OPEN CALL
Closing date for applications: Friday 7th January 2022
Wexford County Council, in partnership with Wexford Arts Centre, seeks applications for a new Wexford Playwright Commission themed around commemoration of the period 1916-23.
This award will allow a Wexford based playwright to research and develop a new theatre work, addressing themes of commemoration of the period 1916 – 23. This commission forms part of Wexford County Council’s Decade of Centenaries Programme (2012- 2023) and is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under their Community Strand.
This aim of this new work is to respond, with sensitivity, to the historical context of the revolutionary period in County Wexford and to promote a deeper understanding of the significant historical events of one hundred years ago. The new work will encourage reflection today about the multiple identities, traditions and perspectives that are part of the overall Irish historical experience.
Themes around commemoration identified
Arising from community consultations leading into the decade of centenaries, some themes of interest to County Wexford and this historical period were identified. These include:
- The wider effect of conflict on families and public life
- The role of women during this period
- The labour movement
- Destruction of the large houses
- War on the railways
The commissioned playwright will be selected by open call to research and develop a script of a new play to include drafts presented for review, stage reading and further script development as required. This will lead to a final script in relation to themes identified for production consideration by Wexford Arts Centre in association with Four Rivers production company and Wexford County Council in 2023. The playwright will have full access to Wexford County Council Library and Archives with their extensive digital archives relating to this period. In addition, the playwright will have access to work produced by Barry Lacey, Wexford Public Library Service’s Historian in Residence during this commemoration.
Award: A fee of €10,000 will be awarded to the playwright for the Wexford Playwright Commission Award to cover all fees and expenses in relation to research, delivery of draft scripts and final production script delivery. In addition, this fee includes first refusal production rights to Wexford Arts Centre in partnership with Wexford County Council, to perform the play up to 24 months from completion of the final draft. This will be detailed and agreed in a commission contract issued by Wexford Arts Centre and Wexford County Council with the awarded playwright . Ben Barnes, Director of Four Rivers, a new theatre initiative for South East Ireland will provide limited dramaturg and director support for the development of the script.
Expressions of interest should include
- Proposed play synopsis including cast requirements (max 4 actors) themed around commemoration (maximum 500 words).
- Timeline proposal for research and delivery of play by end of year in 2022
- Up to date CV – highlighting relevant work
- One previous script for reference.
Submissions are open to all playwrights who are over 18 years of age and currently living in Wexford. Playwrights from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applications procedure
Please email required documentation noting Wexford Playwright Commission Award in email subject to elizabeth@wexfordartscentre.ie
Deadline for receipt of applications: Friday 7th January 2022
As equal opportunities employers, we encourage and welcome applications from people based in Wexford of all genders, nationalities, races, cultural backgrounds, ages, religions, languages, abilities, sexual orientations and socio-economic statuses.
APPENDIX A
Decade of Centenaries Plan 2021:
https://www.wexfordcoco.ie/libraries/decade-of-centenaries-plan-2021
Wexford Public Library Service Historian-in-Residence Barry Lacey has produced the following presentations in relation to the Decade of Centenaries 2021:
Flames along the Wexford coast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhwFYhYONUw
The Railways and County Wexford’s Revolutionary period (1916-1923) which will be premiered on
22nd October: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIIvXfNTE-M
Barry is currently working on an online presentation called “Wexford, women and the road to
freedom” and is organising town walks which explore the events of the War of Independence and
the Civil War in Wexford – during October and November 2021.
For all enquiries to Barry Lacey please email hazel.percival@wexfordcoco.ie
Walking Tours with Historian in residence Barry Lacey October – November 2021
Wexford historian in residence Barry Lacey will give Wexford War of Independence and Civil war
tours. Meet at town libraries at 10.30am sharp. Tours 1 hour long.
30 October (Enniscorthy) 6 November (Wexford), 13 November ( New Ross), 20 November ( New Ross)
Advanced Booking required and can be made by contacting each local library:
The following presentations have also been produced By Wexford County Council to date through
the Decade of Centenaries funding:
“Sport and War in County Wexford” by Paul Rouse:
“Wexford’s Civil War Dead” by Aaron Ó Maonaigh:
Cumann na mBan in Co. Wexford and the effects of conflict on women and children in the County by
Liz Gillis:
Wexford War of Independence Presentation by Barry Lacey: Produced in 2021
The intriguing tale of Captain Percival Lea Wilson of Gorey – A Marked Man!:
;The Road to Independence; – War of Independence in Wexford film by Barry Lacey and Michael
Fortune:
The Burning of Wexford Country Houses, 1919-1923:
War of Independence Interview Series: Part 1 to 4
Wexford County Archive:
https://wexfordcountyarchive.com /
County Archive exhibition as part of DOC21:
The Reference section is located in Wexford town library:
https://www.wexfordcoco.ie/libraries/opening-hours-and-branches/wexford-town-library
