New Play Development

What is new play development?

Before a new play can make its debut on stage it demands endless attention from the playwright and from the creative team that provides nourishment along the way.

During our workshop process we read the play aloud, ask questions, make revisions and create a family dynamic designed to nurture the young play. Directors are the doting grandparents, cooing and fussing over the new baby while offering thinly veiled criticism to the actual parent. Actors are the favorite uncles and aunts who drop in with pop-guns and candy, get the baby revved up and then abruptly leave before the bedtime tantrum. And designers dream big dreams for the little tyke, striving to create a better world in which to grow. Through it all, the dramaturg works as a partner, offering support and strength when things get rough. Each play requires a different approach, depending upon the playwright’s experience, style, and sensitivity. And each workshop thrives on the input of our family of artists.

We support projects that will stand alone as good scripts - not just as good scripts for Blyth. On average, 50% of the new scripts that we premiere go on to multiple productions elsewhere. Of all our achievements, the ongoing success of plays developed here is the most significant.

New Play Development Programs and News

Theatre Creators’ Reserve program

Wednesday, August 8 2007

The Blyth Festival is pleased to announce that it has once again been invited to participate in the Ontario Arts Council’s Theatre Creators’ Reserve program. Designed to provide funding for Ontario playwrights, the Theatre Creators’ Reserve is a third-party recommender program, administered by the Ontario Arts Council. Under this program, a number of Ontario’s professional theatres are given the opportunity to recommend writing or creation grants to professional theatre artists. This year, the Blyth Festival’s allocation of $6000 will be recommended to artists who demonstrate a clear understanding of the playwriting process. The minimum grant recommendation is $1000 and the maximum is $5000.

Theatre Creators’ Reserve program guidelines and applications are available on the OAC website: http://www.arts.on.ca

The Blyth Festival will accept applications on behalf of the OAC from August 13, 2007 – February 29, 2008. All recommendations will be made to the OAC by March 14, 2008.

Interested applicants are encouraged to write an outline or synopsis of the proposed project. This outline should not exceed one page in length. Writers are also encouraged to send a writing sample, up to 15 pages in length.

For more details on the Blyth Festival’s recommendation criteria, please call Artistic Director, Eric Coates: 519-523-9300 ext. 202