Play Development Bursary
Applications are currently closed
Applications are currently closed
About
Deadline for applications: 1pm, Friday 26th April 2024.
Play Development Bursaries are an opportunity for playwrights based in Scotland to receive financial and practical support to create the first draft of a new play.
The aim of the bursary is to help create space for playwrights to invest, with momentum, in a new piece of work up to first draft stage. It is a chance for them to experiment and to spend time with an idea that they might not otherwise be able to explore.
Open to early career and professional playwrights, each bursary offers financial support, space, Case Study Sessions, development, and community support over the course of a year to help you create your next play.
Content
Financial support
£3,634 (This is equivalent to a first draft fee under the Scottish Society of Playwrights/Federation of Scottish Theatre commissioning agreement).
Space
A week-long writing retreat at Cove Park or equivalent venue for space to work on the script. Playwrights’ Studio will cover travel expenses and provide a daily allowance for food and refreshments.
Access to a desk in the Tom McGrath Writers’ Room in the CCA is available on request for the duration of the Bursary.
Case Study Sessions
The Case Study Sessions are group activities available to you as a playwright currently being supported by Playwrights’ Studio. They are designed to enhance your skills and knowledge of the theatre industry, give you the opportunity to ask questions and think about the other sides of being a playwright that don’t necessarily involve writing.
Development
Three two-hour sessions with either an Associate Playwright or an external theatre professional. Support will be tailored to focus on whatever you feel you need to best develop your script.
A one-day script development workshop with a professional director and actors.
Community
Playwrights’ Studio will create space for you to make connections with peers within the industry. This includes a group visit to the theatre, invitations to meet other practitioners in Scottish theatre and social events with other playwrights.
Key dates
You will be able to set specific dates for your individual dramaturgical support sessions around your own availability and the rate at which your work progresses. We ask that writers apply only if they anticipate being able to complete the bursary by 31st May 2025. Case Study Sessions happen around once a month.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a Play Development Bursary, you should:
Have had at least one professional production paid at industry rates. You might have had a play produced by a theatre company or have produced your own work.
and/or
Have experience of being the writer in the room, developing your work in a workshop environment, through rehearsed readings or working with others to improve your skills.
and
Have at least two pieces of work written for the stage that you can share with us, each at least fifteen pages in length.
You should also:
Be normally resident in Scotland.
Anticipate being able to complete a Play Development Bursary by 31st May 2025.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from playwrights who:
Are in full-time formal education (i.e. 16 hours or more per week). If you are in part-time education, please contact us to discuss your options.
Have directly received support from Playwrights' Studio in the previous 18 months (this doesn’t include attending workshops or groups run by us).
If you are in any doubt regarding your eligibility, please contact us at info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk.
Access & Equality
See our full statement on access and equality.
End of Project Reporting
Upon completion of the bursary, you will be asked to complete a short evaluation and will have a final debrief with our Creative Director.
Applying
The application process is deliberately brief. The bulk of the application is a series of short statements telling us about you and your experience of being the writer in a script development scenario, what you want to achieve through the programme, and the play you would like to write.
Here are a few things you may want to think about before you proceed with your application:
If you have recently been through a similar development process with a play, you may not be prioritised in the selection process. This might include undertaking a Masters or other programme where you were supported to write a full play.
Your dramaturg will support you from the initial idea through to the first draft of a full-length play. For this reason, you should only apply if the idea you're proposing hasn't already been written
As part of your application, we ask that you upload two 15-page samples of your writing. This should be plays only and from two different plays.
Please submit using the Play Development Bursary Application form. You can either submit a written application, or a video application. We accept submissions in English, Scots, Gaelic or BSL.
If you are unable to submit online and would like the application form in a different format, or have any questions at all regarding or the application process, please email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk.
Application deadline: 1pm, Friday 26th April 2024.
What happens next?
You will receive an email from JotForm confirming the submission of your application. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their submission no later than Friday 31st May 2024.
Questions?
Our Frequently Asked Questions page may help with your query. If your question is not answered by this page, please email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk and we will be happy to help.