What is NOVA?
NOVA is a seed commission for writers of South Asian heritage or connections offered by Tara Theatre to submit and explore ideas inspired by the themes of Tara Theatre’s future seasons.
Themes for our future seasons include:
Climate Emergency
- “displacement & migration…”
- “Political hypocrisy & agendas…”
- “Climate justice & reconnecting with our natural world…
War and Protest
- “Post-colonial impact…”
- “Radicalization…”
- “Catalyzing change…”
Automation
- “Automation vs autonomy…”
- “Virtual vs reality…”
- “A.I and the future…”
If you have a piece of work that sits outside these themes but you believe to be politically activated, please feel free to submit.
How does it work?
A window will open for submissions for writers to send us their work through an online submission form.
Writers can submit their ideas in the form of either:
- A synopsis
- A pitch
- A script extract (no more than 10 pages long)
Please note: if you are submitting a synopsis or a pitch, please provide an example of your writing no more than 10 pages long.
This should be accompanied with thoughts around the following questions:
Q1. Tell us about yourself. Please briefly include information about your background and your location. (150 words)
Q2. Why is this work important now? (150 words)
Q3. Tara Theatre makes politically charged theatre. Why do you want to work with Tara Theatre to develop your work? (150 words)
These can be sent to us as either a written, video or audio submission. (3 minutes maximum).
What can your ideas be?
Your ideas can be original ideas, adaptations or revivals.
What is our offer?
- A paid seed commission of £1,500
- Writing Masterclass and dramaturgical support from acclaimed playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and our in-house artistic team
- Opportunities to speak to our marketing and producing team
- In-kind space at Tara Theatre to write and develop your work
- A period of development of your work from page to stage culminating in a public performance led by a team of professional directors and actors at Tara Theatre
- Facilitated audience feedback for future development of the work
- Networking and producing opportunities
NOVA Submissions are now closed.
Our script submission window at Tara Theatre was open until Thu 1 Aug.
Due to current limitations with funding, we aim to use our resources in the best way possible to support writers.
At present we only have capacity to receive scripts during this window. Our team will aim to read every script submitted to us within this window and you will hear back on whether you were successful or not within 8-12 weeks of submission.
If you would like to have an informal chat about NOVA, please email our Associate Director, Gavin Joseph at gavin@taratheatre.com
Submission Window
The window for submissions opened on Monday 1 July 2024 at 10AM and closed on Thursday 1 August 2024 at 11:59PM.
Key Dates
1 Jul Submissions Open
1 Aug Submissions Close
Oct 2024 NOVA Writers Announced
W/C 5th May 2025 Rehearsals and Showcase at Tara Theatre
Access
If you would like to submit your application in a different format such as Large Font or another Accessible Format, we would be happy to accommodate this. Please contact ellie@taratheatre.com
We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates from Global Majority backgrounds and candidates who self-identify as disabled and neurodiverse. All candidates who self-identify as disabled who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited for interview. Tara Theatre is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.
NOVA is generously supported by
