Abbey Theatre - Amharclann na Mainistreach
Dublin
www.abbeytheatre.ie

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Does your company accept unsolicited scripts? What is your preferred method of script submission (e.g. full scripts, 10-page extracts, synopses)? Do you prefer hard copy (if so, to what address) or electronic submission (if so, to what email)?

The Abbey Theatre welcomes script submissions all year round from Irish playwrights, or playwrights living in Ireland. Please carefully check our submission guidelines here before submitting your script to script@abbeytheatre.ie 

What should writers expect if they send a script to you? (E.g. written acknowledgement, length of time between submission and response, feedback, etc.)

Each playwright can expect to receive a letter containing feedback on their play. When you submit, you will receive an acknowledgment email from script@abbeytheatre.ie. Each play is read anonymously be a member of our reader panel and then assessed by a member of the Literary Department. Due to the volume of scripts we receive, it may be five months before we respond to your submission.

Is there a designated point of contact in your company for new writing?

The Abbey Theatre’s Literary Manager is Jessica Traynor and the Literary Assistant is Róisín Coyle. For queries on script submissions, or to invite a member of the Literary Department to attend a new writing production or reading, please contact Rósín at roisin.coyle@abbeytheatre.ie 

What structures does your company generally employ when working on new writing (commissions, workshops, readings, work-in-progress presentations, one-on-one dramaturgical meetings, etc.)?

The Literary Department commissions emerging and established playwrights and theatre makers to create work for the Abbey and Peacock stages. During this process, the playwright works closely with the Literary Manager and the play is workshopped in-house.

We also run a number of writer engagement initiatives for emerging playwrights such as playwriting masterclasses, Playwriting Pop-up events (in Dublin and around Ireland) and Scratch Nights. Calls to participate in these events are shared regularly in our newsletter and through social media.

Emerging playwrights are encouraged to make contact with us by submitting their play, or by inviting us to productions, readings or work-in-progress showings – we want to get to know your work.

What kind of new writing is your company interested in (optional)?

The Abbey Theatre is interested in new writing that reflects life, culture and politics in contemporary Ireland. We’re interested in well-made plays, and in plays that push the boundaries of form. Tell us a story that we haven’t heard before, or an old story in an exciting new way.

Please be sure to carefully proof-read your submission, and don’t submit to us until you’re sure your play is ready to be read. Once we’ve received your play we can’t accept updated drafts.