BP News

Artistic Director’s Column – Play Submissions

Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of…the Society! What I mean is that now is the time to submit plays for next years programme - but before you start faxing us pages from French’s catalogue, please bear in mind the following points:

• For the main auditorium we prefer plays with a large appeal. We aim to fill the theatre with at least 50% audiences and we know we have done well if it runs at 70% or above. Ask yourself: will this play draw that kind of audience?
• We try to run a mixed programme genre-wise: a comedy, a drama, a classic, a Christmas show and a musical if there is one suitable (we sometimes don’t do a musical in any given year).
• Cast size: be realistic – we are unlikely to choose plays with huge casts because it is often difficult to find lots of actors (although not true of the summer show – see below). For the first play of the season (September) we are always on the lookout for a small-cast play because of the holiday rehearsal period.
• The summer show in July might well be in the Dell in 2008. It needs to be a big ‘un though – a Midsummer Nights Dream or Beowolf or something. Large cast, mixed ages. Lots of fun.
• Please only offer 3 plays max to the play selection group. Each script should be accompanied by an outline on one side of A4 paper of how you see it being performed (your early thoughts: e.g. sketch of staging, reason you have put it forward, why you think it will sell etc.)
• Have a thought to costs. Be creative in how you visualise the production – remember, some of our best shows haven’t cost the earth to put on. Anyway, be aware that we will be weighing likely costs when we choose the programme for next year.
• Our outlook is that we should put on plays that not only attract good audiences but offer meaty roles to our members as well. We try to plan the programme overall to meet this criterion. So if, for example, there is an all-female play chosen, we will try and find another with strong male parts and so forth. Age: we must primarily serve our adult members and we want to encourage people in their 20s, 30s, 40s etc. to have fun onstage. The summer show is different – this is traditionally for actors of all ages.
• We are interested in anyone who has some ideas but first time directors please note – you should either have been on one of our director’s courses or have put on a play in the studio as a minimum requirement. If you don’t want to direct but just want to suggest plays you fancy, that’s fine too.

Well with those few points in the front of your minds – good hunting! The closing date for your submissions is the 15th January 2007. You are welcome to e-mail me in the first instance with any ideas or questions to bigspirittheatre@hotmail.com. Scripts etc may be put in a large envelope with your name and left at the box office.