Guide Bridge Theatre has a long tradition of bringing new plays to our Audenshaw stage. In 2022, we launched a writing group called WordsmithsINK with the aim of growing a community of writers, giving them space to develop, and a platform to stage their work.
We have two writers’ groups under the umbrella of WordsmithsINK – Fresh Voices and Longform.
LONGFORM
Longform writers meet all year round, roughly weekly. At each session one member submits a chunk of work to be critiqued by the rest of the group. Projects can be novels of any genre, non-fiction books or full length plays.
FRESH VOICES
Fresh Voices is a community of playwrights who meet at GBT at 7.30pm on alternate Mondays from June to December. Each year a prompt word is given, and members write short scripts with a maximum of three characters and simple setting inspired by that prompt. At meetings we share our work and give gentle and constructive feedback, bewail our writer's block, brainstorm with the group or provide encouragement to each other. It is a safe space to share with people who understand.
In October, we invite the cream of our acting talent to come in, get the plays on their feet and provide feedback from a performance perspective.
Final versions are submitted just before Christmas so that our independent adjudicators can spend the festive period agonising over which six plays will be performed the following April.
In January, we find six directors and hold auditions. Often our writers take the plunge and try acting or directing for the first time. Whatever happens and whoever is lucky enough to have their play go into production, the rest of the group remain endlessly supportive.
Fresh Voices Rules
Scripts must:
- relate to the prompt word.
- be no longer than 20 minutes or 15 pages long.
- have no more than three characters.
- require minimal set.
Writers must not:
- have had two previous entries performed in Fresh Voices.
- have had a full-length play / murder mystery / pantomime performed by Guide Bridge Theatre.
Interested? Contact Jane at via email wordsmiths@gbtheatre.co.uk
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