PERCEPTIONS are not only for the playwrights!
As playwrights preparing to showcase your work at the Scripts 2025 New Theatre Festival, you already know that the stage is more than just a physical space—it’s a living, breathing canvas on which the familiar can be transformed into something unexpected and vibrant. And some might imply that it is the duty of the Playwright to use his/her craft to impact, move or shift an audience’s perceptions.
We’ve always loved this quote from Anaïs Nin “It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see. The writer shakes up the familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.” To us, at Scripts, this is a call to arms—a reminder that our creative work has the power to challenge and to reveal what is hidden in the everyday.
There is no "Ordinary" in the world of Theatre
Theatre is a prism : think about the routines and settings that shape our daily lives.
In the world of theatre, the stage often mirrors the world we think we already know. Yet, the author’s unique vision has the power to disrupt that comfortable monotony. By showing a well-worn scenario—a family dinner, a city street, or even a quiet room— through the characters’ perceptions the playwrights invite the audience to pause and see with fresh eyes. Every familiar gesture, word, and pause is an opportunity for a revelation when filtered through the creative mind of a playwright.
The Magic of New Perceptions:
To us, Playwrights are not just story-tellers they are “Revealers” The stage, through the actors and the text offers a new lens through which the audience can see life’s complexities. Renewing perception isn’t just about superficial change—it’s about exploring and engaging with deep emotional truths that resonate universally. Consider how characters might defy expectations or how their dialogue might echo hidden layers of meaning. The magic lies in the subtle shifts slowly revealing new meaning and compelling the audience to reconsider what they once took for granted, hopefully with a sense of wonder and excitment.
So if we can only give you a few advice when writing the play you’ll submit for this years celebration of locally grown, new theatre texts, here they are :
1. Embrace the Familiar: Start by listing common scenes or archetypes that appear frequently in theatre. Then, ask yourself: what hasn’t been said about these scenarios? How can I twist the narrative to reveal a new layer of humanity?
2. Experiment with Form and Structure: Don’t be afraid to break traditional storytelling methods. Whether through non-linear timelines, unexpected stage design, or innovative dialogue rhythms, these techniques can jolt your audience into a fresh state of awareness.
3. Stay True to Your Voice: Amid the pressures of expectations, remember that your personal perspective is your greatest asset. Authenticity resonates; let your inner truth guide every word and gesture.
4. But most of all, Be Courageous: Your work has the power to change the way we see the world -one performance at a time- so don't let anybody else tell YOUR version of the story.
So now it’s YOUR turn, write that perception shifting play, let Scripts 2025 be your platform to not just present art, but to renew our collective vision.
Embrace the challenge, shake up the familiar, and, as if by magic, let new meanings blossom before our eyes. There is only 3 weeks to our deadline, get writing and submit your play to be in with a chance to win the prize for "Best Play" which includes:
• Dramaturgy support with the literary department at The Abbey Theatre;
• a scholarship with Fishamble, the New Play Company;
• a Theatre Residency at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre in 2026.
Deadline for submissions is Friday 21 March 2025 @ 12 noon
check out our website for more details https://www.scriptsireland.com/scripts-2025
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