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CALLING ALL DIRECTORS
CALLING ALL DIRECTORS
THE NORWICH PLAYERS THEATRE COMPANY COMMITTEE INVITES APPLICATIONS TO DIRECT FOR THE 2027 SEASON.
Please reply with your proposed title(s) to tony.fullwood@maddermarket.org by 1st March 2026
The NPTC committee invites anyone interested in directing a play for our 2027 season to submit their suggested titles.
DIRECTOR CRITERIA
It should be noted that we currently do not allow anyone to direct a mainstage or studio show for more than three years in succession. In addition, we are unlikely to offer a production slot to anyone who has never been involved with the Maddermarket previously and/or has a limited directing experience. We do however strongly encourage such people to apply to be Assistant Director on one or more of our current shows with a view to being offered their own production – perhaps in the studio first – in the future.
PLAY CHOICE CRITERIA and GENRE
The Maddermarket Articles say we will ‘provide for the production of the plays of Shakespeare, representative plays of other English classical dramatists, meritorious plays of other English dramatists or authors including modern plays, and translations of representative plays of foreign dramatists, ancient or modern.’
Whilst the Committee is pleased to consider any titles suggested by directors, it may be helpful to know that a typical NPTC season consists of about 6 or 7 mainstage and 2 studio productions and might include some of the following:
A Shakespeare play*; classic plays from earlier centuries by any playwright (whether originally written in English or not); a family Christmas show**; a thriller and/or crime drama; a dramatization of a well-known novel; a popular comedy title *** and a modern play of merit.
In addition, the NPTC Committee is keen to widen our programming so we would also be particularly open to titles that encourage diversity, both in performers and audiences.
It is worth noting that we would be particularly keen to hear about both popular comedy titles – something missing in 2025 – and a Shakespeare play. We have not performed one since 2024.
*We have recently presented Romeo and Juliet, The Merry Wives, The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night. Coriolanus and Richard III have been presented recently at the Sewell Barn. Any other Shakespeare play could be of interest. (Note: A-level & GCSE exam syllabuses for 2027 include Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, The Taming of the Shrew, The Winter’s Tale and Merchant of Venice.)
**It may be helpful to know that recently our most successful family Christmas shows have been scripts from Roald Dahl and the Narnia stories. We’d be interested to hear of something similar.
*** Possible comedies might include plays by Alan Ayckbourn or Alan Bennett, or farces such as A Flea in her Ear (Feydeau). Stage versions of notable television comedy programmes would also be considered.
Whilst we cannot guarantee we will be able to accept your proposal, we want to cast the net as wide as we can.
STUDIO PRODUCTIONS AND ‘MAINSTAGE-LITE’
Plays chosen for studio performance are likely to be ones we feel are unlikely to attract sufficient audience for the mainstage but which, whether classic titles or new writing, we should be presenting because of their dramatic qualities.
In 2026, we are also experimenting with what we call a ‘mainstage lite’ production. It is likely we will continue to do this as an alternative for less well-known or popular titles that might not be easy to stage in the studio and/or might attract more audience than a typical studio show but not enough for a full mainstage production. Their budget will be closer to that for a studio rather than a mainstage show and their ‘get-in time’ will be shorter.
SEASON PROGRAMMING TIMELINE
Directors will be contacted no later than March to confirm whether their proposed titles are under consideration. We may then ask for further details about the play and/or production ideas.
The Committee aims to complete the choice of plays for the season, agree performance dates and gain licences for them by mid-summer 2026.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send us the following details :
A brief resumé of your directing experience, especially in recent years.
The one or two play(s) you propose directing and their publisher(s). If you offer more than one title we ask that they should be of different genre, if possible.
Why you want to direct it/them.
Why you feel it/they would suit the Maddermarket and whether intended for the main stage, ‘mainstage lite’ or the studio.
Brief descriptions of each play’s casting, set and technical requirements – as you see them. If you feel something is likely to be particularly tricky/costly, please say.
Finally, tell us if there are particular performance slots you prefer or any which are not possible. The provisional 2027 schedule is as follows :
February 3rd-7th Mainstage-lite or Studio
Get-in from : Sun 31 Jan if lite; Sun 24 Jan if studio
March 17th-21st (in association with UEA): Mainstage
Get-in from : Sunday 7th March
April 28th-May 2nd Mainstage-lite or Studio
Get-in from Sun 25th April if lite; Sun 18th April if studio
June : 16th-20th Mainstage
Get-in from: Sunday 6th June
July: 21st-25th Mainstage
Get-in from: Sunday 11th July
September: 8th-12th Mainstage
Get-in from: Sunday 29th August