Artists
We are highly aware of the financial and challenges amidst COVID-19 and hope these links might be of some support.
Support from Fifth Word
Send us your play
We welcome unsolicited scripts submissions from the UK or Ireland for consideration for future productions, or projects. We are interested in stories relevant to the world around us today, from the perspective of those that often go unheard and that resonate with new and younger audiences.
Please note that we currently have a backlog due to ensuring the company’s survival and applying for emergency funding, so it has been taking us longer than 12 weeks to respond, but we will respond as soon as possible.
Invite us to your work (we have zoom)
To invite us to your work, or to let us know more about the work that you are interested to make, please email us at info@fifthword.co.uk.
Community Projects
We are committed to creating projects with, and for, our local communities in the East Midlands.
Our current project is LIGHTS UP in partnership with Derby City Libraries supported by Derby Theatre and made possible thanks to Heritage Lottery Fund
Past projects include:
This is Normanton
Your project proposals are welcome. Please do email us at info@fifthword.co.uk and we will respond within 12 weeks.
Keeping Creative
Free writing exercises from the Royal Court - www.cptheatre.co.uk/get-involved/opportunities
Masterclasses from The Bush Theatre www.bushtheatre.co.uk/festival/masterclasses
Culture in Quarantine from the BBC - www.bbc.co.uk/arts
Financial Survival, Wellbeing, Unions
Peggy Ramsay Foundation
Grants are available for theatre writers in order to afford them the time and the space to write. You can be a writer who’s only had one play professionally produced, a writer who’s had dozens of successes or a writer who’s somewhere in between - if you’re struggling to pay the bills, then they can help.
Acting for Others
Advises people to get in touch if you are a theatre worker that has been affected by Covid-19 for more information about how they can support.
Actors' Benevolent Fund
Considering applications from professional actors, actresses and stage managers.
Arts Council England
Support for individuals including sources of non-Arts Council support for art-form practitioners.
BECTU
Creative industries support funds and resources.
Equity Charitable Trust
Educational grants for professional performers to retrain and re-qualify in a different field – see welfare grants.
Funds for Freelancers
If you're in need of financial support email submissions@paultaylormills.com with a few sentences about your situation.
Guide to Tax Debt and Mental Health
Valuable information and advice for dealing with debt and its impact on mental health.
Theatre Artists Fund
Emergency support for theatre workers and freelancers across the UK who are in need of urgent and critical financial support due to the devastating impact of Covid-19 on the theatre sector. Spearheaded by Sam Mendes and made possible by a generous donation from Netflix.
Theatre Community Fund
Grants of up to £3000 for hardship in partnership with the Fleabag Support Fund or creative and innovation. Grants will be distributed in partnership with the Royal Theatrical Fund. Applications for hardship grants will open monthly for five days, with the next round anticipated in September.
Writers Guild Great Britain COVID 19 Guidelines
WGGB have agreed guidelines that provide a blueprint for protecting working playwrights during these challenging times, when existing work is being streamed free, and writers are under pressure to accept digital work for low rates.