WHAT WE WANT

We are looking for emerging/newcomer playwrights, poets, spoken word artists, comedians, actors (who write their own material), physical performers…etc who have something different or interesting to say and are looking to get their work out to a wider audience. The selected forty companies will perform head-to-head over four heats competing for eight places in the Grand Final. The eight winning companies will be joined by two ‘Audience Vote’ winners and these ten will battle it out on the last night for two winning places.

There are only 3 main rules for entering this Festival – that whatever you submit must be less than 5 minutes in length, it must have a narrative thread and at least either the writer, director or cast must be under 27 years old.

 

WHAT WE OFFER

The Festival is run as a competition. If you are accepted to be part of it, you will get to perform your work on the stage at the LOST Theatre on one of the heat nights. Each night, two shows will be selected by our panel of experts to play again later that week in our Grand Final. Two shows from the first four days will also be selected by audience vote using an “Online Audience Vote” based on ‘as-live’ recordings of all the pieces (taken during your dress run) available through the festival website. On the Saturday ten shows will play and the two that the panel
feel are the best will each win this year’s title and a £100 prize. The entire event will be organised by the LOST Theatre.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• A performance slot at our venue within the time period given (see schedule). The participant must get-in, perform & get-out within their time slot. The nature of the Festival means that all shows must be available to perform not only on their allocated day, but also at Saturday’s grand finale.
• A host to introduce and MC the whole evening.
• A Technical/Dress rehearsal on the days assigned for each category (see Timings). As with the performance slot allocation, this slot is not negotiable. Please ensure all cast are available and that everything required for your performance is available. This will be your only opportunity to rehearse the show in the venue prior to your performance and will also be the time your work is filmed for the on-line vote.
• A Technical Operator and Festival Manager will be present for your Technical/Dress rehearsal and performance. We do not allow outside technical staff to operate lighting. Outside technical staff may not be backstage unless by prior arrangement.
• Full administration including Publicity, Box Office and Insurance.
• Substantial discounts on our normal rehearsal room hire rates.
• Bar discount cards for all nights of performance.

We do have a preference for applicants who are able to produce their own work on stage, but we do accept scripts that are not backed by a director/producer. Please make this clear on your application form.