The Talking Shop

A Cultural and Political Creation & Information Centre

An Omidaze Productions R&D project supported National Theatre Wales, Dirty Protest, Creative Cardiff and The National Assembly of Wales.

Writers’ Call Out

Omidaze are seeking to commission two writers to join them in The Talking Shop for five days between 25 March and 20 April 2019.  Due to the availability of the shop unit, the timeline for submissions is extremely tight.

Deadline for submissions is 9am Sunday 16 March

Successful applicants will be notified by 20 March

What is the Talking Shop?

The concept of the Talking Shop is a public R&D space which encourages and promotes cultural and political engagement.

The Talking Shop, located in an empty shop in the Cardiff City Centre,

will be a month long conversation with the public from which we will form Omidaze’s next production(s). The Talking Shop is a space for the public and artists to talk, and for artists to create in response.

The Talking Shop encourages and facilitates public engagement with arts and culture, and political systems and structures.  It is a public space in which to articulate, champion and strengthen the role of culture and democracy in society and empower through a sharing of information and knowledge.

The writers

Three writers. Four weeks. One public space. A table and chairs. A sign with today’s question.

Inside the Talking Shop we will R&D Omidaze’s next production(s) by working with writers and the public on the topic of political and cultural engagement.

We are living in turbulent and uncertain political times. Omidaze are in search of socially and politically engaged, bold new writing with which to shake things up, empower, inform, entertain and inspire change.

We know that we want to focus on political and cultural engagement. We know we must seek out voices that are currently under-represented in our theatres, our live performances and our audiences. We must listen carefully to what excites, angers, engages and inspires people in Wales and Britain today. We want to hear people’s views and thoughts on politics, culture and society. We know we must listen to things that perhaps we would rather not hear. We know we need to not be behind closed doors to develop our next piece. We know we need to stop doing the talking and listen to perhaps difficult conversations. Really listen. And from this, we seek to form our next piece of work.

We therefore need writers who have great people and listening skills. Writers who will welcome and be stimulated and inspired by public interaction. We also need writers with a passion for socially and/or politically engaged writing.

Call Out Details

The two successful applicants will need to be available to commit to one week (five full days) to be inside The Talking Shop, writing and engaging with the public. These five days do not need to be consecutive and will be scheduled throughout the four weeks of The Talking Shop, taking into account each writer’s preference and availability.  Each Talking Shop writer will produce a treatment of the full-length piece they would want to write as a result of their time in the Talking Shop, along with a sample scene for a public rehearsed reading, to happen after the Talking Shop has closed.

Key Dates

16 March      Writers Call Out Deadline

20 March      Writers Notified

23 March      Talking Shop Opens

20 April          Talking Shop Closes

26 April          Deadline for Writers to submit treatment and sample scene

8 May            Public Rehearsed Readings

9/10 May      Evaluation

Fee

£500 per writer, inclusive fee

How to Apply

Send a CV and a 2 page sample of your work and tell us in 500 words or less why you want to work with Omidaze and be part of The Talking Shop pilot project.

Please send your completed application to Omidaze Artistic Director, Yvonne Murphy: y.murphy1@ntlworld.com

Deadline 9am 17 March 2019

We actively encourage applications from women and writers who are currently under-represented on the Welsh and UK stage.

Further information about the Talking Shop:

A Cultural Information Centre

In The Talking Shop you can also find out things. What is on in theatres and performance spaces in Cardiff and beyond? What shows are on in galleries, what exhibitions are happening, concerts and workshops.  Find out about creative learning and participation projects and how to book an artist to deliver work in your school or business. It is a physical listings hub. A place to drop in and find stuff out. To add to. To be part of. It is a physical ‘What’s On’ Space. It’s a one-stop shop which everyone helps curate.

A Political Information Centre

It is also a place to find out about and understand our political structures and systems. It has no political bias or party affiliation. Our political systems will be explained. The difference, for example, between local elections and general elections. You can pick up leaflets and information about the engagement team at the Welsh Assembly, book a workshop to come to your school or meet a member of the engagement team. Find out about our parliaments, how to start a petition and who holds the power. Find out who to speak to about what. Access, Engagement and Social Justice are key.

A Creative Centre

The Talking Shop is for artists, creatives and the public to get together, share ideas, collaborate. It is a new way of working. Just pop in and sit on the sofa. Have a cup of tea and be inspired, challenged, informed. Work. Listen. Network. Research. Want to know if people are interested in your artistic vision? Bring it here and ask people. Meet members of the public. Tell them about your show, your work, your idea. Want to ask someone what’s on and what’s not and why not. Step inside. Let’s think about this. Together.

 For further information, contact Yvonne Murphy - https://www.omidaze.co.uk/