Does anyone write plays on here?

[BrickRedLipstick]

Is anyone think of entering any of the big playwriting competitions? Just wondering what people’s experiences of them are?

Nobody?

I started out winning some playwriting contests. Mostly write for screen now as theatre can't support a writing career. There's a lot more encouragement for people writing plays than there is money to put plays on, but if you love theatre and want to write plays then contests can be good motivators to get the work done. I'm guessing you're referring to the Bruntwood and maybe the women's playwriting prize that I think is happening again. If so, then if you have a play ready, send it in. There's no downside to doing so, though the odds are low so keep expectations in check. The judging choices are often very subjective, can be quite political so no point trying to second guess what's wanted, and there's rarely any guarantee of production in this parlous times. It can feel nice and validating to get longlisted or shortlisted though and sometimes they run workshops that are helpful. In essence, write what you'd want to write anyway.

Hi @pinkdelight Yes I am thinking along those lines. I know there is a big conversation about how these competitions are replacing literary departments and I also realise that success in these things don’t guarantee production. Theatre does seem to be a really bad place at the moment although it doesn’t feel particularly great for screenwriters either. Very difficult times so well done for your success.

This may not be what you want to hear but one way of writing plays that get performed (which equals publication) is to join an amateur drama group and write plays for them - the plus for them is getting a tailored play and not having to pay performance rights (because you won't charge them being part of the group). It means people perform and see your play. Also, there are amateur dramatic competitions for one-act and full-length plays, most of which include original plays as a prize category.
I have written plays this way. It's a very good way of understanding stagecraft and what a play needs to work - e.g. time to get changed, doubling up parts, costuming, limitations as to scenery, scene changes and the time needed to do this - which may need practising as amateur competitions have rules about setting and striking, which is good discipline for a playwright inclined to complex sets!
Writing for an amateur group can also allow you to innovate and play with ideas both of plot and character and also staging. Bear in mind that before the nineteenth century most playwrights were writing for their own company, tailoring their plays to the actors they had, just as you would for an amateur group now.

Thanks @BrickRedLipstick. I don't think losing Lit Depts is necessarily a bad thing as they did perpetuate the idea that there was a path to production which kept playwrights in development hell for way longer than was often worthwhile. Sounds like you know the score though so are going into it with your eyes open. I agree with @Grammarnut that am dram is in some ways a more viable route and can mean your work has a life rather than languishing in a drawer. Drama schools can be an option too, as some have the resources to develop and put on plays that are too big to stage commercially. There's a lot to be said for taking the initiative, takes the edge off waiting for the wider industry to ever take notice. Pursue all avenues that appeal to you and don't take any rejections personally. Good luck!

Thanks for the responses @Grammarnut and @pinkdelight Interesting ideas. Do you think it is tough to make the jump from amateur productions to professional stages?

Well, it's tough to get on professional stages full stop. The amateur productions idea isn't a stepping stone, it's just an alternative option that's more possible, and would give you the experience and fulfilment of having work performed to an audience, which can potentially be more satisfying than a professional path. Getting paid a decent fee for writing a play is nigh on impossible for all but a tiny handful of playwrights in this country, and perhaps ironically most will make their money from amateur productions and other revivals of their work after the initial run and publication, so it's not a matter of snobbery. There just isn't any money to put new plays on professionally for the vast, vast majority of the industry, so the jump is no tougher with or without a dabble in the am dram world. I guess if you're wanting to submit the same play professionally and amdram, you'd have to check the T&Cs of contests in case they ruled out any public performances. But really the chances of having two places wanting to do your work is what my agent would call a nice problem to have!

In all honesty I think I would rather hold out to submit to professional stages rather than Amdram. I completely respect the Amdram writers but I don’t think my stuff would really appeal to them.

I haven't tried since my main aim is writing novels. It is possible, I think, but by luck for there is not 'path'. One thing you can do with a play that has been performed is to send it to one of the publishers of plays for use by amateur societies. Samuel French publishes plays for this market. Website: https://www.playwright.co/publishers/samuel-french

Thanks again. I know it’s very tough @pinkdelight It feels like writing competitions are the only route in these days but being longlisted and shortlisted isn’t any kind of guarantee you’ll get your play produced.

What do you think might appeal to AmDram?
Admittedly I and my late DH wrote for our own group, but we wrote plays on climate change (highlighting the coming ice age), madness and delusion (in contemporary and futuristic settings), plays suggesting solutions to historical mysteries, revue pieces intended to send up AmDram adjudicators (well received, esp the 'anti-war' one), identity swaps, multiple personalities, theatre of the absurd, cannibalism etc.

That all sounds really great @Grammarnut. Fantastic subject matters. I just don’t think my work would be a good fit.

You know your work. The competition route is a vale of tears, though, and rarely leads to success. Being in some sort of writing group helps - and gives the support of other writers. Are there any professional groups performing in your area or maybe the 'respectable' end of Amdram such as I have locally - I mean places that are semi-professional and put on large productions, where actors can get professional accredition? Such groups also want plays. Since you don't say what you write, I can't explore this idea any further, except to say that to see your play live is an awesome experience, wherever the venue is.

You may well be right about your work and it's completely fine to not try am dram. As long as you have no expectations of the contests leading to seeing your work on that's okay. The point is more that professional theatre is a vague term these days, as many plays are paid for by the people staging them and casts often aren't paid professional rates (e.g. London fringe shows are often profit share even at respected new writing theatres) and it's almost impossible to make money even from a sold-out one-person show, so it's worth having an element of entrepreneurship rather than just posting your play off and hoping. But if all you want is that feeling of having it out there being read and potentially getting somewhere in a contest, then that's fair enough. All the best either way!

Hi @Grammarnut Yes there are a lot of that sort of thing where I live and I have seen a few things they’ve produced. They’re very good. I think because I have written professionally on other platforms, have an agent etc this wouldn’t be right for either my work or the point I am at in my career. I know what you mean about seeing your work performed, although have to admit I find it terrifying. As for rejection, the odd one will sting but I am pretty ok about it. I was really just wanting to reach out and chat about the contests, which ones people like, general thoughts etc.

Ah okay well then your agent can advise you best on which routes to pursue with your work. In terms of which contests, they're all fine (as in legit but low odds) as long as it's a known theatre/group and there's no rip-off entry fee.

That’s another story @pinkdelight. Currently looking at agents I may try to switch to in the NY.