Write HereNew Writing Festival 16-24 April

Many years ago, when I was a dishwasher, I sent my first script to the Traverse Theatre Literary Department unsolicited. Their skill and professionalism nurtured the script, and me, through the long and torturous process of development that led it to the stage. About two years later, the play opened to great acclaim at the Edinburgh Festival. It then transferred to the National Theatre in London and eventually the West End. For a complete novice and outsider in the world of theatre, all of its success was down to the help and advice I received from the staff in this theatre. I have never had to wash dishes since. Now, I eat off a brand new, bone china plate at every meal.

Gregory Burke Gagarin Way, Hoors (Traverse Theatre Company) Black Watch (National Theatre of Scotland)

Photo credit: Drew Farrell for National Theatre of Scotland, Reveal.

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Welcome to Write Here, our festival in celebration of new writing here at the Traverse.This is your chance to experience a variety of new work at different stages of development and to engage with the Traverse literary team and playwrights as we offer an insight into the work that goes on here behind the scenes.

There are open views into script readings and rehearsed readings of work in progress by Peter Arnott, Morna Pearson and Rob Drummond, panel discussions with some of Scotland’s most exciting established and emerging playwrights including Gregory Burke, Zinnie Harris and D C Jackson as well as a range of public workshops and events on offer.

We’ll also be giving you the chance to discover the next generation of Scottish playwriting talent, as we present readings of new work from our celebrated Young Writers' Group in Traverse Introducing.

The festival culminates with the world premiere of Demos, a new play by Tim Price about the Occupy Movement, which promises to be something of an event. Written for a cast of over fifty, the audience will play a key role in the performance.

We are delighted to be joined by some of the best directing talent of new work for the stage - from here in Scotland and further afield, including former Traverse Artistic Director, Philip Howard, Associate Director at Sherman Cymru, Roisin McBrinn, James Dacre and Hamish Pirie. Oh, and I’ll be rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in too.

Come and get involved. We look forward to seeing you here.

Orla O’Loughlin, Artistic Director.

Photo credit: Drew Farrell for National Theatre of Scotland, Reveal.

ALL EVENTS £5

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Open Views and Rehearsed Readings New plays by Peter Arnott, Morna Pearson and Rob Drummond.When the Traverse commissions a writer, we work closely with them to develop the best version of the play they want to write.

Open View is your opportunity to observe this normally very private process.

We invite the audience to see script development as it happens, at the source.

Then see the brand new play performed in a reading on our Traverse Two stage.

BEHIND THE SCENES

I’m delighted to be developing new work with Scotland’s New Writing theatre. Their literary department works with writers at all stages of their careers but it’s especially important that artists such as myself, who are at that difficult stage between ‘emerging’ and ‘established’, have a theatre company which champions the importance of new voices.

Rob Drummond Rob Drummond: Wrestling (The Arches) Mr Write (National Theatre of Scotland)

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Too Far Gone by Rob DrummondDirector Hamish PirieLeft Island, Scotland. Three years ago, over the space of nineteen days, twenty-six teenagers went over a cliff, one by one. Now, three couples and the island’s only remaining policeman try to piece together what went wrong.

Open View 1: Mon 16 April (4-5pm)Open View 2: Tues 17 April (4-5pm)

Rehearsed Reading: Tues 17 April (7.30pm)

The Artist Man and the Mother Woman by Morna PearsonDirector Roisin McBrinnForty-three year old art teacher Geoffrey still lives with his mother. He decides it’s about time he got his first girlfriend.

Open View 3: Wed 18 April (4-5pm) Open View 4: Thurs 19 April (4-5pm)Rehearsed Reading: Thurs 19 April (7.30pm)

The Fly Room by Peter ArnottDirector Orla O’LoughlinFor the last year, Peter Arnott has been exploring the social implications of genomics, genetics and evolution. Join us as he takes the first steps towards a new play in creative response to how we understand ourselves, who we are, where we came from, and what we might become.

Open View 5: Fri 20 April (4-5pm)Open View 6: Sat 21 April (4-5pm)

Rehearsed Reading: Sat 21 April (7.30pm)

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Traverse IntroducingDiscover the next generation of Scottish playwriting talent and join us for rehearsed readings of plays by recent graduates of our Young Writers' Group.

The Young Writers Group gave me the encouragement and confidence to share my writing. The Traverse has always given me the time and space to develop my own voice, whilst giving me the support to develop as a professional playwright.

Morna Pearson Distracted (Traverse Theatre Company, winner of the Meyer-Whitworth Award 2007)

NEW TALENT

Photo credit: Brendan MacNeill

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Dragon Mountain by Helene CloeteDirector Philip HowardIn a place where murder is an everyday occurrence, how can a family keep going?

Date & time: Mon 16 April (2-3pm)

This Little Piggy by Jamie LaingDirector Sasha KyleAn undercover policeman infiltrates a group of political protestors and finds his priorities challenged.

Date & time: Tues 17 April (2-3pm)

RSVP by Nichola DauntonDirector Tim LicataNo, no, no, absolutely not, I refuse – we are not having another f***ing middle class dinner party in this theatre!

Date & time: Wednesday 18 April (2-3pm)

Dog Days by Rhiannon GristDirector Adele ThomasIt’s Cameron’s Big Society and the big bad wolf is on the prowl. Only the strong will survive.

Date & time: Thurs 19 April (2-3pm)

The Dubai Papers by Uma RajahDirector Annie GeorgeA play about money, delusion and ahistoricism - an outcome of a bicycle trip to Dubai, which included a month's worth of research with the people who inspired the play.

Date & time: Fri 20 April (2-3pm)

Nightshifts by Dave FargnoliDirector James DacreA&E in the wee small hours, and two women wait for news of the man they both love. A dark and dreamlike exploration of loss and longing, hope and helplessness.

Date & time: Sat 21 April (2-3pm)

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The Traverse Theatre’s Young Writers' Group without doubt gave me the motivation and courage I needed to write my first full length play. Through the group, I had access to leading playwrights and directors who helped me to understand and shape my work, and most importantly imagine for the first time the possibility of carving out a future for myself in theatre. I will always be grateful to my time with the group.

Sam Holcroft While You Lie (Traverse Theatre Company) Cockroach (National Theatre of Scotland and Traverse Theatre Company)

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Photo credit: Brendan MacNeill

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I first came to the Traverse as a student. I would scrimp and save so that I could travel to Edinburgh every summer for the festival. I vividly recall seeing a one-woman show at the Traverse called The Gimmick and the profound effect it had on me. I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to write for that stage.

Lynda Radley Futureproof (Dundee Rep Ensemble and Traverse Theatre Company)

First BreaksWriters in the sunrise of their career talk about the first breaks that got them on the road to being professional playwrights. Colin Bell, Tawona Sithole, Lynda Radley and D C Jackson in conversation with Traverse Theatre Literary Officer, Jennifer Williams.

Date & time:Wed 18 April (7.30pm)

PANEL DISCUSSION

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Going the DistanceThree playwrights - Zinnie Harris (Fall), Gregory Burke (Gagarin Way), Ursula Rani Sarma (The Dark Things) - each talk about their experience of a play they have written for the Traverse from conception to production, in conversation with Traverse Artistic Director, Orla O’Loughlin.

Date & time: Fri 20 April (7.30pm)

Working with the Traverse on the development of The Dark Things was one of the highlights of my career. I really appreciated the importance that was placed on realising the initial vision that I had for the play and the encouragement I was given to be as brave as I could be. For me, these are such vital elements for the development of any new play.

Ursula Rani Sarma The Dark Things (Traverse Theatre Company)

PANEL DISCUSSION

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Traverse Theatre Company World Premiere

Demos by Tim PriceDirector Hamish Pirie

“This is what democracy looks like.” The Occupy Movement

In this new verbatim play, Tim Price presents an investigation of democracy that asks us to decide what sort of government is best.

Written for a cast of over fifty, the audience will play a key role in the performance.

Please bring a winter hat or gloves to the performance, as well as a tie or dress shirt.

Tim Price is an award-winning stage and television writer. His play For Once runs at the Traverse this month, and elsewhere The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning opens as one of the highlights of National Theatre Wales current season.

Date & time: Tues 24 April (7.30pm)

For Once by Tim PriceDirector Orla O’LoughlinFor Once has its Scottish Premiere at the Traverse from 4 - 14 April.

“Wry, compassionate and thought provoking." **** Time Out (Critics’ Choice)

OCCUPYOCCUPYOCCUPYOCCUPY

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Working with PlaywrightsA workshop for directorsTraverse Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin and playwright Tim Price will lead a practical half-day workshop exploring how directors work with new plays and develop working relationships with playwrights.

Date & time: Mon 23 April, 10am-1pm Tickets: £10/£5

Literary Department Open HoursDo you have a question about how we work? Come and ask! An opportunity to meet Artistic Director, Orla O’Loughlin and Literary Officer, Jennifer Williams.

Date: Tues 24 April

For more information or to register your interest for either event, visit www.traverse.co.uk/writing/writehere

NEW EVENTFREE

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Schools and the Traverse Theatre – Building Relationships for the FutureA discussion event for teachers, with Artistic Director (and former Drama Teacher) Orla O’Loughlin and Head of Traverse Learning Noëlle O’Donoghue.

If you can’t make it along, our teachers event will be broadcast live on Glow TV.

For more information and to register your interest please contact Noelle.O’Donoghue@traverse.co.uk

Date & time: Mon 23 April (4.30-6pm)

The opportunity to talk directly to the theatre meant I was able to access information on shows and projects in advance. Class Act has been invaluable for my students. They learned so much and it inspired them to be more creative with their drama curriculum work.

Katrina Ballantine Teacher at St Augustines High School, Edinburgh

Photo credit: Brendan MacNeill

TEACHERS EVENTFREE

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Calendar Traverse 1 Traverse 2

16Mon

Open View 1, 4-5pm Traverse Introducing: Dragon Mountain, 2-3pm

17Tues

Open View 2, 4-5pm Traverse Introducing: This Little Piggy, 2-3pmRehearsed Reading: Rob Drummond, 7.30pm

18Wed

Open View 3, 4-5pm Traverse Introducing: RSVP, 2-3pmFirst Breaks Panel Discussion, 7.30pm

19Thu

Open View 4, 4-5pm Traverse Introducing: Dog Days, 2-3pmRehearsed Reading: Morna Pearson, 7.30pm

20Fri

Open View 5, 4-5pmGoing The Distance Panel Discussion, 7.30pm

Traverse Introducing: The Dubai Papers, 2-3pm

21Sat

Open View 6, 4-5pm Traverse Introducing: Nightshifts, 2-3pmRehearsed Reading: Peter Arnott, 7.30pm

22Sun

23Mon

Directors Workshop, 10am - 1pmTeachers Event, 4.30-6.30pm

24Tues

Demos, 7.30pm In the Traverse Bar CaféLiterary department Open HoursEnd of Festival Party

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Ever since I can remember, the Traverse has been the most exciting, most accessible theatre in Scotland. For a writer, it’s uniquely supportive because it offers so many ways to get involved, making for a genuinely nurturing, challenging and inspiring environment.

Dave Fargnoli Nightshifts (Young Writers' Group)

Write Here Festival TicketsAll events are £5End of Festival Party Tuesday 24 April (after Demos)Invitations: FREE with any ticket for the Traverse Write Here Festival 2012. Call Box Office on 0131 228 1404 to RSVP.

0902334569

090475589122

5 FOR THE PRICE

OF 410 FOR

THE PRICE OF 8

The Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland BookshopPeruse the shelves of the Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland Bookshop, with a fantastic selection of work from Scotland’s playwrights. The Bookshop & Information point will be open in the Traverse Bar Café during the Write Here Festival.

The importance of the Traverse is difficult to overestimate...without the theatre, it is difficult to imagine Scottish playwriting at all.The Sunday Times

www.traverse.co.uk 0131 228 1404

Notes

Design & illustration www.everyonelovescake.co.uk