writers anonymous

writersanon@live.com.au

Writers Anonymous (WA) is associated with Actors Anonymous (AA). It consists of a group of playwrights who meet in an informal and collaborative atmosphere to hear their work read by actors in front of an audience of their peers. Members include actors, directors, producers and others theatre professionals who support the development of new work.

Writers Anonymous welcomes first time and seasoned writers who are developing scripts for theatre, radio, film and television.

The purpose of Writers Anonymous (WA) readings is to help writers create new plays. So by definition, the plays read at our meetings are not polished, perfected works. The philosophy of WA is that the real value of our readings comes from the writer hearing the work read aloud - it is then that the writer can hear whether a line or a scene is working.

• Where: Writers Anonymous @ Bar Me, 154 Brougham Street, Kings Cross. BarMe is a few minutes walk from Kings Cross railway station. Turn down William Street and take first right into Brougham Street. BarMe is opposite O’Malley’s Pub. Readings are downstairs in the historic El Rocco night club. Venue info @ www.barme.com.au
• Admission: $10 includes a glass of beer, wine or soft drink (door fee goes to venue).
• When: 7-9pm,  Monday 6th July;  Monday 3rd August 2009, (thereafter as advised).
• How to Join: Membership of Writers Anonymous is free. Just turn up at meetings. 

 The General Idea:  Writers are allocated from 10 – 30 minutes for their work. Works performed can be short plays, or an excerpt from a full length play, radio play, film or TV script, so long as what is to be performed fits into the time slot allocated. Every now and then we’ll have a full length reading when convenors feel that it’s warranted.

Total reading time is 90 minutes, so three or more pieces will be read in one evening by actors, script in hand, after a short rehearsal with a director sometime beforehand.

A small amount of time is available for immediate feedback, but most people are happy to share additional thoughts directly with a writer at the end of the readings.

How to get your work read and stay informed:

• Join Actors Anonymous at www.actorsanonymous.com.au . Writers Anonymous membership is automatic for AA members.

• Attend Actors Anonymous (AA) and Writers Anonymous (WA) meetings.

• Email your script to writersanon@live.com.au .

• You’ll receive an acknowledgement from WA, let you know the next reading slot available and the time allocated – up to 30 minutes. Your reading will usually be at the next WA meeting, if you submit your script no later than 3 weeks beforehand. We’ll also tell you the date that a director will be assigned and actors cast.

• Actors will normally be cast at the regular Actors Anonymous meeting a week or so before your reading. AA Meetings are 7-9pm every second Wednesday at The World Bar, Bayswater Road, Kings Cross. You can arrange your own director and actors so long as you let us know the details at info@actorsanonymous.com.au well before the Actors Anonymous e-newsletter goes out calling for actors to read your work.

• Attend the casting at the nominated AA meeting and bring copies of scripts for the director and each member of the cast. Help the director organize a convenient short rehearsal reading with actors prior to WA reading. event.  A tip, Bar Me opens at 6pm and a read through 30 minutes or so before the WA reading may be an option.

• Turn up as usual on the WA night to fret, cringe, perspire, curse and enjoy.

Details of Writers Anonymous readings will be published in the fortnightly Actors Anonymous E-newsletter. Subscribe free at www.actorsanonymous.com.au or send an email to info@actorsanonymous.com.au and ask to be included as AA member. It’s a good idea to also join the Actors Anonymous and Writers Anonymous Facebook sites.

Actors Anonymous meets every two weeks from 7pm to 9pm Wednesday evenings on the top floor of The World Bar, Bayswater Road, Kings Cross (opposite Hugo’s).
Membership is free. Friends include ‘Parnassus’ Den’, ‘Short & Sweet’ and ‘Crash Test’.
Convenors: Gerry Greenland & Stephen Carnell

More information, questions, etc to: writersanon@live.com.au

Directors - please read our note for Directors here>

Writers - please read our note for Writers here>