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Dateline: 21st March, 2005
24 Hour Plays at the Old Vic The Old Vic, in association with Starbucks, has launched a competition - The 24 Hour Play: Starbucks New Voices - for budding actors, directors, producers and writers between the ages of 18 and 25.WHO IS THE 24 HOUR PLAY COMPETITION AIMED AT? Budding theatre actors, directors, producers and writers, aged between 18-25 years, living within Greater London. All applicants should be committed to a professional career in theatre. WHAT IS A 24 HOUR PLAY? The ultimate theatre challenge. In just 24 hours, a team of one writer, one director, one producer and 4-5 actors must create, produce, rehearse and perform a 10-minute play in front of a public audience. The breakneck schedule starts when the writers, producers and directors meet the actors who, one by one, introduce themselves, have their photograph taken and describe a single prop that they've brought. The actors retire and each writer bids for the actors that they feel most inspired to write for. Clutching polaroids of their chosen casts, the writers each head for their own room in a local hotel where, overnight, they'll have to create their plays. At 7.00am the next morning, the producers pry the new works from the weary hands of the writers, copy and distribute them. The directors read the plays and make impassioned bids for their favourites. Once everyone has been assigned a play, the rush begins to create ideas before the casts arrive. Come 9.00am, the actors and directors are at work around the theatre - a process managed and co-ordinated by the producers. Each cast has just eleven hours to rehearse the show and memorise their parts. A short technical rehearsal that afternoon is the last chance for directors to make changes, and for actors to learn lines. The producers are on hand ready to tackle all the inevitable last-minute crises. At 8.00pm, the time of judgment arrives. The Old Vic is abuzz with 1000 eager theatregoers waiting to see six brand new plays, ink barely dry on the scripts. As the curtain rises, an evening of spontaneous creativity rarely seen in the theatre commences... HOW DO WE KNOW IT CAN BE DONE? Last year, a celebrity 24 Hour Plays fundraiser was held at The Old Vic featuring the talents of Jim Broadbent, Emilia Fox, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Meera Syal and a host of others. It was a roaring, if nail-biting, success. The same event is being repeated this year on 19th June and successful applicants for the young person's version will be invited to learn from the professionals by attending this special evening. Furthermore, a series of workshops will be held throughout July, led by top industry professionals, to prepare applicants for their big day at the end of the month. WHAT CRITERIA WILL WE ASSESS APPLICANTS UPON?
HOW DO YOU APPLY? Fill in the application form (downloadable as a Word file from www.oldvictheatre.com/24hour/starbucks.html) and post it to:
It is recommended, although not compulsory, that applicants obtain a short written reference from someone who knows their work e.g. a tutor or employer. This should be submitted with the initial form. Those applying for the writer's position should attach a one A4-page example of their work. WHEN IS THE DEADLINE? All paper applications must be posted or emailed to arrive at The Old Vic by Friday 22nd April 2005. No applications arriving after this date will be accepted. WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS AND TIME COMMITMENT INVOLVED?
IS ANY FUNDING AVAILABLE TO TAKE PART? We are unable to fund applicants for any costs incurred by participating in the project (this includes transport costs or compensation for time taken off work). If you require financial support in order to take part, talk to your college, University or local council about accessing funding for courses that develop young talent. Please note: complimentary refreshments will be provided for all participants during the auditions, the July workshops and for the final production. Writers will be provided with complimentary overnight accommodation on the evening of the final 24 Hour Plays event. Please note that all three Archive indices are very long and will therefore take some time to download.
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