LYT seek writer in residence

Feb 11 2020 | By Thom Dibdin More

Lyceum open call for 7 month residency

The Lyceum has put out an open call for applications for its new Writer in Residence post with the Lyceum Youth Theatre. The writer will be working with the young company to ask the question: What Would Greta Do?

The paid residency will run for seven months from April 2020 and will offer the writer the opportunity to explore the creativity, activism and energy of the young people who attend the LYT as well as giving them a unique opportunity to develop their craft and work alongside the whole Lyceum team.

The casts of LYT’s The View From 2038 (2018). Pic: Mihaela Bodlovic.

The residency is open to Scottish-based writers from all writing backgrounds and areas of focus – from graphic novelists, to spoken word artists, to picture book creators – who make work for children and young people and who self-identify as “mid career or established”.

The Lyceum’s artistic director David Greig said: “I am constantly struck by the creativity and boldness of young people.

“With this fellowship, we are giving a writer the opportunity to tap into that energy while also giving participants of the Lyceum Youth Theatre the chance to work with a brilliant professional writer.”

The successful candidate will have access to the individuals in the Lyceum’s creative learning department, whose passionate believe in the importance of bringing art and young people together make them a potentially valuable resource for the job.

eager to be responsive

The Lyceum adds: “The fellow will have options as to how best to interact with the youth theatre – from sitting in on weekly sessions, to attending holiday courses, to watching performances.

“They might wish to bring work to the youth theatre to be read and experimented with, or devise on the ground; The Lyceum is open to all possibilities and eager to be responsive to the fellow’s creative and artistic needs.”

LYT works with young people aged between five and 18, running weekly classes, an Easter holiday course and the two-week Summer on Stage course. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018 with The View from 2038 – five original pieces which looked at what life might be like for Scotland’s young people in 20 years time.

Applicants will need to include a ten-page sample of your work and answer various questions about they might approach the residency detailed on the Lyceum website here.

The residency will be supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland with a £12,000 bursary. There will be a travel provision allowing the fellow to travel from across Scotland, but the residency will be organised to allow for remote working.