Five minutes of theatrical protest
NTS to reprise online five minute theatre initiative
By Thom Dibdin
The National Theatre of Scotland is to build on last summer’s online Five Minute Theatre experience with five short-burst open-call themed projects scheduled during 2012.
The first of these will take place on May 1 with a general theme of “protest”. Members of the public – whether theatre professionals, amateurs or simply with an interesting idea – have until March 16 to submit their proposals for a piece of five minute theatre on that theme online at www.fiveminutetheatre.com.
Announcing the evolution of the initiative Marianne Maxwell, Five Minute Theatre producer said: “Five Minute Theatre in June 2011 was a joyous celebration of theatre in all its many forms. Inspired by the imagination and creativity of that first event, we are excited to develop and expand what Five Minute Theatre can be for performers, theatre-makers and audiences.”
The successful pieces for the opening salvo can either be performed live at the Tron theatre in Glasgow from 6pm on May 1, be pre-recorded in front of a live audience, or performed somewhere in Scotland were there is facility for live broadcast.
Besides being streamed live on www.fiveminutetheatre.com, they will go out over www.stv.tv, the NTS media partner for the event. Robert Dawson Scott, Editor of stv.tv said: “We really enjoyed being part of Five Minute Theatre last year. STV is part of Scotland’s wider creative community so we are delighted to continue our online relationship with the National Theatre of Scotland into 2012.”
The protest-themed Five Minute Theatre event has been timetabled to coincide with the NTS and Play and Pie and Pint’s One Day in Spring season at Òran Mór. The live performance hub at the Tron is also part of its Mayfesto season.
The opening date for submissions is today, Friday 20 February. All submissions should have some sort of link the protest theme, whether it is global political protest or a personal protest in the private sphere.
Deadline for all submissions is 5pm, Friday 16 March. Successful applicants will be announced on 30th March.
Details of the next five minute theatre themes and events will be announced later in the year.
The website at www.fiveminutetheatre.com contains up to date information including clear instructions and details on the selection process as well as regular features from the NTS creative team offering tips, advice and classes on how to make and deliver a piece of theatre. All 207 shows from last year’s Five Minute Theatre experience are available for viewing here as well as at programmes.stv.tv.
ENDS
