For pro-active Playwrights and Producers
Producers, venues and festivals
For a list of contacts, festivals, theatres, producers and more check out LINKS
(If you would like to be added or removed from this list let us know).
If you are a playwright looking for a producer, let us know and we may be able to make some suggestions.
CONTRACTS
Group Devised Work: The Rights of Co-Writers, Devisers, Co-Creators, Actor/Writers & co.
This FREE resource is available from The Play Press and contains some suggestions for ways to avoid disputes and resentment when working collaboratively, and includes some simple draft contracts to aid discussion and negotiation.
Order either in PDF or hard copy (they can provide a bunch of them if you want handouts for students, for instance) from The Play Press.
We encourage all playwrights (whether you are a Playmarket client or not) to pass any contracts by the Agency or the Writers' Guild if you are a member before you commit yourself; to ensure that they are as sound as possible and that you fully understand all the implications. The definition of 'producer' is a moveable feast, and we can help to ensure that everyone is clear on what is expected of a playwright/producer partnership.
Funding Ideas
Check out the Creative New Zealand website and in particular the Funding Guide.
If you haven't ever considered applying for CNZ funds to write (or workshop or rehearse or produce) your play, research the Guide and think about it. It looks like a nightmare - but once you've done it once and have a template, it's much easier, and there is plenty of advice out there.
Check out previous grants and the sort of things that get funded and get in touch with an advisor in your if you have queries.
Senior Programme Advisor (Theatre and Dance)
04 498 0702
Senior Programme Advisor (Pacific Arts)
04 498 0729
Maori Arts Programmes (Manager)
04-473 0182
Also check out free-to-use Ministry of Culture and Heritage Cultural Funding Database
Their goal is "to help artists and arts organisations search for potential sources of funding for their projects", so should be useful.
Or check out your local City Council and see if you are eligible for any of their cultural grants.
BATS Theatre – Get on Stage
Visit the BATS site and check out the orange bookmark on the right hand side - Get On Stage. In these pages you'll find out how to get a show on at BATS and all the helpful tidbits to help along the way. BATS are committed to helping all practitioners to overcome the obstacles and to get their work produced.
13p
This is a really inspiring initiative - perfect for any playwright who's tired of moaning that theatres don't want to license their plays, and who feels like a bit of pro-activity. Have a read of their philosophy and see if you can't adapt it to suit your own situation. If you think we can help, get in touch.
Sanctuary Theatre
Do you like the sound of this?
"Before the Twentieth Century, the most common producer was the playwright. Playwrights are uniquely suited to recognize powerful new material for the stage. ... "
"Over the past ten decades, writers have deviated from their historical position in theatre, retreating from direct involvement with producing entities, and ceding control to third-party producers, thereby leaving the artistic future of playwriting to others whose understanding of and dedication to the most bracing new writing is not the same...”
"But great theatre existed before large budgets, and can exist now without them."
If so, check out the Sanctuary Theatre website for inspiration.
Producers
We are always on the lookout for producers/production managers who are happy to work with motivated, proactive playwrights who want to be actively involved in their premiere productions, or who are excited by the idea of working within a collective philosophy. Please let us know if you think this might be you, or if you know anyone who fits this definition, and we may be able to initiate some creative partnerships.
We offer free e-copies of manuscripts to producers looking for a work to stage.
PLAY LISTS
We have a list of amateur theatres who receive regular lists of play suggestions (with synopsis and cast make up) to help their programming.
We also have a list of professional directors who receive occasional lists of new plays on the hunt for a director.
If you would like to go on either of these lists please let Jean know.
