Fighting Words NI
presents
MEGAPHONE
a Young Playwrights project
in which WRITERS ages 14-18 CREATE & PERFORM new pieces of SOLO THEATRE
January - March 2024|
“BE A VOICE, NOT AN ECHO.” Maybe Albert Einstein said this – or maybe it’s just a meme? At MEGAPHONE, we’ll all know exactly where the words are coming from: YOU. Our Winter 2024 Young Playwrights project will be an anthology of solo performances written & performed by young people from Belfast. Working with professional mentors (directors, performers, writers & dramaturgs), the writers will explore their personal histories, deepest wonderings & bravest imaginings to create & perform their own brand-new piece of writing for the stage, finishing with a public showcase at the Lyric Theatre’s Naughton Studio, as part of the Belfast Children’s Festival. Your voice is valuable – learn how to use it to its fullest power.
This FREE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITY is open to young people from across Belfast & will give all writers (beginners & enthusiasts) a chance to experiment & gain valuable experience.
Fill in the Expression of Interest form by 20th December at 11:59 p.m.
SEE BELOW FOR DATES & MORE DETAILS
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Each Fighting Words NI Young Playwrights project is a bold experiment in scriptwriting, giving teens a chance to find their voices & create new work for stage, radio, immersive theatre & beyond. Read up on our previous projects here: www.fightingwords.co.uk/young-playwrights
MEGAPHONE
YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS: Winter 2024
WHO & WHAT: Participants (up to 12 writers from Belfast, ages 14-18) will take part in a series of free writing & drama workshops, learning from professional theatre-makers about solo and autobiographical scriptwriting, getting hands-on experience in theatre performance and production. In-depth sessions & mentored writing time will support each writer as they develop an original short piece of solo theatre. The group will work with mentors (including director, dramaturg, designers and performers) to rehearse their collection of short plays.
We’ll finish with a showcase of all their plays in the Belfast Children’s Festival, revealing the vast imagination and hard work the writers have put in. Every step of theatre-making is a wild adventure, and we love introducing the next generation of writers to this world.
“One of the most amazing experiences!” ... “Really rewarding & refreshing”
-Young Playwrights alumni
“It engaged & empowered the young people to be creative, share their ideas & visions” ...
“My son loved this – it has been hugely inspirational & encouraging for him”
-Parents/Guardians
WHEN & WHERE: The project will take place in Belfast between 13th January - 19th March Workshops, rehearsals, showcase & reflection will likely be on the following dates, at either Fighting Words NI headquarters (Connswater Shopping Centre) or the Lyric Theatre. Exact locations TBC - & if there are time/date changes we'll let all participants know as soon as we do.
- 13 January (Saturday) - 11-3
- 14 January (Sunday) - 11-3
- 20 January (Saturday) - 11-3
- 27 January (Saturday) - 11-3
- 3 February (Saturday) - 11-1 (optional writing session)
- 10 February (Saturday) - 11-3
- 24 February (Saturday) - 11-3 (Rehearsal)
- 9 March (Saturday) - 11-3 (Rehearsal)
- 11 March (Monday) - 4:30-9:30 (Dress Rehearsal)
- 12 March (Tuesday) - 4:30-9:30 (Performance at 8 p.m.)
- 19 March (Tuesday) - 5:30-7:30 (Reflection Session)
ATTENDANCE: Ideally participants will be available for all sessions - but please express your interest even if you may have scheduling conflicts.
ACCESS: We make all of our projects as accessible as possible. Let us know any access needs you have re: disability, travel, or other personal/practical circumstances
ANY QUESTIONS? Write to Emily DeDakis (Fighting Words NI’s Associate Artist – Young Playwrights): scripts@fightingwords.co.uk
