Submitted by PMRP on
STAGED RADIO-THEATRE COMPANY SEEKING H. G. WELLS ADAPTED SCRIPTS FOR HALLOWEEN 2024 ANTHOLOGY
The Post-Meridian Radio Players, based in Eastern Massachusetts, is seeking one to two original script adaptations of the novels or short stories of H.G. Wells. PMRP’s work pays homage to the golden age of radio, and our productions take place as staged readings before a live audience, with sound effects performed live. Since 2006, we have brought original and public domain radio plays to life in our distinctive format, which includes script-in-hand actors and live foley artists.
Our 2024 Halloween anthology will honor the science fiction works of author H.G.Wells. We are inviting submissions of 50–60-minute adaptations of Wells’ novels or 25–30-minute adaptations of Wells’ shorter works. Submission is free, and playwrights can submit more than one adaptation, so long as all are H. G. Wells’ canon.
Guidelines are as follows (please read carefully):
- Deadline is June 1, 2024. Scripts must be submitted via email to info@pmrp.org in either PDF, DOC, DOCX, or Google Doc format. If all you have is a paper script, please scan it into PDF. We won’t be accepting submissions via physical mail.
- Script must be a radio theatre adaptation of a public domain novel or short work by science fiction author H.G. Wells. If you don’t know whether the work you adapted is in the public domain, just ask us. We’ll research that for you. (Works first published in 1928 or earlier are definitely in the public domain in the US; for H. G. Wells works published after that it depends whether copyright was renewed.)
- Scripts must be in English. No musicals, please.
- Scripts should be free of most blocking or other stage direction meant for a fully staged production. Our shows are performed at microphones, with the full cast and foley team visible to the audience at all times. If you’ve never adapted for radio theatre before, please don’t worry about getting the format right the first time. If selected, we’ll work closely with you to turn your script into a radio script (we’ve even adapted silent films for radio!).
- We welcome both traditional treatment of Wells’ material and unique treatments, such as placing the story in a different time period or a different part of the world. As a performance entity, we are committed to EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion).
- Please avoid sending scripts that contain characters or music under copyright from different fictional universes/franchises. As an example, we don’t want to see mash-ups containing characters from Rocky Horror, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc, nor published music under current copyright.
- Playwrights whose work is selected for production will be paid a royalty of $15 per performance. We most often have 6 performances per run. Submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world, but you must be able to legally accept your royalty payment in US funds. You will also receive a comp ticket to see a performance, should you wish.
- In addition to (non-exclusive!) performance rights, PMRP retains (again, non-exclusive!) rights to record and sell or otherwise distribute (e.g., on our podcast) recordings of the performance, but all other script rights (including ownership) remain with the author(s). Scripts may be revised as needed for the performance and PMRP retains all performance rights including director choice, casting and sound design.
- In the case of multiple submissions please send each submission in its own email, with your name and the name of the H. G. Wells adaptation in the title.
- Please send submissions to info@pmrp.org.
- To learn more about PMRP and what we do, please visit us here: