Sussex Playwrights Newsletter
June meeting and May report

Networking, news and great conversation for writers of new stage, screen, radio and online drama, actors and anyone who loves to read, hear and talk about new writing.

From the Chair

We hope you’re enjoying this lovely May – here in Brighton, the 2017 Brighton Festival / Fringe is very nearly at an end. This year, quite a few Committee members, SP members and friends have been deeply involved in Fringe productions, including:

Protect and Survive
Produced by Simon Moorhead, TBC Audio [committee member]
Written by Jonathan Williamson
Directed by Thomas Everchild [secretary]
Featuring Philippa Hammond [chair]
**** – Fringe Guru / ‘Recommended’ – Fringe Review

Happily Never After
The Maydays, Featuring Jenny Rowe [committee member]
***** – Broadway Baby

When Love Grows Old
Written by Giles Cole [twice winner of the Constance Cox competition]
*** – Fringe Guru / ‘Highly Recommended’ – Fringe Review

Sussex Playwrights Reviews

We’ve also started to publish our own reviews of productions – you can see some of our Fringe reviews here: www.sussexplaywrights.co.uk/?submit=Search&s=Reviews

We’ll be bringing you more reviews of new theatre, audio and film drama in future. If you’d like us to review your upcoming production in Brighton, Hove or the surrounding area, please contact us with details and we can discuss.

Email: chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk

4th June Meeting

New Venture Theatre Bar 7.30

2016-17 Constance Cox playwriting competition event

Plus networking, members’ and friends’ news and Fringe roundup

Now the Fringe is nearly over, we’re turning our attention back to the 2016-17 Constance Cox playwriting competition: www.sussexplaywrights.co.uk/competition

We published our long list of twelve plays on the website a couple of months ago:

Cash
Distortion
Listening
Once in a Lifetime
Out of Darkness
Pass Words
Rock and Chips
Storm in a League Cup
The Other Apprentice
The Teaswell Incident
The Woman in Black II
Will

June’s meeting will feature the Constance Cox competition First Three Pages live event.

Those first few pages of any script are a vital hook to the reader.

Do they capture attention, keep interest and spark the desire to read on?

At Sunday’s meeting we’ll be presenting some live First Three Pages readings from the twelve long listed plays for discussion and feedback.

Please do come along and join in on Sunday – your comments on the night will form part of the final decision-making process.

All welcome – Free to members, £2 to visitors on the night [including discussion and drinks]

Entries are also being read by professional audio drama producer, Simon Moorhead.

We’ll bring you news as soon as the winners are decided.

The organisers reserve the right to withdraw or add further prizes at their discretion.

For your diary

Shooters in the Pub – free monthly film makers’ networking event [screenwriters, producers, directors, actors and crew in conversation] on Monday June 5th 7.30 Duke’s at Komedia bar

May meeting report – Special guest William Nicholson

A-list screenwriter, playwright and novelist [Gladiator, Shadowlands, Les Miserables]
Report by Simon Jenner here: www.sussexplaywrights.co.uk/may-meeting-william-nicholson

Follow and share

In addition to the newsletter you can follow us on Social Media for up-to-date information, writing opportunities, news and announcements.

If you can’t come along to the June meeting to talk about your latest news, please email it to us to be included on social media, in meeting announcements and the next newsletter.

‘Like’ the Sussex Playwrights Facebook Page for the latest news and links

www.facebook.com/sussexplaywrights

Follow us on Twitter @PlaywrightsClub

Work in progress or for sharing

We’re looking to members and guests to take an active part in future meetings and showcase their work.

• If you’d like to read or perform an excerpt from your latest fiction or non fiction at a future meeting for discussion [10 minute slots]
• If you’d prefer to have us arrange for someone to read it for you, if you’re happier writing than speaking [10 minute slots]
• If you’d like to have actors read an excerpt from your latest script in progress for discussion [10 minute slots]
• If you’re an actor who’d like to read
• If you have a longer script you’d like considered for rehearsed reading / discussion

Please contact us chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk

See you there!

Philippa Hammond [Chair], Thomas Everchild [Secretary] and the committee

 

The last meeting of the 2016-17 season, before the April AGM

Discussion of members’ news was dominated by this month’s Hove Grown festival, featuring many members and their writing, directing and performing work, including:

Rose Collis, Philippa Hammond and Thomas Everchild: ‘The Trials of Colonel Barker’

Murray Hecht: ‘Fit For Work’

Tony Briginshaw:’Anaphylactic Shock’ and ‘Two Controversial Short Stories’

Judy Upton: ‘Cast Iron IX’

Rob Cohen: ‘Men Without Friends’

Simon Fortune: ‘Meebles Get The Show On The Road’

Details of the Hove Grown festival events, dates, venues and tickets at www.hovegrown.org.uk

Work in progress or for sharing

The March meeting was a members’ writing evening of rehearsed readings and discussions:

Sussex Playwrights Two Plays March 2017

One Touch by Steven Lancefield
featuring:
Shirley Jaffe
Poppy Manley
Sorcha Brooks

Sorcha Brooks is introducing Poppy Manley’s new mental health nurse to their problem patient, rather hastily. You’ll be fine’ she briskly reassures the young recruit, a mental health nurse whose first challenge this is.

Carol’s an old widow black widow in a black shawl… Shirley Jaffe’s cowled cackling’s like a panto witch whose identity’s been veiled in NHS-speak. Jaffe talks of how little Manley’s been told about her, how indeed everything changes on touch. Carol says by touch she can transmit madness, dares Manley’s new nurse to allow her to touch her.

Since Carol has the power of transference, not of grace, but of contamination: her irrational gestures are of course no match for Manley’s training, Manley asserts. Jaffe’s Carol dares her to touch, if she’s so certain. What Manley does, and how she confronts Brooks evince a chilling outcome: is this is spooky or how mental contamination of any belief asks what irrationality it is in us that can catch it? Anyone.

Steven Lancefield’s expertly tailored play is more than compact: it’s a perfectly-crafted fable on paranoia, a certain kind of malign sufferer (those who work in mental health know this) whose challenge to infect demands consequences of reason, unreason and our own vaunted sanities. Who is mad? In just fifteen minutes, Lancefield has unpacked a series of Russian doll baboushkas shawled with venom in fixed grins.

Brooks’ small part is consummate administrator with a flinch of something else s she breezily sweeps Carol’s challenges under a thick utility carpet; it’s chilling in itself, and Brooks catches that recognizable dismissal some NHS administrators bring. Manley carefully calibrates fragile even petulant professionalism gradually to panic. Jaffe’s venomous crone – this is someone who can appear so seraphic on TV – scrunches delight in her machinations: a measured poison-tree dripping its leprous distilment. Lancefield’s play is consummately worthy of their talents. It was all over in under twelve minutes. A perfect radio play for the Radio 4 Woman’s Hour slot – or indeed anywhere else on the network.

The Neverland Singularity by Thomas Everchild
featuring:
Thomas Everchild
Philippa Hammond

‘You know I had that Bertrand Russell in the back of my cab once, and I asked him well what’s it all about, and you know he couldn’t tell me.’ Maybe it’s urban myth out of stand-up; it probably happened.

There’s a couple of 2005 radio plays by poet Sean O’Brien exploring that perennial British fantasy: a working cabby or labourer confronted with a philosopher who then doesn’t just out-argue them, but shows a thorough knowledge and grounding in their works.

Whilst the mythical cabby pops the question our common sense wants to ask of inductive reasoning, and trounce it, O’Brien takes his cues from historical events. Everchild delights in that perennial the cabby bit does something else again: brings a sexual dynamic: man-in-the-street put-down meets chat-up.

Philippa Hammond is beautifully priggish, asking directions to the conference. Everchild works this out, the science one. He begins questioning Hammond simply, and Hammond does a fine job of registering off-hand impatience gradually assaulted by Everchild’s gift of chirpy petulance, nagging and irritating Hammond into losing her temper but not her reason: she can’t shut down the cabby’s maddening rationality. Each question builds up questions of stellar singularities and astro-physics, which Everchild increasingly shows he understands well in outline. Hammond’s character drops hauteur for mild outrage, but is hooked; her training, initially dismissive of stupid questions, can’t cope with left-field informed ones. This sparring reaches a catharsis and an unexpected (hoped-for) conclusion.

It’s a perfect ten-minute play, ideal for radio like Lancefield’s. Lighter by far in tone, it’s packed with clever interrogatives and leaves us a bit more enlightened on astral physics as well as cultural sexual politics.

Simon Jenner

Sunday Feb 5th 2017 7:00 – 9.00 pm

Special guest – Brighton screenwriter James Payne

News, networking for writers, producers, actors and those who love new drama – and good conversation

Special Guest Speaker Brighton based screenwriter James Payne was in conversation
with Philippa, followed by a lively Q and A session.

James discussed his early days as a drama student in Brighton writing and performing
comedy at the Zincbar cabaret night, and his move into writing sketch comedy for Ant and
Dec. We heard about his experiences as a key scriptwriter on East Enders, winning the
2015 British Soap Awards Best Single Episode for the East Enders 30th Anniversary live
episode.

James also talked about his work as a scriptwriter on Hooten and The Lady [which he co-created], Mr Selfridge, Death in Paradise, Hustle, Ashes to Ashes, The Musketeers and many more.

James is also a trustee of Brighton Open Air Theatre – he talked about Adrian Bunting,
whose dream of a permanent open air theatre was realised by his friends following his
untimely death.

Thank you to James for a terrific evening, great insights and advice to aspiring TV writers.

Read more about James and his work here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1600439/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

Website news

The Sussex Playwrights website has relaunched following a major overhaul, with a new
address, new look and user-friendly mobile responsive format.

Our new address is www.sussexplaywrights.co.uk

We’re currently migrating the content over from the original site and it’s growing every
week.

Meanwhile, do let us know if there is anything you’d like featured on the new site.

Thank you to Ian Black for all your work creating and maintaining the original website – much appreciated!  The Committee and Members.

Members’ and Friends’ news

Christine Foster Cliffhanger Productions presented the return of their hugely successful
Pub Theatre event Mixed Doubles in Rottingdean this month. They’ll be producing more
short play evenings this year – news as it comes. Follow them on Facebook facebook.com/thecliffhangercompany

Robert Cohen presents Men Without Friends, his trio of solo shows. High Vis, Something Rotten and The Trials of Harvey Matusow can all be seen in March at the Hove Grown Festival. Details at http://www.hovegrown.org.uk/events/theatre/

Rose Collis’ latest work, The Trials of Colonel Barker, her Arts Council-supported
adaptation of her own book Col Barker’s Monstrous Regiment, will receive a rehearsed
reading at the Purple Playhouse as part of the Hove Grown festival on Sunday March 26th 8pm. Thomas Everchild will direct and the cast will include Rose Collis, Philippa
Hammond, Guy Wah and Keith Drinkel. Details at http://www.hovegrown.org.uk/events/theatre/

Rose is also giving a talk on Colonel Barker Sunday 5 March, 2pm. Jubilee Library,
Conference Room 3, Jubilee St, Brighton BN1 1GE (fully accessible). Tickets £5, advance – booking recommended: www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/165580

Tony Briginshaw’s play Anaphylactic Shock, read at the January meeting, is performed
during Hove Grown on March 25th. Details at http://sw.tickets.red61.com/performances.php?eventId=18:1098

Philippa Hammond and Thomas Everchild are collaborating with Simon Moorhead on
the new stage production Protect and Survive at the Brighton Fringe in May.. Details at https://sw.tickets.red61.com/performances.php?eventId=18:978

Next meeting: Sunday March 5th 2017

An evening of rehearsed readings and discussions of members’ short plays

Sussex Playwrights February meeting and January report

Contents

February meeting – special guest James Payne
Constance Cox playwriting competition latest – reading committee now recruiting
Members’ and Friends’ news
Follow and share
January meeting – play reading and discussion report
Arts Council funding
Work in progress and for sharing

February meeting preview
Sunday February 5th 7- 9pm at the New Venture Theatre bar Brighton

Special Guest Speaker Brighton based screenwriter James Payne.

Winner of the 2015 British Soap Awards Best Single Episode for the East
Enders 30th Anniversary live episode.

James will talk about his work as a scriptwriter on Hooten and The Lady [which he co-created], East Enders, Mr Selfridge, Death in Paradise, Hustle, Ashes to Ashes, The Musketeers and many more.

James is also a trustee of Brighton Open Air Theatre.

Read more about James and his work here:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1600439/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm

Call for work in progress Do you have a ten minute or so sketch, script or excerpt from your work that you’d like to hear read at the February meeting? We’re always interested in presenting rehearsed readings of members and visitors work for discussion.

Do let us know at chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk or call Philippa the current chair on 07017 037590.

Meeting details

News, networking for writers, producers, actors and those who love new drama – and good conversation
Wine or juice
Free to members, visitors £2 per person.
Please could you let us know if you’ll be coming along, and if you’ll be bringing a guest? chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk

Constance Cox playwriting competition

Latest The competition is now closed [deadline was New Year’s Eve 2016].
We’re delighted to tell you that we’ve had over forty entries so far, including scripts from Japan, Malta, Canada, Russia and the USA.
We’ve started accepting payment via PayPal too, which makes it much easier if you no longer have a chequebook or don’t use sterling.

Competition reading committee

Thank you to those members who’ve volunteered to join the play reading committee to decide the winners. More will be welcome – If you’d like to be a reader, please let us know. chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk

If you’ve submitted a script, you will now be eligible to join the committee!

We’ll be having a committee members’ meeting soon.

Scripts are submitted and forwarded as PDFs via email, rather than print copies.

Rules

We invited writers to submit a half hour radio play in the thriller / mystery genre for 2-6 actors. The writers of the top three plays will receive rehearsed readings and recordings of their plays as well as cash prizes.

All entries will be read by professional audio drama producer, Simon Moorhead

Full details, advice and prizes: www.sussexplaywrights.com/competitions/constance-cox-competition-2016-closes-31-december-2016

Website news

The Sussex Playwrights website is currently having a major overhaul and will be reborn shortly with a new address, new look and user-friendly format. We’ll let you know as soon as it comes online.

Thank you to Ian Black for all your work creating and maintaining the original website – much appreciated! The Committee and Members.

Members’ and Friends’ news

Judy Upton A video of her short story in the SISF Ghost Story Competition: Writing on the Wall Halloween reading http://youtu.be/5qJrQ_eEKlw

Christine Foster

Hit Pub Theatre returns to Rottingdean! MIXED DOUBLES is BACK by POPULAR DEMAND For THREE NIGHTS ONLY. We’re writing to everyone who came out and enjoyed Cliffhanger Production’s Mixed Doubles in October, to let you know that we’re reprising our opening programme of ten-minute plays:
How Nice Of You To Ask, Dragonflies, Goat, The Ladies’ Loo and Epiphany. This delightful evening is the perfect antidote to the winter blues, and still a bargain at just £5! We hope you’ll spread the word and tell anyone who missed it that there’s one last chance to see this great show. And as always, book early as seating is limited!

February 9th, 10th, and 11th at 8pm Doors open at 7:30
Tickets are on sale right now: online at https://ticketsource.co.uk/mdr or in person at MadWax Candles on Rottingdean High St.

We will also be announcing our all-new programme of ten-minute plays in time for Spring, so be sure to follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/thecliffhangercompany) and remember… a lot can happen in ten minutes!”

Philippa Hammond appeared in a series of podcast audio dramas by Peter Gardiner of Two Bit Productions. The latest new drama The Everyman is online now. A dark mystery surrounds a world-changing experiment to launch the first time traveller. Hear it here: http://www.twobitproductions.com/podcast/

Rose Collis‘ latest work, her Arts Council-supported adaptation of her own book ‘Col Barker’s Monstrous Regiment,’ will receive a rehearsed reading at the Purple Playhouse as part of the Hove Grown festival on Sunday March 26th 8pm. Thomas Everchild will direct and the cast will include Rose Collis, Philippa Hammond, Guy Wah and Keith Drinkel.

Meanwhile Rose will also be giving a talk on the Colonel and the new play Tuesday 28th February 12.10 – 12.50 at Worthing Library. Free event, just drop in.

Competitions

We’ve heard about the Yeovil Literary Prize for poetry and prose – details here: http://www.yeovilprize.co.uk/

Constance Cox

Paul Tomkies is directing Constance Cox’s adaptation of Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime at Medway Little Theatre in Rochester in April. He’s preparing an article about her for the programme and front of house display and have found some very interesting pieces. He couldn’t find a photo – but Trevor Harvey pointed him at The Keep, where Trevor sent our 80 year long archive. Thank you from to Trevor from Paul, who will send us a copy of the article.

Please send us all your latest news either to chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk or to the Facebook Page.

January meeting review

Featured a rehearsed reading of: ‘Anaphylactic Shock’ a short play by Tony Briginshaw with Cherie Cherie, Anita Gilson, Thomas Everchild, Philippa Hammond and guest actors Lucy Mepsted and John Dutton.

Post-reading discussion with audience, actors and the playwright.

Notes by Judy Upton:
Thomas felt that the writer’s strong feelings about the state of the NHS and the unjustified rewards reaped by those at the top came across powerfully in the piece.
Rebecca felt a little more research was needed in places, as slight inconsistencies at times made her doubt the narrative voice. Thomas added that when a play is so issue-based it needs underpinning with strong research.
Anita and Andrew both thought that the phrase in the play ‘lessons will be learnt’ was key as it is now so often used it has become trite and nebulous. It was suggested by Andrew that it might be a better title for the play.
The deaths of the consultant and CEO drew mixed reactions. Simon felt the two ex-nurses should’ve done more to help. Matt thought it would be good to see more of the consultant and CEO becoming victims of their own policies, e.g. long wait for an ambulance. Rebecca suggested the tone could be more that of a dystopian nightmare as in ‘Black Mirror’.
People generally found the topicality of the play refreshing and stimulating of debate.

 

Work in progress or for sharing

We’re looking to members and guests to take an active part in meetings and showcase their work.

If you’d like to read or perform an excerpt from your latest fiction or non fiction at a meeting for discussion [10 minute slots]

If you’d prefer to have us arrange for someone to read it for you, if you’re happier writing than speaking [10 minute slots]

If you’d like to have actors read an excerpt from your latest script in progress for discussion [10 minute slots]

If you’re an actor who’d like to read

If you have a longer script you’d like considered for rehearsed reading / discussion

Please contact us

Regards

Philippa Hammond [Chair], Thomas Everchild [Secretary] and the committee

Sussex Playwrights January meeting and December Christmas report

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2017

January meeting preview
Sunday January 8th 7- 9pm at the New Venture Theatre bar Brighton
Featuring a rehearsed reading of: ‘Anaphylactic Shock’ a short play by Tony Briginshaw with Cherie, Anita, Thomas, Philippa and guest actors Lucy Mepsted and John Dutton
Post reading discussion with audience, actors and playwright
Wine or juice
News, networking for writers, producers, actors and those who love new drama – and good conversation
Free to members, guests £2 per person.
Please could you let us know if you’ll be coming along, and if you’ll be bringing a guest? chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk

Constance Cox playwriting competition news
The competition is now closed [deadline New Year’s Eve 2016].
We’re delighted to tell you that we’ve had over thirty entries so far, including scripts from Japan, Malta, Canada, Russia and the USA.
Competition reading committee: We’ll be needing a play reading committee from January to decide the winners. If you would like to be a reader, please let us know. chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk
Note – if you’ve submitted a script, you won’t be eligible to join the committee!
Rules: We invited you to submit a half hour radio play in the thriller / mystery genre for 2-6 actors. The writers of the top three plays will receive rehearsed readings and recordings of their plays as well as cash prizes.
All entries will be read by a professional producer.
Full details, advice and prizes: www.sussexplaywrights.com/competitions/constance-cox-competition-2016-closes-31-december-2016

Members’ and Friends’ news
Christine Foster Cliffhanger’s highly successful Mixed Doubles, an evening of five ten minute plays produced by Christine, featuring our friends Paul Moriarty and Margot Jobbins in Autumn 2016, is back again by popular demand on 19/20/21 January at the Coach House, Rottingdean. Details at https://en-gb.facebook.com/thecliffhangercompany/

Philippa Hammond appeared in a series of podcast audio dramas by Peter Gardiner of Two Bit Productions. You can hear one of the new dramas Swim Through the Dark here: http://www.twobitproductions.com/podcast/

Rose Collis’ latest work, her Arts Council-supported adaptation of her own book ‘Col Barker’s Monstrous Regiment,’ will receive a rehearsed reading at the Purple Playhouse as part of the Hove Grown festival in March – dates TBA.
Meanwhile she will also be giving a talk on the Colonel and the new play Tuesday 28th February 12.10 – 12.50 at Worthing Library. Free event, just drop in.

Please send us all your latest news either to chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk or to the Facebook Page.

Follow and share
In addition to the newsletter you can follow us on Social Media for up-to-date information, writing opportunities, news and announcements.
If you can’t come along to the January meeting to talk about your latest news, please email it to us to be included on social media, in meeting announcements and the next newsletter.

Like’ the Sussex Playwrights Facebook Page for the latest news and links www.facebook.com/sussexplaywrights
Follow us on Twitter @PlaywrightsClub

Christmas meeting report
Thomas created, produced and ran a fun competition in two parts – a photo section [spot the celebrity dressed as Santa Claus] followed by a fiendish theatre/film question quiz. The book token prizes were won by Rob Cohen, guest actor/reader John Dutton and Judy Upton.

Readings from Cherie Cherchie [Poem – The Christmas Truce], Rob Cohen [The Secret Life of Walter Mitty] and Anita Gilson [a pair of her own seasonal poems].

Short play reading – The Christmas Goat by Judy Upton, with John Dutton, Philippa Hammond – and Thomas Everchild as Noises Off …

Members’ and friends’ news and announcements, followed by an authoritative discussion led by Rose and Christine on the practicalities for writers applying for Arts Council funding to develop and produce their work.

Rose writes:

‘At the moment, and for the next few years, ACE are going to look kindly on writers/performers who
aren’t based in London (that’s big one right there – up until recently, London groups/venues were receiving about 60% of all ACE funding!) are based in other East Sussex places that aren’t Brighton
meet its priority criteria of being about, or for, women, LGBT people, BAME people, people with disabilities. Also work that encourages people who don’t usually go to theatres to attend.

‘Public engagement’ is also another big thing: be it Q&As after shows, workshops or pre-show talks.

As I said on Sunday, it’s all there in the ACE guidelines, and it’s made very clear.

In my experience, most of the people who complain about not being able to get ACE funding tend to be those who
don’t read the guidelines
read them, but don’t follow them
read them but think they don’t apply to them
think they are entitled to funding.

Deserving we might be, but none of us are entitled to it…’

2017 Preview

February – guest speaker Brighton screenwriter James Payne will talk about his work as a scriptwriter on East Enders, Hooten and The Lady, Mr Selfridge, The Musketeers and many more.

March – beginning the top three competition play readings.

Work in progress or for sharing

We’re looking to members and guests to take an active part in meetings and showcase their work.

If you’d like to read or perform an excerpt from your latest fiction or non fiction at a meeting for discussion [10 minute slots]

If you’d prefer to have us arrange for someone to read it for you, if you’re happier writing than speaking [10 minute slots]

If you’d like to have actors read an excerpt from your latest script in progress for discussion [10 minute slots]

If you’re an actor who’d like to read

If you have a longer script you’d like considered for rehearsed reading / discussion

Please contact us

Regards

Philippa Hammond [Chair], Thomas Everchild [Secretary] and the committee

Sussex Playwrights December Christmas meeting and November meeting report

Christmas meeting preview

Sunday December 11th 7- 9pm at the New Venture Theatre bar Brighton
Featuring
Reading: ‘The Christmas Goat,’ a short play by Judy Upton
Seasonal readings by members: Poetry, drama, non fiction, a story … if you’d like to do a reading, either from your own writing or a classic you love, please let us know in advance for timings. chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk
The Traditional Christmas Prize Quiz
Wine, juice and nibbles
News, networking and good conversation
Free to members, guests £2 per person.
Please could you let us know if you will be coming along, and if you will be bringing a guest?

Follow and share

In addition to the newsletter you can follow us on Social Media for up-to-date information, writing opportunities, news and announcements.
If you can’t come along to the Christmas party to talk about your latest news, please email it to us to be included on social media, in meeting announcements and the next newsletter.

Like’ the Sussex Playwrights Facebook Page for the latest news and links www.facebook.com/sussexplaywrights
Follow us on Twitter @PlaywrightsClub

Constance Cox playwriting competition

We’ve had 18 entries so far, including scripts from Japan, Malta and the USA.
Deadline: New Year’s Eve (Midnight December 31st GMT)
Rules: We’re inviting you to submit a half hour radio play in the thriller / mystery genre for 2-6 actors. You can have more characters with actors doubling. Supernatural or comedy elements are OK.
The writers of the top three plays will receive rehearsed readings and recordings of their plays as well as cash prizes.
All entries will be read by a professional producer.
Full details, advice and prizes: www.sussexplaywrights.com/competitions/constance-cox-competition-2016-closes-31-december-2016
Competition reading committee: We’ll be needing a play reading committee from January to decide the winners. If you would like to be a reader, please let us know.

Members’ and Friends’ news

Christine Foster Cliffhanger’s highly successful Mixed Doubles, an evening of five ten minute plays produced by Christine, featuring Paul Moriarty and Margot Jobbins, is back again by popular demand on 19/20/21 January at the Coach House, Rottingdean.
Details at https://en-gb.facebook.com/thecliffhangercompany/

Rob Cohen appeared in The Ugly One at the Rialto, and his own acclaimed solo show The Trials of Harvey Matusow, in association with the University of Sussex.

Simon Moorhead has delivered the final set of episodes of his Brighton-made audio drama series, after months of sound effects, dialogue edit and music composition.

Thomas Everchild co-wrote one of the short films featured in The Big Brighton Film Challenge this month. The films will be appearing on Latest TV in due course.

Philippa Hammond appeared in one of the challenge films, Ruby, which was shown at the December Moviebar short film event, and is appearing in a series of podcast audio dramas by Peter Gardiner of Two Bit Productions, recorded in November and currently in post production.

Please send us all your latest news either to chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk or to the Facebook Page.

November meeting report

Lively discussions and sharing ideas and information on …
the general popularity of ten minute scripts
how to find young male actors
applying for Arts Council grants
free Brighton Fringe Academy workshops for people interested in producing at the Fringe https://www.brightonfringe.org/fringe-academy
the Brighton Theatre of the Air

Guests

Guy Wah from ZLS Theatre and Sarah Johnson from Sweet Venues gave a presentation on Brighton and Hove’s own new festival of new drama, Hove Grown. We heard about how Hove Grown came to be, how writers, producers and performers can book their events into the festival and just what the organisers are looking for.

First launched in 2016, Guy and Sarah are now planning the next festival in March 2017. Registration is now open – Philippa and Thomas represented Sussex Playwrights at the launch party in November.

If you’re interested in taking part, full details and contact information are at www.hovegrown.org.uk

Reading

‘Virgins Anonymous’ by Tim Coakley. A solo piece – a member of Virgins Anonymous rings the help desk to announce her proud retirement from the organisation. Read by Philippa, members and visitors discussed the piece afterwards.

Future events for 2017

The new year will see:
January: Reading and judging the Constance Cox competitionm then ongoing readings and recordings of the winning plays with Brighton actors.
January: A reading of new a play by Tony Briginshaw – we’ll be needing readers. Please let me know if you would like to read. chair@sussexplaywrights.co.uk
Guest speakers will include Brighton’s own James Payne in February. James’ TV scripts have featured on Death in Paradise, The Musketeers, Mr Selfridge.and Hooten and the Lady [which he co-created].

Work in progress or for sharing

We’re looking to members and guests to take an active part in meetings and showcase their work.
If you’d like to read or perform an excerpt from your latest fiction or non fiction at a meeting for discussion [10 minute slots]

If you’d prefer to have us arrange for someone to read it for you, if you’re happier writing than speaking [10 minute slots]

If you’d like to have actors read an excerpt from your latest script in progress for discussion [10 minute slots]

If you’re an actor who’d like to read

If you have a longer script you’d like considered for rehearsed reading / discussion

Please contact us