Scottish Community Drama Association

Playwriting

***** Results of the Geoffrey Whitworth Trophy 2008 ****** The results of this year's Geoffrey Whitworth playwriting competition have been announced. They are as follows: Winning play: 'Popper' by Chris Adams of Bristol Highly Commended: 'The Dressing Room' by Mark Rees of Castle Douglas Highly Commended: 'When We Were Full of Hope' by Les Clarke of Bournemouth, who was last year's winning author Commended: 'Burning Questions' by Margaret Kynaston from the Drama Association of Wales Commended: 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds' by Douglas Skelton of Cumnock Commended: 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday' by Bob Davidson of Luncarty Commended: 'The Only Woman in the World' by John Shaw of Leicester Commended: 'Wide Innocent Eyes' by Mike Newbold of Shetland Commended: 'You're in Room Eight' by Les Clarke of Bournemouth There was an entry of twenty-four scripts this year, which were judged by reading. In his comments on the winning play, 'Popper' the new judge Ron Nicol said: 'A fascinating play which cleverly winds its way through the intricacies of various relationships and entanglements. Thoroughly original in concept and in execution - a worthy winner'. The trophy was presented to Chris Adams at the close of the Saturday evening's performances at the British Final Festival at Swansea on 5th July. A brief summary of the above nine plays will shortly appear in the SCDA website's catalogue of prize-winning plays. To see the catalogue, click here.

***Scott Salver Competition 2008 Results*** The winner of the 2008 Scott Salver one-act playwriting competition is Bob Davidson of Luncarty, Perthshire, with 'Mayday, Mayday, Mayday'. The play was presented by Atholl Players in the Perthshire District Festival. Second place went to 'Teamwork' by Jonathan North presented by Leitheatre in the Edinburgh District Festival and third was 'Four and Twenty Blackbirds' by Douglas Skelton of Cumnock, presented by New Victory Players in the Glasgow District Festival. There were a total of twenty-four entries in the Scott Salver competition in 2008. The plays were judged by reading by members of the SCDA Playwriting Committee and the trophy was presented to Bob Davidson at the Scottish Final Festival at the Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on 24th May. A summary of the winning plays has been added to our catalogue of new competition-winning and commended plays. Click here to view the catalogue.

Play on Words 2009 SCDA has launched its latest Playwriting Competition – Play on Words 2009. The competition is for one-act plays running for between 20 and 55 minutes with a minimum of two characters. The three top plays will be awarded prizes of £500, £300 and £200 and will be performed by selected SCDA clubs in the Play on Words Festival in Inverness on 7th November 2009. The closing date for entries is 31st January 2009 and full details are available on the entry form which can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here. Entry forms are also available from the national office via email or telephone 0131 557 5552.

Playwriting Competition Results

2007 2006 2005

SCDA encourages member clubs to consider performing new works. Copies of entries are placed in one or more of the five SCDA Libraries. However, copyright remains with the author and permission to perform any work has to be obtained from them. A catalogue of recent prize-winning and commended new plays in playwriting competitions, including the winning plays in the Scott Salver competition 2008, is listed at this website. Click here to view the catalogue in PDF format. A hard copy of the catalogue can be obtained on request. Contact Andrew McDade at SCDA headquarters: phone/fax: 0131 557 5552; email headquarters@scda.org.uk

New untried scripts can be very daunting; and will need courage, creativity and confidence on the part of the author. The SCDA Theatre Maker service is there to give new (and old) writers help and support. For more information on this, please contact SCDA 0131 557 5552.

The SCDA acknowledges with gratitude the financial donations from its Honorary President, Richard Wilson OBE, towards the prize money in its Play on Words competitions. SCDA also acknowledges support given by the Scottish Arts Council.

Scott Salver Play on Words is one of many projects organized and managed by the Playwriting Committee. One of the other activities run by this committee is the annual Scott Salver competition, which is run in conjunction with the National One-act Plays Festival. Again plays entered for this competition are judged on reading, with members of the Playwriting Committee reading and judging all the plays. The winner is traditionally announced at the Scottish Final of the One-act Festival.

Geoffrey Whitworth Trophy Another project organized by the Playwriting Committee is the Geoffrey Whitworth Trophy. This too is for original plays, which have debut performances in festivals organized by: All England Theatre Festival Association of Ulster Drama Festivals Drama Association of Wales SCDA The entry form for the 2009 Geoffrey Whitworth competition will be available here later this year, or will be available from each country's drama association.

Any queries about Playwriting initiatives should be addressed in the first instance to: Scottish Community Drama Association 5 York Place Edinburgh EH1 3EB Phone/fax: 0131 557 5552 email headquarters@scda.org.uk