|
|
 |
Transmissions
is Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s scheme for young playwrights. Each
year a group of young writers aged 12-25, from across the Midlands,
work with professional playwrights on alternate Saturday mornings
to develop their skills and ideas.
Over the course of the year they produce their own scripts, which
are showcased during a two-week festival in July.
This gives them the chance to see their work on stage in The Door,
The REP’s studio theatre, and gain the experience of working with
professional theatre practitioners.
Below is Farrah Savero's experience of being part of this unique scheme.
| Transmissions
2003 - by Farrah Savero |
If
someone had said to me 2 years ago, that by 2003, I’ll have had a
play produced at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, I’d have laughed,
(after trying to string out a grammatically correct sentence ridiculing
the concept).
And here I am – 2003, blushing, and the concept is no longer a figment
of intangibility.
 |
| Farrah
Savero at the Transmissions project |
Having
an assembly of professional directors, actors, and dedicated mentors
working on my new play, the life of a young writer couldn’t be more
satisfying.
It’s this stubbornly consistent desire, which keeps the Transmissions
team a strong one.
Writing is a very lonely sphere, and it’s only because of the existence
of this circuit that I have the ability to learn from others around
me, and share my own aspirations.
And the result: A biological reaction even cultural scientists couldn’t
stop – if you get too close, you’ll burn.
Passion and dedication
The Transmissions workshops always start off with a group of passionate
and dedicated young people, the motive: seeing their show in action
- that’s where the peak of success is.
Eight months later, after extensive lessons on location, turning points,
language, characterisation etc, the workshops end with a group of
passionate and dedicated young writers.
This is normally the turning point for our final pieces and for our
newly caricatured personas.
My fears
During my first play, I was unnerved and scared. Of what? Confrontation
of course. I wasn’t a real writer. Not even an amateur; I couldn’t
begin to think of myself as a writer – what gave me the right? How
could I possibly confront the world of theatre confidently? How could
I say what I wanted to say, and what would make people interested?
It’s only because of the team of mentors I had, which kept me focused
and committed to my passion. Without them I wouldn’t know the difference
between dreaming and succeeding.
I was given a platform of support and a field of motivation – as cheesy
as it sounds, it’s true. If you listen carefully, you‘ll even hear
the violins.
A culture of new writing
 |
| Transmissions
|
The fortunate
thing for me is that the culture of new writing at The REP is taken
seriously. We are taken seriously. All our voices are heard and they
are driven to their individual destinations, however dangerous the
journey.
The best thing for me now, two plays later, is that I no longer feel
scared, or unnerved. Instead, I feel proud of our culture and of our
community.
I feel it has given me the right to say ‘I am a writer’.
Transmissions doesn’t only broadcast new writing – it saves it. And
if you get close enough to the stage, you might feel that burning
intensity.
Farrah’s
play about a convicted murderer, 'The Straine' can be seen at The
REP on Wednesday 9th July at 7.45pm.
Transmissions Festival runs from 2nd - 12th July.
For further information visit the or contact the Box Office on 0121 236 4455.
If you
fancy writing a play and would like to take part in Transmissions,
then The REP is starting to recruit for next year. Who knows - next
year we could be featuring you on the website!
For further details contact Caroline Jester on 0121 245 2000 or email:
caroline.jester@birmingham-rep.co.uk.
|
