plays made it through to the final, from a shortlist of just ten whittled down from over 300 submissions. In second place was Digits, a slick and fast-paced black comedy with a great central double act and compelling unreliable narrator, by Berlin-based journalist Tamsin Walker. Highly commended was The Kittens in the Bag by London-based playwright Kitty MacDonald.

Script Space Coordinator, Sophie Lomax thought this year was particularly tough to shortlist due to the high standard of submissions.  “Getting it down to the final three was agonising. The quality of writing this year was outstanding and we feel really lucky to have found two so very different and very promising plays that we want to develop further.”

The Tobacco Factory Theatre’s forum for the development of new writing has gone from strength to strength since its inception four years ago. So far the initiative has worked with over twenty emerging and established writers, bringing their new plays before an audience for the first time. This year, taking place in collaboration with Bristol Festival of Ideas, Script Space 2011 will realise a new capacity for and commitment to bespoke development opportunities for new and emerging writers. Later on this year we will produce a short series of curtain-raiser performances of Digits and embark on a period of research and development for The Girl from Sparta Road with a director, dramaturg and group of local students. 

The Script Space results were announced at the Bristol Festival of Ideas Book of the Year prize-giving on Monday 16 May.  Introducing the evening’s events, BFI’s director Andrew Kelly talked about both organisations’ commitment to new writing and expressed excitement about the future of the collaboration, which will continue into 2012. The evening’s panel discussion of this year’s short-listed titles was preceded by a presentation of an extract from Digits, giving audiences a taster of what to look forward to in future months.

Script Space V will be launched later this year.

Visit the Script Space page on our website.
Read the Script Space blog.
FInd out about the Bristol Festival of Ideas.