Cardiff’s pub theatre The Other Room, located in Porter’s and winner of The Stage’s Fringe Theatre of the Year Award, Summer 2020 project is New Page which will include the first an Open Script Submission for writers. They will accept up to 100 full-length pieces of writing, with each receiving comprehensive feedback from a team of professional script readers.
Submissions will be open from 5th August through to 4th October, and is aimed specifically at Welsh, Wales-trained or Wales-based writers. The theatre hopes to forge new creative partnerships and further develop the skills of Wales’ writers. The theatre will be encouraging submissions from writers who have never written for stage before; accepting poems, short stories and dialogue extracts as well as full-length scripts.
Newly appointed Community Engagement Officer, Yasmin Begum (main image), will aim to source a minimum of 30% of the total submissions through targeted outreach work with marginalised communities of Cardiff and people with protected characteristics. After the submission period, a shortlist will be sent to the theatre’s executive team for further consideration. Shortlisted writers will receive feedback sessions with TOR’s Executive Team, marking the beginning of what we hope will be a long-lasting, meaningful relationship with the theatre.
The Other Room’s Artistic Director, Dan Jones (above), said, “It is rare for an organisation such as The Other Room to sit still, but as we all know, right now, we are painfully still. It has been a period of serious reflection, anxiety, and adversity. But buried deep in this catastrophe there is opportunity. An opportunity to turn the page. With all that is going on in the world, now is the time to stop, to listen and to connect.
With the incredible support of Arts Council Wales and the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation we are pleased to present “New Page”, our open submission platform. This is a fantastic opportunity for Welsh and Wales-based artists to introduce themselves and their stories. We know we have not been doing enough to reach and empower unheard voices here in Wales. This is our first important step towards meaningful change, and we cannot wait to hear from you.”
Community Engagement Officer, Yasmin Begum, said, “New Page is a ground-breaking initiative based in Cardiff to support writers and the creation of new work. We are thrilled to work with different communities and community members to engage writers to positively impact the arts sector and promote equality, inclusion and diversity.
We will be taking an innovative and inter-sectional approach to source written work from across Wales and beyond in the medium of English and Welsh. We’re really excited to be working with such a broad range of readers and hopefully start the beginning of new working relationships with writers as we offer support and guidance.”
New Page is made possible with the support of Arts Council Wales, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and our SupporTOR donors.