Thanks for the helpful suggestions at the D&D Satellite event from [email protected] and others who joined my session. Here are some notes:

Join relevant Facebook groups, such as UK Theatre Producers, London Fringe Theatre Actors and Producers.

If you are going to self-produce, think about funding, including crowd funding. That can be a way to get small donations that add up eg around £500 could be crowd funded easily.

Rehearsal spaces such as New Diorama, Theatre Deli, Nursery Theatre, So and So at the Bridge, Cockpit, Theatre N16.

Look for someone who could offer mentoring sessions and feedback.

Go to new writing workshops.

Look out for new writing nights, such as the Bread and Roses Theatre.

Some theatres offer a split profit basis.

Cost of rehearsal should be about £70 a day.

Ideally you need 10-12 days of rehearsal.

Ask for free space.

Marketing – try to get into a theatre’s events programme as early as possible, so they can promote it.

Print posters to put up around the local area and the bar of the theatre.

Invite everyone you know.

Use Twitter, Facebook etc

The more money you have invested, the more you should market it.

Make sure you get in listings such as Time Out, place an advert in local newspapers.

Think about costs of props and costumes – borrow as much as possible.

Lights and sound – usually a venue will do this but will charge you.

Reviews – these are important when you approach the next venue. Ask the London Theatre Review to send someone, as well as Time Out and of course, LGBTQ+ Arts Review.

Length – don’t make your play more than two hours. If you want to go to Edinburgh or other fringe festivals, one hour is preferable, as many venues have this time slot.

Cast size – bigger cast size = more friends of cast to attend the plays, help funding etc but more than 7 or 8 becomes a logistical nightmare.

You can call the first production a work in progress.

Stripping a play back to the bare essentials can help.

Are you going to direct your own play? If not, you need to pay a director.

You could start with rehearsed readings, asking actors to come to a certain place at a certain time, buy them a drink, most would be happy to help. You can invite an audience to this.

Submit your play to theatres eg Camden People’s, The Vaults, even The Royal Court and other bigger theatres, as they have literary departments and can give feedback although it may take several months for them to read your play.

Look out for calls for submission eg Putney Arts Theatre has themed call outs.

Keep an eye on Clapham Omnibus website and sign up for newsletter.

Old Red Lion – looks for new writing - eg horror plays.