rough for opera

Open Call

Rough for Opera #19 – TEXT

An opportunity for librettists/text-writers to develop their texts for opera

Produced by Second Movement

Dates:

4 & 5 July 2024 – Development

11 & 12 September 2024 – Open process day & Presentations

Venue:

The Chelsea Theatre 7, World’s End Place, London SW10 0DR

What is Rough for Opera?

Rough for Opera is a scratch night: it’s a platform for new opera and work in development. It’s produced by Second Movement www.secondmovement.org.uk

The first Rough for Opera was in October 2011. Since then it has platformed more than 40 new operas and operas in development.

Each Rough for Opera is programmed from an open call for proposals. Up to three proposals are programmed per event.

What kind of proposals are we looking for?

The focus of this Rough for Opera is to provide librettists/text writers with an opportunity to review and develop their texts for new opera or music-based staged performance. We are looking for librettos that are ready for reading now, rather than something written speculatively for this call out. It can be a complete libretto, or fragments/extracts.

Work being created as part of a formal course of study is not eligible.

The time allocated to each librettist/text writer taking part is to focus on text and how it will relate to its music and future performance. You may have a composer/music writer you are working with on the idea – they are welcome to be part of your proposal. If a librettist is solo programmed we will assign a composer for the purposes of demonstrating the process of shaping text with music towards a performance. NB this is not a commission, it is for workshopping purposes only.

This is a unique opportunity to receive time and resources to develop your text’s stories and characters, with mentoring from a librettist and a music director, and a 20 minute presentation slot to show some of your process and work in progress to an audience.

The music for each piece will be realised by up to three singers and a piano/keyboard. If you are including a composer in your application we encourage them to also play the keys, but if that is not possible we can allocate a repetiteur.

We ask that your proposal is for:

Librettos/texts that are entirely original and previously unperformed
material that you have cleared the rights for, if quoting anything that is not your own writing
for a maximum of three performers
a complete work, or extracts
suitable for ages 12+

For Rough for Opera #19 – TEXT, Second Movement will provides the singers, to bring your text to life. You may be planning to direct the work you have written, but for this opportunity we ask that your approach to the time and resources on offer focuses on the text and your process as a librettist/text writer.

In the workshop days, this could look like:

reading the libretto aloud
improvising with text and music to see how music works with the text
explorations of physical renditions of text
swapping parts between voice types
discover how a word behaves at different pitches

Who can apply?

This is an opportunity for the writers of text for opera, to develop both the text writers and their texts. Second Movement welcomes applications from UK-based librettists/text-writers at any stage in their careers.

Second Movement’s processes, access provision and scheduling are informed by a desire to address underrepresentation and inequality in UK opera.

We are mindful that there is currently a lack of diversity on and off stage in the UK opera and classical music sector, and that those with disabilities[1] (which may include many neurodivergent people) are particularly underrepresented.

Our funding for Rough for Opera #19 – TEXT is targeted towards enabling opera makers from underrepresented groups and in particular those with disabilities, to take part, in full, in the programme.

We would therefore particularly encourage librettists/text writers with lived experience of disability (and neurodiversity) to apply for this, and welcome applications from people from other under-represented groups either because of a protected characteristic[2] or disadvantage.

This call for proposals is available in large print and audio.

For further information or support with access requirements for your application, contact Claire at roughforopera@secondmovement.org.uk.

[1] A disability is defined in the Equality Act 2010 as a physical or mental condition which has a substantial and long term effect on your abililty to do normal day to day activites. The definition also includes progressive conditions such as HIV, cancer or multiple sclerosis from the point of diagnosis.

[2] Nine protected characteristics are recognised by the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

What will happen at Rough for Opera #19 – TEXT?

4/5 July:

Three librettists/text-writers (and their composers/music writers) will be given two days in studio to workshop their text, working towards the 20 minute presentation in September.

Between 4 July and 18 August:

Librettists paid for one day of redrafting material coming out of the workshops, and sending to the composer for setting, Second Movement paying for two days of composer time to do this.

19 August:

To facilitate the performers in their preparation, and being off-book by September, we ask for the selection of materials as you wish them to be presented to be delivered as PDFs to Second Movement by Monday 19 August.

11 September:

Sharing process day – open process/rehearsal in slots 12:00-20:00 – groups are encouraged to attend each others’ sessions.

12 September:

15:00 and 19:30 – presentations for industry, peers, potential creative partners and paying audience.

Each presentation is 20 minutes – show some of your process and some of the work in progress.

Audience feedback about each performance will be obtained and shared with participants. This happens in two ways: a Q and A with the audience after each performance and written feedback from feedback forms issued to each audience member.

Both the process day and presentation day will be relaxed.

What is provided?

Fees: Successful applicants will receive £175/day each for attending the four days across July and September, plus an additional day for redrafting material coming out of the workshops (five days in total).

For each librettist/writer of text, Second Movement will provide and pay for:

the venue for workshops and presentation
a mentor librettist and musical director for reflection and guidance over the workshops and process day. These mentors will also offer an hour prior to 2 July to help focus the development process and organise time to make the most of the opportunity
Up to three singers per piece. Projects with smaller or greater number of characters are welcome, but these are the resources you have to develop the material. If you have written for a larger ensemble, this gives the opportunity to do more detailed work on a few characters or scenes involving up to three singers
If a librettist is solo programmed, we will allocate a composer for the purposes of workshopping and developing the texts with music. NB This is not a commission, it is for development process only
A fee for the composer’s time supporting the development of the librettists’ work in workshop and for presentation – including playing keys if that is within their skillset. Four days attendance and two days setting materials for the performers to prepare @£175/day.
piano or keyboard, music stands
a stage manager and Second Movement producer in theatre to support participants in September
Q & A, and audience feedback on presentations
a breakout room backstage for those who need a quiet space
travel costs to London for librettists and composers based outside the M25.

Access Support

Second Movement realises that there may be extra costs relating to participants’ access needs in order for them to take part in Rough for Opera #19 – TEXT

Second Movement can help to cover access costs for successful applicants. There is more information about this in the section titled How to Apply.

Venue Access

The Chelsea Theatre is fully accessible. Disabled parking is available.

Relaxed Sessions

For Rough for Opera #19 – TEXT all sessions will be relaxed.

This makes it ideal for those who would benefit from a more informal approach to noise and movement in a space, or would feel more at ease knowing they could enter and exit freely.

For the open sessions and presentations at Chelsea Theatre this means that:

the theatre will be opened early to allow attendees more time to find their seats.
the Front of House team will be briefed on providing a more informal service and relaxing the standards in regard to audience behaviour during the performance.
latecomer and re-admittance points will be relaxed to allow people to leave and re-enter the auditorium more freely.
the house lights will remain slightly raised to during the performance to ensure the safety of those who need to move about.
auditorium doors will be kept open during the performance to assist the audience in entering and exiting the theatre during the performance

Essential Information for Applicants

You must be available in London on:

4 and 5 July 10:30-17:30 for workshops to develop your work.

11 September 12:00-20:00 for rehearsals

12 September 13:30-22:30 for two presentations

How to Apply

The applications should be from the librettist/text writer. You may include a composer/music writer if you are collaborating with one on the piece.

Please send your application to roughforopera@secondmovement.org.uk

You can apply either in writing – please include all information on a single PDF, titled with your full name only

by video or audio recording – please send as links only, we cannot accept files.

To be eligible for consideration, applications must include:

1. An outline of your work you would like to present at Rough for Opera #19 – TEXT

Please include a brief synsopsis of your libretto/text

200 words maximum or video/audio two mins max

2. The first two pages of your text or video/audio

If your libretto/text is not in English please supply the two pages in an English translation.

3. What would the benefit be to you as an artist?

100 words maximum or video/audio one min max

4. What would be the benefit for the project? (bearing in mind the focus on text)

100 words maximum or video/audio one min max

5. Librettist (and composer if involved) biography

200 words maximum each, or video/audio two mins max each

Please include details (if available) of any previous works for the stage and/or previous experience of staging your work in your biography.

6. Weblinks for up to three examples of your work

where available to include at least one piece for voice

We cannot accept video or audio files, please provide examples of your work as links from e.g. Soundcloud, You Tube or Vimeo.

Please do not send scores or music files for your proposed work at this stage. We will contact you if we need any further information

7. Names and contact details of one referee

This could be somebody who knows you/your work

You and your may also include in your application:

Details of your personal circumstances

Please provide, in brief terms, details of any challenges or disadvantages arising from having one or more protected characteristics* that you believe may have inhibited your ability to participate in the UK opera or musical theatre sector. This information will be shared with the panel only. Your composer may also include this information.

[* as defined in the Equality Act 2010]

This information is requested in order to enable Second Movement to apply its funding in a manner that addresses a lack of diversity and underrepresentation in UK opera and musical theatre. In line with the terms of our funding for Rough For Opera #19, priority will be given to applicants from underrepresented groups and in particular to those with disabilities (which may include being neurodivergent).

We welcome a Disability in Practice statement if you have one. You can give us this information in writing (please include on your PDF) or as a video or audio recording.

Access Requirements

Please provide information about any access requirements for you and your composer.

You may also include access requirements for your composer if they are included in your application.

What Happens Next?

All eligible applications will be considered by a panel of experienced opera makers who will decide on a shortlist of proposals. More than 50% of the panel identify as disabled.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview with the panel.

Due to limited time available we are not able to feedback on individual applications. We will provide a general feedback on the whole cohort and a reflection on the application process.

Timetable 2024

Monday 8 April Applications open

Wednesday 1 May Applications close (midnight)

week commencing 13 May Shortlisted applicants notified

week commencing 20 May Shortlisted applicants’ interviews (zoom)

week commencing 3 June Successful applicants notified

If you have any queries before making an application please contact us at roughforopera@secondmovement.org.uk.

Equal Opportunities Monitoring

When we receive your application we will send you a link to an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form for you to complete.

Information included by you on the Monitoring Form will not be provided to the panel.

Please note Second Movement is unable to provide advice on individual proposals or applicant eligibility.