On the Verge 2005

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

A Showcase of Outstanding New Plays from Across Canada
Scheduled to coincide with The Magnetic North Theatre Festival

The National Arts Centre English Theatre and Artistic Director Marti Maraden invite Canadian playwrights to submit a new play for consideration to On the Verge 2005. On the Verge is our annual festival of new play readings. The festival is designed to showcase plays on the verge of production to producers from across the country. We are looking for scripts that are close to a production draft stage - scripts that would benefit from a short workshop and a public reading.

On the Verge 2005 will take place in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre in mid-June, 2005. It is timed to coincide with the Magnetic North Theatre Festival, which runs from June 8-18, 2005.

The final line-up for On the Verge will be selected by the NAC Artistic Associate and Literary Manager Lise Ann Johnson, in consultation with a reading committee. Selected plays will receive a short workshop and public reading in Ottawa. Playwrights will have the option of choosing a dramaturg-director for the workshop process. Out of town playwrights will receive travel expenses and accommodation, and must be available to attend the reading to be eligible.

Canadian playwrights or playwrights living in Canada are invited to submit their script, along with a cover letter outlining your play's history of development, and resume/bio, to:

On the Verge Festival
National Arts Centre English Theatre
53 Elgin Street
P.O. Box 1534, Station B
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5W1

Only full-length scripts in an advanced draft stage will be accepted. Although the festival will focus mainly on scripts that are unproduced, we will also accept submissions of plays that have had workshop productions in the current season, are still in development and would benefit from further promotion. Only one submission per playwright. Please send hard copies only. Electronic versions will not be accepted.

Deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday, December 10th, 2004.

All questions regarding the festival can be addressed to the Festival's Artistic Coordinator, Lise Ann Johnson, at lajohnso@nac-cna.ca
For further information about On the Verge, please go to www.nac-cna.ca and follow the link to English Theatre.

Writers will be notified about the final selection in writing in early March. Scripts will not be returned.