South West Writers Call Out

UPDATE: APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

Call out for South West Writers!

Are you interested in writing adaptations?

As part of Miracle’s plans to expand its creative team, it will be commissioning a writer to develop and deliver an adaptation for the company’s next summer touring production (2024).

This will be an outdoor touring show, to be performed by up a cast of 4 or 5 actors (who may play multiple characters) and set on a small pop-up stage (4m x 5m).

Adaptations of classic plays and off-beat novels figure frequently in Miracle Theatre’s programme. Past productions include novels Cat’s Cradle, The Third Policeman and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. We regularly adapt epic plays for performance by small casts, such as Shakespeare’s King Lear, Calderon’s Life’s a Dream and Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard.

Miracle’s open-air summer shows appeal to a broad audience and age range, often approaching serious themes obliquely with strong physical comedy.

Invitation

If you are interested in this project, you are invited apply for one of our 3 paid Adapting For The Stage residencies, where you will have the opportunity to meet members of the Miracle team, collaborate with a director and actors on planning and developing a short adaptation and attend rehearsals and a ‘scratch’ performance.

Selected writers will be paid a fee of £500.

The Residency

Part 1   On Tues 25^th or Weds 26^th July (4 hours – morning or afternoon)

• Discussion with the director about adapting work for the stage in general and for Miracle in particular; agreeing the brief; selecting and exploring an original text (this will be a few pages – maximum 10 minutes playing time). It could be a short story or an excerpt from longer work.

Part 2   Between 27^th July and 1^st August.

• The writer will work at home independently to produce a first draft.

Part 3   Between Mon 31^st July and Weds 2^nd Aug (2 x 4 hour sessions)

• The writer will participate with the director and actors in rehearsal of the adapted the scene(s). There will be time between sessions to allow for re-writes.

Part 4  On Thurs 3^rd August (All day)

• Final rehearsal and performance of the 3 adaptations in front of a small invited audience.

Food and refreshment will be provided.

How to Apply

Please send your CV with a short (1 page) sample of a script that you have written (on any subject) and a paragraph on why you’re interested in working with Miracle.

Submission Form

Deadline: 9am Monday 17^th July 2023.