Theatre Fest West 2017

Theatre Fest West is an annual celebration of work in or about the region. Salisbury Playhouse is looking for theatre companies and writers to take part in the festival.

The festival showcases small-scale professional productions. Companies will have the opportunity to tour four Wiltshire venues: Salisbury Playhouse, The Pound, Corsham, Salisbury Arts Centre and Trowbridge Arts. Do you have a production available for touring from 10 to 25 February 2017?

Salisbury Playhouse wants to hear from theatre makers and inter-disciplinary artists who are either based in or have stories to tell about the south west. Each year the festival hosts a range of work from emerging and established theatre makers, new writing companies, inter-disciplinary artists, dance companies and artists who make work for children and families.

Jo Newman, Assistant Resident Director at Salisbury Playhouse and curator of Theatre Fest West, says, “Now in its sixth year, Theatre Fest West is an established showcase of some of the very best theatre makers from the region. We look forward to presenting another festival full of the most exciting companies from across the south west”.

Companies who have toured work for the festival include Breach Theatre, Theatre Ad Infinitum, Two Destination Language and Folio Theatre. The closing date for applications for companies and theatre makers is 9am on 1 August 2016.

The Pound in Corsham, Trowbridge Arts and Salisbury Arts Centre are all also able to offer R&D space for South West companies who will be developing new shows next February. Contact details are available on the website.

For the 2017 festival, a Theatre Fest West Writer’s Prize has been announced. The winning playwright will have their script produced by Salisbury Playhouse. The theatre is looking for full-length, original plays by writers based in, or who have a connection with the South West.

Shortlisted writers will receive a day’s research and development at Salisbury Playhouse working on the script with professional actors and a director, and a rehearsed reading of an extract will be performed as part of Theatre Fest West 2017. The writer of the winning script will receive a cash prize of £2,000 and their play will be developed and produced at Salisbury Playhouse as part of their “Original Drama” programme.The deadline for writers is 3 October 2016 at 9am.

For more information about Theatre Fest West 2017 visit Salisbury Playhouse website.

Read about Jo Newman’s experience of curating Theatre Fest West 2016 as part of the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme.

Photo: The Beanfield by Breach Theatre, Theatre Fest West 2016.