Page to Stage
What is Page to Stage?
Page to Stage is the Writers’ Summer School’s miniature short-play festival. It exists chiefly to provide playwrights, whatever their level of experience, with an opportunity to develop a short script through brief rehearsal and performance.
Five-minute plays are submitted in the months prior to the Summer School. They are then read, as anonymous scripts, by an independent panel, which selects several to progress in the scheme. These plays are then cast, rehearsed and performed at Swanwick before a reliably appreciative audience. The focus is on encouraging and developing play-writing, but there’s also the added incentive of awards for the audience’s favourite scripts and performances.
Five-minute plays are submitted in the months prior to the Summer School. They are then read, as anonymous scripts, by an independent panel, which selects several to progress in the scheme. These plays are then cast, rehearsed and performed at Swanwick before a reliably appreciative audience. The focus is on encouraging and developing play-writing, but there’s also the added incentive of awards for the audience’s favourite scripts and performances.
Why should I take part?
If you:
. . . then Page to Stage is for you
- have an interest in writing theatre scripts (even a completely new interest)
- would like to build a little experience by writing something short, to a deadline
- want to see what happens when a script you’ve written is taken up and performed by others
- would value the feedback that comes from the rehearsal and performance process
- want to see something you’ve written on stage, in front of an audience
- have a touch more experience and like the sound of the challenge of writing a complete play that lasts for only five minutes
. . . then Page to Stage is for you
How can I submit a script?
Quite simply, write a script and send it to the submissions email address, which is: page2stage@swanwickwritersschool.org.uk
There are a few core dates and criteria you need to bear in mind:
For more information, take a look at our Submission Guidelines and Play-writing tips.
There are a few core dates and criteria you need to bear in mind:
- The window for submissions is open from 1 March. It closes again at the end of 31 May. Scripts received after the end of May will not be considered.
- Selected writers will be notified on or around 1 July.
- Scripts should have a performance length of five minutes.
- There is a limit of one script submission per writer.
- Scripts will only be accepted from writers who have already booked to attend the 2019 Summer School.
- Plays need to be suitable for performance in a small, simple space, with minimal props and furniture, provision of which is the responsibility of the writer. (See Guidelines for more details.)
- Casting of all plays will be handled at the Summer School, by the Page to Stage organisers. Do not pre-cast your play. If you have participated in Page to Stage in previous years, please note this change in procedure – don’t plan on bringing a pre-selected cast. (See Guidelines for more details.)
- Your play script should be anonymous. Identify yourself in the email you send with the script, but please do not write your name in the script. (See Guidelines for more details.)
- Those are the key details – enough to get started. However, as you go, you should also consult the more detailed Guidelines, which offer some further clarification and detail to the above. We have also compiled a list of tips for Page to Stage writers, built on the experience of previous years and on comments from our judges: well worth reading to help you on your way to penning a perfect script.
For more information, take a look at our Submission Guidelines and Play-writing tips.
Page to Stage 2018
The seven finalists in the 2018 Page to Stage were:
The five minute plays were cast and rehearsed during the week and performed on Wednesday 15 August.
Thanks to Steve Barnett, videos of the plays are available on YouTube. You can view them by clicking here.
We would also like to thank the Stockport Garrick Theatre for selecting the 2018 finalists.
- David Johnson – ‘To Be the Best’
- Pearl Andrews-Horrigan – ‘Moving Out’
- Julia Hartnett – ‘Set in Stone’
- Janet Denny – ‘At Home with the Harveys’
- Sue Noon – ‘Home Supporters’
- Alison Proom – ‘Is Anybody There?’
- Geoff Parkes – ‘Payback’
The five minute plays were cast and rehearsed during the week and performed on Wednesday 15 August.
Thanks to Steve Barnett, videos of the plays are available on YouTube. You can view them by clicking here.
We would also like to thank the Stockport Garrick Theatre for selecting the 2018 finalists.
