A Public Call-Out for Emerging Playwrights
Ever wanted to write a short (5-minute) play? Submission Deadline: 6pm Monday 18 December
What is Theatre for One?
Theatre for One is a state-of-the-art performance space for one actor and one audience member at a time. Conceived and created by the Tony and Olivier award-winning designer Christine Jones, and designed by LOT-EK, it commissions new work specifically for this unique space.
In June 2019, Landmark Productions and Octopus Theatricals presented the European premiere of Theatre for One, under the auspices of Cork Midsummer Festival and Cork Opera House. The premiere featured original 5-minute plays by six of Ireland’s leading playwrights – Marina Carr, Stacey Gregg, Emmet Kirwan, Louise Lowe, Mark O’Rowe and Enda Walsh.
How you can get involved
Now, it’s your turn. Next summer, Landmark Productions and Octopus Theatricals join forces once again with Cork Midsummer Festival and Cork Opera House, to commission six emerging Irish playwrights to write original 5-minute plays. Each of the selected playwrights will receive mentorship from one of the original writers featured in 2019. In June 2024, Theatre for One: This Ireland – twelve plays (six from the original writers and six from the public call-out) – will be presented together at Cork Midsummer Festival.
The plays will be produced by Landmark Productions, in partnership with Octopus Theatricals (NY) and will be presented in a specially-designed, state-of-the-art theatre booth for one actor and one audience member at a time located on the plaza outside Cork Opera House.
Who can apply?
Anyone living, or primarily resident, on the island of Ireland who considers themselves an emerging playwright can apply.
Application Process
The application form allows you to tell us about yourself and your play. We aim to bring together a mix of diverse voices to reflect the rich and vibrant community of emerging playwrights in Ireland.
We invite you to apply in a way that best suits you. There are a range of ways you can send in a submission, set out below:
- Complete the submission form here
- Submit a video file, answering the questions listed on the form (download here).
- Submit an audio file, answering the questions listed on the form (download here).
For options 2 and 3 above, please send your completed submission to [email protected] with the subject line ‘Theatre for One 2024 submission’.
When is the closing date?
Deadline for receipt of submissions is 6pm, Monday 18 December, 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can apply?
Anyone living, or primarily resident, on the island of Ireland who considers themselves an emerging playwright can apply.
A. No, applicants can only submit one application.
Theatre for One will be performed at Emmet Place, Cork as part of the 2024 Cork Midsummer Festival from 15–23 June 2024. It is free of charge and no booking is required. Simply turn up on the specified dates.
4. Will the selected playwrights receive a fee for their work?
Yes. The selected playwrights will each receive a fee of €500. If the playwrights are not based in Cork, they will receive accommodation in Cork for 3 nights, a per diem of €35 for each overnight stay, and return economy-class rail travel (or its equivalent) within Ireland.
5. How will the new playwrights be selected?
The playwrights will be selected by a reading group featuring members of Landmark Productions, Octopus Theatricals, Cork Midsummer Festival and Cork Opera House. Once a shortlist has been established, the original six mentors will be consulted.
6. How will mentors be paired with the chosen playwrights?
The six original playwrights – Marina Carr, Stacey Gregg, Emmet Kirwan, Louise Lowe, Mark O’Rowe and Enda Walsh – will each choose one of the selected playwrights to mentor.
7. What is the submission window, and when will I hear about the outcome?
The submission window will open on 18 November, and will close at 6pm on 18 December 2023.
We aim to be in a position to contact successful applicants by mid-January 2024.
8. Can I submit a video or audio submission?
Yes. If you are more comfortable in submitting a video or audio submission, you can do so. You can download the questions from the submission form here, and send your video via Dropbox / WeTransfer / Google Drive link to Jack Farrell at [email protected] with the subject ‘Theatre for One 2024 submission’. All video and audio submissions will be transcribed for the reading group in order to maintain the anonymity of the selection process.