Writers and actors, a chance to get together and read some scenes.

Cold Reads is an opportunity for actors and writers to come together, to read a brand new script out loud for the first time. This year’s Cold Reads scripts have been selected through our Ideas Submission window. They’re new pieces of writing that excited the panel. Come along for an opportunity to perform, practice your cold reading skills and feedback on writing, or just listen to a new work by a local writer, whilst networking with other local theatre artists.

Producers, directors and other theatre makers are also welcome to attend. If you do not wish to read please make Beccy aware at the beginning of the session.

Monday 15 July – Above Water

This Cold Reads session we’ll be reading ‘Above Water’ by Sarah Kolawole.

If you are an Amplify member and have a script of 10 pages or less that you would like to be considered for reading during this session, alongside the full play reading, please email it to beccy.dsouza.01@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk with subject line “Cold Reads; 15 July” on or before 8 July 2024.

This Cold Reads session is open to all, but as the characters in this play are all either black or mixed race with black heritage, priority will be given to black / mixed race with black heritage actors for reading.

About the play: Above Water

‘Above Water’ is a play about a set of twins responding in very different ways to the aftermath of their mother’s death in their childhood.

Having abruptly left her family home wrapped with guilt and anger, Arlene returns after hearing that her grandma is going back to their home island of Nevis in the Caribbean. Arlene has been estranged from her family, including her twin brother, for a number of years. After blaming herself and her aunt’s controlling boyfriend for her mother’s freak drowning, she returns to face her twin and the secrets she thought were truly buried.

‘Above Water’ is a play about family after loss, the warmth, the joy and soul which ties us together in the face of conflict and change.

Trigger warnings: This play contains themes around death by drowning, suicide, mental health and domestic violence.

 

Tuesday 23 July – Champing at the Bit

This Cold Reads session we’ll be reading Champing at the Bit by John Booker.

If you are an Amplify member and have a script of 10 pages or less that you would like to be considered for reading during this session, alongside the full play reading, please email it to beccy.dsouza.01@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk with subject line “Cold Reads; 23 July” on or before 16 July 2024.

About the play: Champing at the Bit

The local bookies is closing down, to these regulars the closure of the bookmakers is like losing a member of their family, it’s the only place of refuge for these older working class men. It’s also the last day of the famous Cheltenham festival, giving them one last chance to celebrate. One of the regulars has had a tip for the first race of the day putting all his savings on it and plans to let it ride. Can he turn a sad day into a special one?

 

Wednesday 11 September – The Ghosts of Libertalia

This Cold Reads session we’ll be reading The Ghosts of Libertalia by Matthew Gabrielli. The session will be fully BSL interpreted.

If you are an Amplify member and have a script of 10 pages or less that you would like to be considered for reading during this session, alongside the full play reading, please email it to beccy.dsouza.01@nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk with subject line “Cold Reads; 11th September” on or before 4th September 2024.

About the play: Ghosts of Libertalia

1720, Britannia rules the waves, rich off the back of slavery, the British Empire governs its colonies through trade, taxation and violence.

However, the crew of the Habsburg Revenge have abandoned the strict hierarchy of British rule instead governing their ship through elections, working with crews of all races and genders, providing job security for their disabled shipmates, the authorities have a name for sailors who do this… pirates.

To escape the British Navy, Quartermaster Goliath, believes he and his crew can build a new life for themselves in Libertalia, a pirate colony based on democracy and justice for all. Here he and his partner Edward (the ship’s surgeon) can live and grow old together. But below decks rumours of an ill captain, curses and ghostly visitations are haunting the crew. With an oncoming storm and a restless workforce can the Libertalia survive the journey?

Ghosts of the Libertalia mixes historical drama and horror, inspired by the legends and realities of 18th Century Pirates, it’s a play about outsiders finding their own community, how the past haunts the present and how great ideas never die.

Content warnings: Ghosts of Libertalia is set in the early 1700s and several of the characters experience or describe experiences that contemporary audiences may find distressing including; references to misogynistic attitudes, experiences of slavery and racism, references to homophobic and ableist attitudes. Fights, violence and blood is seen on stage and there are references to sexually transmitted diseases and outdated treatments.  A non-binary AFAB character confides their identity to another character and is later outed against their will. This same character is accidentally wounded with a sword.