Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland is the nation’s only arts organisation exclusively dedicated to the long-term support, development and promotion of Scotland’s playwrights. They work actively and creatively with playwrights, connecting them with audiences and organisations, for the ultimate enrichment and enjoyment of the people of Scotland and beyond.
Cove Park and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland have worked together since 2013, bringing playwrights from Scotland and overseas together for residencies which allow focused time for developing new writing. Each year, the New Playwrights Awards provide an important professional development opportunity for five early career playwrights. A key part of the Award is a week-long retreat at Cove Park. Alongside a £2,000 bursary, mentoring sessions with a professional playwright and a day of script development with a director and actors, the Cove Park element allows playwrights to generate ideas, write a first draft or work on redrafting their plays. Every playwright approaches it differently.
Previous Playwright Studio Scotland residents at Cove Park include Frances Poet, Sara Shaarawi and Anita Vettesse.
Fiona Sturgeon Shea, Creative Director of Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland:
“Our partnership with Cove Park has become a valuable and essential part of our work as Scotland’s development organisation for playwrights. Since the partnership began, at least 25 new plays have been written, re-drafted or completed during residencies at Cove Park. The feedback we receive from playwright is unfailingly positive. They tell us that it meets their imaginative and practical needs, allowing them solitude and inspiration and the opportunity to meet other artists. Our visit in 2015, with three playwrights from Brazil and three from Scotland, was a very special time for us, as we forged artistic relationships and strong friendships that I have no doubt will last a lifetime.”
Frances Poet, Playwright:
“Since my first visit in 2015, I have made a yearly pilgrimage to Cove Park and written four new plays in its extraordinary setting. There’s a strange sort of magic about Cove Park that makes exciting things happen. Writing anywhere else feels onerous.”