Plays should be 15 minutes long, either as a short play or an extract from a longer play. If you submit an extract, it should stand on its own as an outstanding piece of writing. Only one submission per writer. If we receive more than one submission from the same writer, we will only read the first script received.
Pieces do not need to be on any particular theme or genre. However, we do have a few limitations on the scripts. We ask that casts are kept to no more than four people. We do accept monologues.
We also ask that writers try to keep props and staging to a minimum. Plays will be performed on top of whatever set is already present at the Bunker Theatre.
The performances will be on Saturday, 29th February 2020 as part of our Takeover Festival. There will be a matinee and evening performance.
You do not need to send us a CV or synopsis. You don’t need to sell yourself. We just want to review your script and nothing else.
WHO SHOULD SUBMIT
We only accept scripts from writers of colour.
While we fully appreciate that other groups including disabled, neurodivergent, D/deaf or LGBTQ+ are also underrepresented, our focus is on BAMER artists. However, we 100% welcome, encourage and would love intersectional creatives of colour to send us their work.
We respectfully ask that white creatives do not submit work to us. While we fully appreciate the support and would love to see them in our audiences, we really want to bring artists of colour front and centre.
We recommend white writers submit their work to some of the other brilliant new writing nights such as Little Pieces of Gold, Cuckoo Bang BITS or Pint-Sized Plays.
Unfortunately, we can only accept plays from UK based writers.
WHAT WE OFFER
Your work will be staged alongside four other pieces at the Bunker Theatre in London Bridge. We will invite a selection of industry professionals along to the performances to give your script exposure and there will be two performances held.
All writers involved will be paid £100.00. Actors and directors will also be paid for the performances. We hope this will help to make the event accessible so artists will not be out of pocket.
We will provide notes and guidance to all scripts selected.
Rehearsal space is being provided through our partnership with Theatre Deli London. We will have a full week reserved in the lead up to the show and will arrange time slots with each director. We can also provide links to other affordable rehearsal spaces if you require additional rehearsal time.
We will work with writers and directors to caption your scripts which will then be imported into The Difference Engine so that D/deaf and hard of hearing audience members can enjoy your writing.
ABOUT THE UPSETTERS
We make theatre written by writers of colour, directed by directors of colour and performed by actors of colour in all roles unless the script specifies otherwise.
At the moment, we feel that theatre has an unconscious bias which we want to overcome by creating opportunities for those from underrepresented groups to have their work seen and performed.
We believe in accessibility, so here’s what we try to do to make our events more accessible to artists and audiences:
Paying artists.
Captioning events using The Difference Engine for D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences.
Subsidised rehearsal space through our partnership with Theatre Deli London.
Relaxed performances for neurodivergent audiences.
10% of all tickets go to the Black Ticket Project.
