The last few years have seen KDC Theatre’s new writing programme grow and develop into a fantastic resource for people interested in directing, in hearing new work, and especially in showcasing their own stuff.
And we are always evolving our programme to offer more writers with opportunities to have their original work developed and performed. We want to help writers get started, finish works that have been lying around for a while, and get their work in front of audiences.
So we need writers. We need plays. We need spirit and poetry and life and stories spilled out onto paper, imagination captured on a word processor, and tales that need to be told.
What sort of things do we do?
The KDC Theatre New Writing programme has several outlets which may appeal to writers wanting to showcase and experiment with new work.
New writing PROGRAMME
The KDC Theatre New Writing Programme aims to support writers in developing their work and to foster new work for productions. The group meets monthly for workshops facilitated by the New Writing Coordinator, and produces a rehearsed readings event at the end of the term.
The monthly workshops consist of 5 things:
- Develop existing work further
- Inspire new writing through exercises and briefs
- Teach writing techniques and dramaturgy
- Provide peer-to-peer reviews of new work
- Provide a support network of other writers
The New Writing Programme is for writers of all levels; absolute beginners that have yet to have their work staged, to seasoned writers that are looking for that push and support of other writers to finish the drafts that have been gathering dust in their WIP folders.
The Writing Programme runs for 6 months, from KDC Theatre’s autumn season till the spring season.
For more information and signing up, visit the New Writing Programme page, or reach out to our New Writing Coordinator via our contact page.
The Full stack project
The Full Stack project starts with a new writing competition for 10-minute shorts around a set theme, for 1 or 2 or 3 actors. The brief usually goes out in January, with submissions closing in March.
The writing competition is then followed by an anthology show of the winning scripts, in July – staged in one of the venues KDC Theatre work with in London.
Writing workshops
If you’re not up for a full programme of sessions, you can join the KDC Theatre writing workshops. Each workshop will cover a specific set of topics to support writers in further developing their work and skills. The workshops are also a great way to get a taster of what the full programme will be like, and as an opportunity to sharpen your pens for the Full Stack competition!
Details of the next workshops will be shared via our Showdown newsletter and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
New Writing full shows
We are enthusiastic and very willing to put on full length productions of entirely new scripts. If you think your script is right for this level of commitment, then it can be submitted for selection in one of our seasons.
We do ask that you find yourself a director to pitch it with- see Directing With KDC. If you cannot find a director, please reach out to us via our contact form so we can discuss options.
But I’ve never written anything!
Theatre starts with a script. A script starts with an idea. Ideas come from the imaginations of writers.
That’s a bit intimidating though.
People often ask how to start writing. There is no right thing to do, but there is one thing that never works, one very common thing that will absolutely not help – and that is to do nothing. To think about it, to worry, to wait for that killer idea… but never actually write anything. If you want to write, write. Your first thing will be rubbish. Your second thing will be rubbish. Your third thing will be rubbish, but maybe a little less so. If you want to write – write, and eventually if you do it enough, it will become a thing that you can do.
If you’re interested or want to learn more, write to our New Writing Coordinator via our contact page or join our New Writing Programme.