Playwrights Studio Scotland

Based in Glasgow and funded by the Scottish Arts Council, the Playwrights' Studio is a national organisation which aims to directly engage the public with new playwriting and to raise the standards of plays being written and performed to the public.

The Playwrights' Studio works in partnership with theatres, writers' groups and various other organisations to bring new plays to the public as well as allowing people the opportunity to engage with playwrighting through a wide range of activities.

For the most part, the Playwrights' Studio works with playwrights living and working in Scotland and Scottish playwrights based elsewhere in the UK, and provides them with access to resources and activities at all stages of their careers. The Playwrights' Studio also works closely with artists, theatres and theatre companies to both promote and raise the standard of new work.

Activities and initiatives

The Playwrights' Studio has set up many activities and initiatives to help and encourage playwrights. Included in these are the mentoring scheme and 'Evolve'.

Each year, less experienced playwrights are teamed up with an experienced playwright who will act as a mentor to help them develop their work. Six writers will be mentored this year - Robyn Hunt, Maryam Hamidi, Raman Mundair, Martin Travers, Eleanor Stewart and Caroline Campbell. The mentors for 2005/6 are Associate Playwrights Chris Hannan, Peter Arnott and John Clifford. To learn more about the mentoring scheme, please contact the Playwrights' Studio's Creative Director, Julie Ellen, on 0141 332 4403.

'Evolve' is a programme which has been set up to help non-produced playwrights who are at the beginning of their playwriting career. Leading theatre professionals work with the Playwrights' Studio to provide directorial support, advice and training on the development of selected plays which are then performed to certain public and professional groups around Scotland.

To find out more about these and other initiatives and activities, please visit the Playwrights' Studio website.

Ignite your Inspiration! - National playwriting competition

IGNITE is a national playwriting competition which aims to find new undiscovered voices for the Scottish stage. Entrants are asked to write a short play scene, using a contemporary piece of literature as inspiration (not an adaptation of the original source).

The closing date for entries is 31 August, and winners will receive six months focused dramaturgical and directorial support as well as help in developing their scene into a full length play. For further information and to download an entry pack, please visit the Playwrights' Studio website.