Introduction

Dramatikkens hus is a national competence centre that provides financial grants, advice, dramaturgical support and stage resources to playwrights, performing artists and others who wish to write or develop new dramatic works.

Through our professional expertise and stages, we give playwrights the opportunity to explore their texts together with directors, actors and other qualified theatre personnel. If you have questions which are not answered by these guidelines, you can contact one of the dramaturges or our general info@dramatikkenshus.no email.

Who can apply?

To apply, you must mainly reside and work in Norway, or have a significant connection to Norway.

If you have an address outside Norway, specify your connection in the application. Exceptions may be made when considered reasonable. If you are unsure about the project’s connection, feel free to ask.

Please note exceptions from this rule are rare. We also urge you to consider the criteria below before submitting an application.

Qualifying criteria

Applicants for writing grants and workshops must have had at least one original work for the stage performed/produced in a professional context. Public readings at drama festivals, institutional theatres, programming venues and other professional arenas meet this requirement. Film and TV screenwriters also qualify.

Applicants who have not yet debuted in a professional context can only apply for the New Playwrights scheme.

Dramatikkens hus does not support projects that are included in or form part of higher education. If it turns out that the project is part of a study context while it is being developed with us, the applicant may be required to repay the grant.

We ask that the playwright submits the application themselves.

About the grant schemes

• Applications are assessed by the dramaturge team at Dramatikkens hus.
• Dramatikkens hus awards grants for original works written for the stage.
• We do not provide support for the development of film scripts.
• We do not provide support for adaptations of literature.
• Processing time must be calculated in working days. Applications are not processed during holidays like summer, easter and christmas.

You can apply for funding for three main branches: Writing grants, dramaturge assistance, and workshops. Only workshop applications have a deadline, twice a year. The other grants (as well as New Playwrights) are always open for applications and are constantly read and evaluated. You may apply for several of these branches in one application. We ask for one application per project. If you have several texts you are looking to write, we will ask you to apply once per text/project.

Writing grants

We can grant you a cash stipend to give you time and resources to develop your text. The funds go directly to the playwright as remuneration for work on the text. For copyright reasons, the writing grant is paid only to enterprises (f.ex. enkeltmannsforetak) and cannot be paid as salary. Applications for writing grants are processed continuously within 12 weeks.

Dramaturge assistance

You may apply to be allocated time from one of the house’s dramaturges, or funds to remunerate an external dramaturge, f.ex. one you already have an existing professional relationship with. When applying for an external dramaturg, a letter of intent between the playwright and the dramaturge must be attached; the dramaturge's CV and contact information must also be attached. The application should include a schedule for the working hours put in. Applications for dramaturge grants are processed continuously within 12 weeks.

Workshop

A playwright can receive support to fund a workshop over one or several days, working on their text on the stage floor. The grant includes remuneration for a workshop leader, actors and other professionals that make up your specific stage project. Access to rooms, technical equipment and the opportunity for a work-in-progress showing are part of the grant. Workshops normally take place at Dramatikkens hus but can also be held at an external venue. Workshop applications have a processing time of 12 weeks and two deadlines per year. The deadline for applying for a workshop is normally 1st of October and 1st of March each year.

The New Playwrights scheme

New Playwrights funds can be applied for by writers who have not yet had their stage text produced in a professional context, as per the criteria mentioned above. You might, for example, be a prose writer, poet, performing artist or simply have never written before. Applications for this scheme normally consist of a writing grant of NOK 36,000 and collaboration with a dramaturg. New Playwrights applications are processed continuously within 12 weeks.

What should be included in an application?

At least 5 pages of original text must be submitted. This can take any form - we encourage all types and genres of dramatic texts. The text should be the work for which you are applying for support to continue working on.

We also ask you to submit a project description of max. 8,000 characters, plus your artistic CV. The project description should include an outline of how you will work with the text further.

The application must include a list of previous works. This is not required for New Dramatists funds.

Checklist before submitting

• Ensure that all requested information is provided.
• Check that name and contact details are correct, and that you have filled in the fields under “my profile”.
• Any other grants you have received in connection with the project must be stated.
• Check that the files are readable, preferably in .pdf format.

Incomplete applications will not be processed.

Contracts

You will be required to sign a contract if your application for a grant is successful. Contracts are sent from our contract system OneFlow.

Publication

The results of grants, with the name of the work, playwright and awarded amount, are published on dramatikkenshus.no. All applicants will be notified of rejection or grant before this publication. Rejected applications are not published.

Playwright’s obligations

As a recipient of a writing grant, the playwright is obliged to ensure that Dramatikkens hus is credited in all performances or publications of the text. It must be clearly stated in programmes and other written material that the text has received a grant from, or has been developed in collaboration with, Dramatikkens hus.

The playwright is obliged to state in relevant information material that the project was developed at Dramatikkens hus. This applies in connection with any showing, reading, publication or production of the text.

The playwright is also obliged to inform Dramatikkens hus about any productions in which the stage text is used, either in its entirety or as a starting point.

Questions about this can be directed to info@dramatikkenshus.no.

Obligations for external dramaturges

External dramaturges must have dialogue with one of the dramaturges at Dramatikkens hus before starting, during the work and when the assignment has been completed. The external dramaturge must also submit a short written final report.