some advice for putting on a production
Fri, 10 Feb 2006, 04:02 pmBarris4 posts in thread
some advice for putting on a production
Fri, 10 Feb 2006, 04:02 pmOK people, let me pitch you an idea - you're 18 (nearly 19) years old. You've finished college, and starting CIT (like uniy, but eaiser to get into, and based in Canberra). You have just completed the best, greatest play script in the world (huh, i wish). You know actors you can go to. You know you can do most of the techie work by yourself. But now here's the pop quiz: how does this 18 (nearly 19) year old get published? Do they simply walk up to their local theatre and say, "I wunna put on a show" and take it from there? Or do they search the net and hunt down people in the industry and "gib" them into publishing it?
Yes, this is a question I'VE been buzzing to know about, so if anyone out their has any ideas for what this 18 (very soon to be 19) year old could do, that, would, be, sweet....
One more thing, my "greatest, best, script in the world" is nowhere finished, but it will be...in the next year or so...
Yes, this is a question I'VE been buzzing to know about, so if anyone out their has any ideas for what this 18 (very soon to be 19) year old could do, that, would, be, sweet....
One more thing, my "greatest, best, script in the world" is nowhere finished, but it will be...in the next year or so...
BarrisFri, 10 Feb 2006, 04:02 pm
OK people, let me pitch you an idea - you're 18 (nearly 19) years old. You've finished college, and starting CIT (like uniy, but eaiser to get into, and based in Canberra). You have just completed the best, greatest play script in the world (huh, i wish). You know actors you can go to. You know you can do most of the techie work by yourself. But now here's the pop quiz: how does this 18 (nearly 19) year old get published? Do they simply walk up to their local theatre and say, "I wunna put on a show" and take it from there? Or do they search the net and hunt down people in the industry and "gib" them into publishing it?
Yes, this is a question I'VE been buzzing to know about, so if anyone out their has any ideas for what this 18 (very soon to be 19) year old could do, that, would, be, sweet....
One more thing, my "greatest, best, script in the world" is nowhere finished, but it will be...in the next year or so...
Yes, this is a question I'VE been buzzing to know about, so if anyone out their has any ideas for what this 18 (very soon to be 19) year old could do, that, would, be, sweet....
One more thing, my "greatest, best, script in the world" is nowhere finished, but it will be...in the next year or so...
Walter PlingeFri, 10 Feb 2006, 08:15 pm
Re: some advice for putting on a production
Hi Ben
Depending on where you are located, there's heaps of opportunity for young playwrights to get their work on to the stage...Blacktown City Community Theatre (BCCT), for example run "4 Short Plays Plus" every year... playwrights are invited to submit their work and the BCCT committee selects at least 4 for production. One of our selected plays this year was written by a 16 year old playwright.
I'm producing our 2006 4 Short Plays Plus season...BCCT accept submissions in the latter half of the year...check out our website for submission info later on in the year. www.bcct.org.au. Better still if you are in Sydney, come along to one of our 4 Shorts Plus performances in April - opening night is Wed April 26th @8pm(the event is listed on this site under What's On)
If you are in another state...I'm sure if you check out some theatre company websites linked to this site - Theatre Australia - you'll be able to find theatre companies that promote new and original work.
All the best
Kate Willard
katewillard@aapt.net.au
Depending on where you are located, there's heaps of opportunity for young playwrights to get their work on to the stage...Blacktown City Community Theatre (BCCT), for example run "4 Short Plays Plus" every year... playwrights are invited to submit their work and the BCCT committee selects at least 4 for production. One of our selected plays this year was written by a 16 year old playwright.
I'm producing our 2006 4 Short Plays Plus season...BCCT accept submissions in the latter half of the year...check out our website for submission info later on in the year. www.bcct.org.au. Better still if you are in Sydney, come along to one of our 4 Shorts Plus performances in April - opening night is Wed April 26th @8pm(the event is listed on this site under What's On)
If you are in another state...I'm sure if you check out some theatre company websites linked to this site - Theatre Australia - you'll be able to find theatre companies that promote new and original work.
All the best
Kate Willard
katewillard@aapt.net.au
Walter PlingeSat, 11 Feb 2006, 06:37 am
Re: some advice for putting on a production
First up dfon't get discouraged and don't put yourself down.
Second don't think about publishing it's most unlikely to happen.
Third get to work to see whether what you've written flies.
As you say you're in Canberra and have access to plenty of actors.
Get them together. Make contact with a director you know and trust and beg plead do what ever you have to do to get a rehearsed reading of the play.
Again if you have someone who's opinion you can trust ask them to lead the audience for the reading in comments about the play.
Take absolutely no notice of anyone who tells you that the play is"great!" or "@!#$!"" unless they can tell why it is great.
Be as distanced as possible from the reading. That means particularly don't do any tech work for the show yourself. You'll find that very hard because hearing your words come to life is exciting but, if you get caught up in the excitement you will have a great night and not learn very much, try, try to be as objective as you can looking to see what works and what doesn't work and then rewrite if that's what you need to do.
Hit the web and look for theatres all around the world who might be interested in your show. I've been writing for better than forty years and although I've had professionally staged prooductions here in Australia I've had just as much success in the UK and the USA.
It's a tough, tough world out there but keep at it.
If you think your play is ready the company I work with is looking for potetial productions for 2007 let's have a look.
The best Nic
Second don't think about publishing it's most unlikely to happen.
Third get to work to see whether what you've written flies.
As you say you're in Canberra and have access to plenty of actors.
Get them together. Make contact with a director you know and trust and beg plead do what ever you have to do to get a rehearsed reading of the play.
Again if you have someone who's opinion you can trust ask them to lead the audience for the reading in comments about the play.
Take absolutely no notice of anyone who tells you that the play is"great!" or "@!#$!"" unless they can tell why it is great.
Be as distanced as possible from the reading. That means particularly don't do any tech work for the show yourself. You'll find that very hard because hearing your words come to life is exciting but, if you get caught up in the excitement you will have a great night and not learn very much, try, try to be as objective as you can looking to see what works and what doesn't work and then rewrite if that's what you need to do.
Hit the web and look for theatres all around the world who might be interested in your show. I've been writing for better than forty years and although I've had professionally staged prooductions here in Australia I've had just as much success in the UK and the USA.
It's a tough, tough world out there but keep at it.
If you think your play is ready the company I work with is looking for potetial productions for 2007 let's have a look.
The best Nic
NaSat, 11 Feb 2006, 01:29 pm
Re: some advice for putting on a production
First of all you need to define 'publish'. Do you mean produce a performance, or publish the work in a script journal (such as at OzScript), or for other people to read and produce themselves. This will affect the ways you can do it.
I think the easiest (but the costliest) way is to produce it yourself. No one will read your script and produce it for you - you must push, push, push. Perhaps getting a bunch of your friends together and hiring out a venue, putting the show on yourself. If you do approach other people (ie. directors and producers), you mustn't expect much. Remember, these people probably get asked by heaps of other actors and playwrights to help them produce a show, and so they have limited time and money. They might be interested in your work, and if they are, great, but don't assume anything. It might all fall apart in the end.
That's why you must perservere no matter what happens.
[%sig%]
I think the easiest (but the costliest) way is to produce it yourself. No one will read your script and produce it for you - you must push, push, push. Perhaps getting a bunch of your friends together and hiring out a venue, putting the show on yourself. If you do approach other people (ie. directors and producers), you mustn't expect much. Remember, these people probably get asked by heaps of other actors and playwrights to help them produce a show, and so they have limited time and money. They might be interested in your work, and if they are, great, but don't assume anything. It might all fall apart in the end.
That's why you must perservere no matter what happens.
[%sig%]