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Southwest Scriptwriters    

Bristol, UK's leading group for writers of drama for all media

   
     
Home > About Southwest Scriptwriters
   
 

About Southwest Scriptwriters

 
 

What is Southwest Scriptwriters?

Southwest Scriptwriters meetingSouthwest Scriptwriters is Bristol, UK's leading group for writers of drama for stage, screen, radio and television. The group meets at the Bristol Old Vic on Tuesday evenings between September and June to read aloud and discuss members' scripts with the aim of improving their chances of professional production. We programme our meetings in seasons of six, which we announce in our regular newsletter. These also feature talks by visiting writers and people who work in drama production for all media.

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What can Southwest Scriptwriters do for me?

If you are a writer, Southwest Scriptwriters offers friendly and supportive feedback to help you develop your drama scripts so that you have more chance of gaining professional productions. The group works on the principle that 'scripts are not written, they are rewritten' and we aim to inspire and encourage you through the rewriting process. Having your script read at Southwest Scriptwriters also helps you get an idea of how it will come across in performance, something that is difficult to judge when working alone.

If you are an actor, Southwest Scriptwriters is a chance to sharpen your performing skills by sight-reading scripts. It's also the place to find unusual audition pieces and be in at the start of possible productions.

For both writers and actors, Southwest Scriptwriters is an opportunity to socialise with others committed to the creation of new drama. Every meeting adjourns to a local bar giving members the chance to talk over projects in more informal surroundings.

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What writing experience do I need to join?

You don't need any writing experience or production credits to join Southwest Scriptwriters. Meetings attract writers at every level of experience and all can benefit from taking part. Members include professional dramatists, scriptwriting teachers and postgraduates in creative writing as well as beginning drama writers, all contributing to our lively and informed workshop sessions. All you need to join the group is enthusiasm for new drama writing.
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How do I join?

The easiest way to join Southwest Scriptwriters is to come to one of our meetings and ask to speak to the group's secretary, John Colborn. There's a list of the dates of upcoming meetings on our events page. If you'd like full details of our programme before coming to a meeting, you can receive one free email edition of our newsletter by clicking 'Join' and filling in the form.
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How much does it cost to join?

Members pay an annual subscription of £6, for which they receive our bimonthly newsletter. Everyone attending meetings pays £1.
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I don't live anywhere near Bristol and can't make it to your meetings; can I still join?

You can join the group without coming to meetings, but the benefits of doing so are very limited. We can't offer advice or feedback on scripts outside meetings and many of the other advantages of membership come through active involvement. Our newsletter reflects our strong regional bias and, while this is of some interest to those living beyond easy travelling distance of Bristol, we produce it specifically for those who can attend meetings.

The following websites provide lists of similar regional organisations in the UK:

If, after investigating the above lists, you feel that you would still like to join Southwest Scriptwriters, please email us.

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How do I get my script read at a Southwest Scriptwriters' meeting?

If you're new to Southwest Scriptwriters, please come along to a few meetings to get used to the workshop process before asking for a script to be read.

We programme complete script readings ahead of our six-weekly seasons and announce them in our newsletter, so you need to tell us well in advance if you have a script to be read. Please email with your script's title, its medium, a short synopsis and its approximate reading time. It's helpful if you choose readers from among members at meetings ahead of your reading to save time on the night. You should bring enough copies of your script for everyone reading to have a copy.

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What's the history of Southwest Scriptwriters?

Former members of the Bristol Playwrights' Company, an organisation with a history dating back to the early 1980s, founded Southwest Scriptwriters in 1994. The group met originally in the Cooper's Loft rehearsal room at the Bristol Old Vic and membership grew quickly to more than 100 writers and actors. Our weekly meetings currently attract an average turnout of 26 members (2004/2005).

In 1996, Catherine Johnson, then writer-in-residence at Bristol Old Vic, became the group's first honorary president. Already an established playwright and television dramatist, Catherine went on to write the script for the internationally acclaimed Abba musical, Mamma Mia!, which opened at the Prince Edward Theatre, London, in April 1999. The same year, Lucy Catherine, Bristol Old Vic's Pearson Television writer-in-residence, took over as honorary president. Lucy's plays presented by Bristol Old Vic include A Tender Prayer and Sea Life. Mike Bullen, writer of the hit ITV series Cold Feet, succeeded Lucy as honorary president in 2001. Mike joined Southwest Scriptwriters in 1999 and spoke to the group about his writing career and the creation of Cold Feet in early 2000. He moved to Australia in late 2002 and Michael Jenner, our current honorary president, took over the role in autumn 2003. Michael is a prolific television dramatist with credits including Soldier Soldier, Heartbeat, Dangerfield, Peak Practice, Holby City, Dalziel and Pascoe, and Taggart.

We presented our first season of script-in-hand performances in the New Vic Studio at the Bristol Old Vic in April 1998. Since then we have staged five more annual seasons, presenting members' work to a wider audience in the New Vic Studio until 2001, at the Tobacco Factory in 2002 and 2003, and at the Alma Tavern in 2004. Our Festival is now an established feature of Bristol's theatrical calendar, employing local actors, directors and technicians including students of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, but its continuation depends on our ability to fund it. You can find the latest news on our Festival by clicking 'New Writing Festival'.

We have been pleased to welcome guest speakers who work in all media including writers of EastEnders and The Archers. Our recent programme included talks by David Prescott, associate director at The Drum Theatre, Plymouth, and Simon Reade, Joint Artistic Director with Bristol Old Vic.

After 11 successful years, we aim to build on our established reputation, fostering and promoting new drama writers in the future.

 

Summer newsletter

Our summer newsletter is an annual review of Southwest Scriptwriters’ events, activities and achievements. It offers an update on our work and shows how members benefit from being part of the group.

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I'm looking for a script to produce; can you help me?

Yes. As well as working to develop scripts, Southwest Scriptwriters aims to connect writers with drama producers. Please email us with a brief description of the kind of script you're looking for. We might be able to suggest something immediately and, if not, we can publish your request in the next edition of our newsletter so that our writers can contact you with their ideas. We're interested in hearing from you whether you're an established drama producer for film, TV, radio or the professional theatre, or looking for something new and different for your non-professional drama company.
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