Writing for Performance Workshop with Felispeaks
Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Midnight Irish Time, Sunday 7 March, 2021.
PLEASE read the FAQs carefully. If you have a query that has not been answered below, please email chandrika@fishamble.com.
These FAQs will be updated regularly.
Q: What is WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP WITH FELISPEAKS?
Fishamble: The New Play Company is joining forces with poet, performer and playwright Felicia Olusanya (Felispeaks) to offer a Writing for Performance workshop. This playwriting workshop will consist of three sessions. The aim of the workshops is to support underrepresented voices in Irish theatre, by providing the training and tools to write for the stage.
This workshop will be jointly run by Felicia and Fishamble Literary Manager, Gavin Kostick. It is aimed at people who want to write for public performance.
Q. Why is Fishamble running this initiative?
Fishamble is a new play company which produces new work for the public. As such, the company believes that a diverse range of voices for the stage is good to society as a whole. To achieve this, Fishamble has run a wide range of development initiatives aimed at underrepresented, marginalised, and/or under resourced groups. For example, over the last few years, we have worked with artists over 55 as part of Prime, TY students from Dublin’s NEIC as part of the Trinity Access Programme, Arts and Disability Ireland for writers with disability, Big Ambitions with Dublin Fringe for younger artists, prisoners with the Mountjoy Education Department, Croke Park Community, and Larkin Community College. In particular, Fishamble has worked across Ireland in a number of geographic communities delivering Mentorship programmes for artists in their locality, in partnership with local arts centres.
This workshop is in addition to a range of other Fishamble workshops, development initiatives, and courses, details of which are available on our website.
Fishamble acknowledges that mainstream Irish theatre lacks representation from the many artistic voices present here in Ireland. As a theatre company dedicated to telling the story of Ireland through new plays, we hope that this pilot workshop provides the tools, expertise, and support that encourages those stories to be told by a wider range of voices.
Q. Who is Felispeaks?
Felicia Olusanya is a Nigerian-Irish Poet, Performer, Playwright from Co. Longford; currently living in Maynooth town, Co. Kildare. Performing under the name Felispeaks, she has been nominated for ‘Best Performer’ by Dublin Fringe Festival September 2018 for her performance in ‘BOYCHILD’, a co-written play by Dagogo Hart and herself. As well as being a Member of Poetry Ireland's Board, Felicia is a member of the Poetry Collective, WeAreGriot. Felispeaks’ poem: ‘For Our Mothers’ is in the Ordinary Level English Leaving Cert Curriculum 2021 - 2024.
Q. Are there any other facilitators?
In addition to Felicia Olusanya, Gavin Kostick, the Literary Manager at Fishamble will assist in the facilitation of these sessions.
Q. Who is eligible to apply for this workshop?
In order to participate you must fulfill all of the following requirements:
- You must be currently resident on the island of Ireland.
- You must identify as one or more of the following:
- Black
- A person of colour
- From an ethnic minority background
- A migrant
- You must have some experience in writing, for any medium. You do not have to have had experience in writing for the stage.
- You must be available to attend the sessions, outlined below.
This workshop aims to offer focussed and direct support to artists, and as such, only 12 participants will be chosen to take part.
Q. Will this initiative be conducted online or in person?
In line with current government restrictions in place due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, these three sessions will be held online via Zoom.
All details of access will be relayed to the chosen writers following the close of the application process.
Q. What are the dates and times of the workshop sessions?
Sunday 21th March: 10am – 1pm
Saturday 27th 10am – 3pm
Sunday 28th March 10am – 3pm
Q. I cannot attend all three sessions, can I still apply?
Due to the limited number of participants, we politely ask that you only apply if you can guarantee you will be able to attend all three sessions.
Q. If selected to participate, how will Fishamble support me?
Fishamble pays all artists who take part in its development initiatives. We value the time you spend developing your creative skills on this programme. To this end, you will be paid a stipend of €350 if chosen to participate.
Q. Will being involved with WRITING FOR PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP WITH FELISPEAKS cost me money?
No. It is free to submit an application.
Q. Will Fishamble offer any additional supports?
By exploring poetry for text and movement, monologues, performance, and developing your personal voice for drama, we will help guide you towards further avenues for the development of your work.
Q. What experience is necessary to participate?
As this workshop is intended to help develop currently active writers, we request that you outline your relevant experience in your application. Relevant experience can be in any format, e.g. prose, literature, drama, etc. You are not required to have previously written for the stage to apply for this workshop.
Q. How old do I have to be to apply?
Applicants can be of any age.
Q: I am a professionally produced playwright – can I apply?
Yes.
Q: I have taken part in other Fishamble initiatives such as DUETS and/or the New Play Clinic - can I apply?
Yes.
Q. I am a writer with a disability - can I apply?
Of course. Please let us know if you will need any special assistance during the process by contacting chandrika@fishamble.com.
Q: English is not my first language, should I apply?
Yes, we welcome submissions from people of all cultural backgrounds. When submitting your writing sample, it can be a translation of your work as well. Please do make sure the translation is in English or Irish.
Q. Can I withdraw my application?
Yes. After applications close on 7 March 2021, you can email Fishamble to ask that your application is withdrawn from consideration.
