About this website: On the 26th and 27th of November 2009, a group of people came together at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham to begin to answer the question "How do we create a better future for theatre, here, in the West Midlands". This website holds the notes from the sessions held over those two days, and allows anyone (whether they were present at the event or not) to continue the conversations from the event. You can read Alison Gagen's full invitation to the event here

Platform for writers

Convenor:

Does anyone know who convened this?

Attendees:

??

Description:

The place and value of rehearsed readings.
Opportunities and outputs for writers including digit6al collaborations.

Pentabus – accepts unsolicited scripts
- Is funded to create new works,

The need for integrated, evolutionary and evolving work,

How do you feed more writers into the

PILOT NIGHTS>>>>>PITCH/EXTRACT>>>

>>COMMISSION>>>>/PERFORMANCE   loop.

Writers setting up their own pitch nights.

Less reliance /expectations on the Rep.

MOVING ON FROM BEING AN EMERGING WRITER –

Theatre’s relationship with new writing

Working in non-traditional theatre spaces

Script submission – unsolicited who accepts them – Pentabus

Script evaluation- Scripty
Mentoringschemes resulting in rehearsed readings,

Developing a relationship between writers and other theatre makers.

Theatre Birrmingham and the West Midlands central point for all aspects of theatre from script –to audiences

Think BIG . One venue , One day, All writers given a chance to showcase through readings.
How do you know who to invite to scratch nights etc.

See more work, who would you like to work with?

Is our definition of Writer too restricted?

What should the geographical boundaries/criteria be?

 

Learn from good practice in other regions.

What about a festival in Birmingham?

We need funded, dedicated staff to develop theatre in Brum.

Sense of region

Sense of belonging

Sense of identity – what is ours , do we value it?

Sense of collaborative energy

Self promotion –
Rebranding
Confidence

Umberella /Focus /Figurehead to increase profile cf Simon Rattle and Classical music
Funding by Arts Council .

A physical writers centre cf soho theatre where you can write, network, find resources etc

 

SCRIPT