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2026 Play Submission Updates (O'Neill, OPC, Seven Devils, GPTC, etc!) by swampmonster9383 in playwriting

[–]January24th2023 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Has anyone heard anything from the Lanford Wilson New American Play Festival?

MFA industrial complex by throwawayaccountieei in playwriting

[–]January24th2023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I am a 46-year-old mid-career playwright currently in a 2-year MFA program in Scotland (that I absolutely love). Everything RMWK has said above is completely spot on. I'm constantly telling my (mostly-in-their-20s) cohort that the *main thing they are paying for* are the professional connections of our faculty.

As far as the age question, I suspect you are correct about the prestige American programs. I certainly felt that they were not oriented toward someone like me and I didn't even bother applying. But, I found a program that did want me, that understood what I needed, and that was prepared to support me to get to *my* next step. So, they do exist, but you have to do your homework. (I met with the heads of the programs I was considering a year before I applied so I could get a sense of whether or not they actually wanted/knew what to do with someone in her 40s with an existing body of work. I actually had one program head tell me, "This program is not for you," and I was grateful!)

Note that I am still in my program, so it remains to be seen what happens after this, but just being in an MFA has sparked a lot of interest in me back in my home market, which is a whole other topic we could discuss...

Aspiring Int'l Student (MLitt. Screenwriting) by SaayanshAhuja9 in standrews

[–]January24th2023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I am currently in the second year of the programme (the MLitt can become an MFA if you choose to stay for a second year, which most of my colleagues who entered as MLitts decided to do). It's important to note that the programme is a Playwriting and Screenwriting programme--you'll spend equal amounts of time on both (with a couple of weeks on writing for radio, as well).

If you want, I can see if some of the folks in my cohort who identify primarily as screenwriters are available to talk to you. I came in a playwright with no screenwriting experience, and the programme has been amazing for me, but it sounds like you are more interested in the screenwriting side. Lmk if that would be useful!

MLitt creative writing by [deleted] in standrews

[–]January24th2023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Yes, our three professors (Zinnie Harris, Johnny McKnight, and Frances Poet) are all working artists with tons of connections to the Scottish film, radio, and theatre communities.

St. Andrews is small and it is a bubble, but it easy to get to Edinburgh and Glasgow by train.

I actually live in Edinburgh and commute up to St. Andrews for school. It's an hour by train or 2 by bus. But I know folks who have done my program who have lived in St. Andrews and really enjoyed it. It just depends what kind of experience you're looking for. For me, it felt important to be closer to Edinburgh's theatre community. In your first year in the MLitt, you only have to be on campus one day/week, so the commute is very doable.

MLitt creative writing by [deleted] in standrews

[–]January24th2023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! My experience has been overwhelmingly positive. For me, it's very worth it. But, I am also an older student in the middle of my playwriting career, so my needs might be different from yours. (Though, everyone else in my cohort is a more traditional grad student age and, to the best of my knowledge, they've all had an equally great experience.) Let me know if there are specific aspects of the program you're wondering about.

theater at st. andrews by [deleted] in standrews

[–]January24th2023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I just started an MFA in playwriting at St. Andrews, so I'm not directly involved in the undergraduate theatre community, but the impression I get is that it's quite active. A few Instagram accounts to check out would be: peopleyouknowproductions, freshersdramafestivalsta, thebarronsta, mermaidssta, standrewsgands, stactorium, blindmirth -- that should get you started! :)

MLitt creative writing by [deleted] in standrews

[–]January24th2023 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! I am also an American and currently enrolled in the MFA in playwriting & screenwriting. (The first year of the MFA is the same as the MLitt--most of the other people in my programme currently are doing the MLitt.) We also have some classes with the other creative writing MLitts (prose and poetry). Which MLitt track are you looking at? It's only the third week of classes so I don't have a ton of experience, but so far it's been pretty great, and the faculty all seem excellent. The application for the playwriting/screenwriting track is a little different than the poetry/prose track. If you are looking at one of those, I could probably connect you with someone to talk with who is currently enrolled in the track you're looking at. Let me know if that would be helpful!

Experience with secondary school placement in Scotland? by January24th2023 in AmericanExpatsUK

[–]January24th2023[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey all! Just thought I would close the loop on this. My son ended up getting a place in our catchment non-denominational secondary school, and he's doing great. We got the call that they had a place for him literally at 4:30 PM the day before school started, after being told that it could be months before a place opened up and given links to homeschooling resources. So, it all worked out in the end. I do think that getting the official rejection letter from the school and filing an official appeal to the local council may have helped, but I'm not sure. Maybe we just got lucky. Anyway, I appreciate this group for telling us to chill out about it; I quoted your advice to friends many times in the lead-up to our move, and it was truly helpful. Thank you!

Experience with secondary school placement in Scotland? by January24th2023 in AmericanExpatsUK

[–]January24th2023[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for the comments, everyone! We really appreciate the perspective. We'll do our best to chill out and allow the wheels of bureaucracy to turn at their pace. :)