Five Minute TheatreFive Minute Theatre, The National Theatre of Scotland’s five minute DIGI-triumph for theatre-makers, returns. Submissions now open on the theme of PROTEST. 

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Five Minute Theatre, the live online theatre extravaganza, for theatre-makers everywhere, returns, with  five shorter digital and interactive bursts in 2012.

National Theatre of Scotland is inviting members of the public again to visit www.fiveminutetheatre.com to submit their ideas to create a five minute piece of theatre for potential live streaming on the National Theatre of Scotland’s virtual stage.

On June 21st 2011, we celebrated our fifth birthday with Five Minute Theatre. For 24 hours 1000 people from all over the world created a unique online theatrical experience. With over 200 five minute performances shown back to back during 24 hours, the event gathered 6300 unique viewers from 51 countries who visited the site 22,000 times. Since June those 207 individual shows, all performed in front of their own live audience, have been watched a further 33,000 times, creating a total Five Minute Theatre virtual audience to date of 55,000.

We are delighted to be reunited with media partner, stv.tv for this new season of Five Minute Theatre broadcasts.

The first five minute theatre experience will be streamed live on 1st May from 6pm on www.fiveminutetheatre.com  and www.stv.tv. Each five minute theatre event in 2012 will have a theme and the first theme is ‘protest’. This can be interpreted in anyway; from global political protests to personal, private daily protests.

Professional or not, old or young, absolutely anyone can apply to take part no set skills are required and no qualifications required other than dramatic flair, a good idea and some bravery. Invitations are welcome from DIY theatre-makers across the globe. The deadline for all submissions is 5pm on 16 March 2012 and successful participants will be announced on 30March 2012.

The first five minute theatre hub will be in Glasgow at the Tron Theatre’s Victoria bar, with an opportunity to watch live performances on 1st May 2012 from 6pm.  Audience information will be announced at a later date.  Additional Five Minute Theatre events and relevant application processes will be announced throughout the year.

Five Minute Theatre is being produced alongside the National Theatre of Scotland’s and A Play, a Pie and a Pint’s One Day in Spring season at Òran Mór and The Tron Theatre, Glasgow.  The live performances and Hub night at The Tron Theatre, Glasgow are part of The Tron Theatre’s Mayfesto season.

www.fiveminutetheatre.com contains up to date information including clear instructions and details on the selection process as well as regular features from the National Theatre of Scotland’s key creative team offering tips, advice and classes on how to make and deliver a piece of theatre.  All 207 shows from last year’s Five Minute Theatre experience are available for viewing here as well as at http://programmes.stv.tv/five-minute-theatre/.

Become part of the conversation at #fiveminutetheatre