Script Reading Service
With eight years' experience reading for the Traverse Theatre, National Theatre of Scotland, Tron Theatre and Papatango Prize, I am now offering a freelance script reading service.
I believe the role of a script reader is to strengthen the script you have, rather than imposing my own ideas for how it should be written - we will focus on strengthening dialogue, structure, form, genre, tone, characters and concept. That being said, as a director, I hope to offer ideas and solutions based on my practical experience of staging work. Having worked in new writing theatre for almost 10 years, I offer my passion and excitement for new ideas and possibilities.
The turnaround for all script services at present is four weeks. I will aim to return the script to you sooner than this where possible. Please refer to the Testimonials page for feedback from playwrights and dramaturgs about the quality of my work.
Prices
Prices are based on full-length (40 mins or longer) stage plays. If you have something shorter or in another format, please get in touch to discuss options.
Written Feedback - £95 per script
Please send your script along with three questions or areas you would like me to focus my report on. I will return no less than 500 words written feedback on a full draft, based on the areas you have highlighted and any additional areas that might need focus. I am more than happy to arrange a phone call or receive a voice note from you with your three questions, if this is more accessible for you.
Written Feedback plus telephone or video consultation - £165 per script
Written feedback as detailed above, plus a 30 minute follow-up telephone or video call to discuss the feedback and any next steps and where you might send your script. I will send you summary notes following the call. If a voice-note/email exchange or similar is more in line with your access needs, please let me know and I'll be happy to adapt to that.
Second Drafts - £50 per script
I will read a second submission of your full length play within 3 months of reading the first and provide a 250 word update.
Payment
Payment is via PayPal and is required up front. I will send a more detailed reply with all the information you need in response to your initial email.
Submission
To discuss the above or to submit a script, email katherinenesbittscriptreading [at] gmail [dot] com or use the Contact page. It's not possible to upload a script via my site (yet!) so please send it via email, preferably in PDF format, along with a note of which service you'd like to use and the three areas you'd like me to focus on. Otherwise, get in touch to discuss options and we'll go from there!
Testimonials
Katherine is one of National Theatre of Scotland’s most trusted script readers. Her dramaturgical instincts are sharp and she has a keen, director’s eye for the theatrical possibilities of a text. She has a clear, practical approach to supporting a play’s development work and is always empathetic to the writer’s process.
Rosie Kellagher - Dramaturg, National Theatre of Scotland
Katherine came in and immediately made herself essential to what we were doing. She was one of the first readers we recruited at the Tron Theatre and her approach was vital in shaping the process we’ve used as the programme developed. She is clear and empathetic in how she crafts her feedback - communicating incisive response in a manner that always opens up possibilities rather than shutting anything down.
Michael John O'Neill - Producer, Tron Theatre
I've been lucky to work with Katherine on developing two scripts; 'North Street' and 'Jade City'. Katherine has a wonderful eye for finding layers and meaning in work. She has excellent dramaturgical skill and can unwrap and unweave complex ideas, emotions and plots in work. She has been able to help me discover many new things in my writing and improve my skills in creating theatre by helping me to present theatrical ideas with greater clarity.
Alice Malseed, Playwright
Those moments when you know you need feedback but don’t know what to do to build up those early drafts are torturous. You have to let your play go to make it better, but who can you pass it to that doesn’t leave you a quivering insecure mess? When receiving notes from Katherine you can be assured the experience is always a good one. Katherine has great dramaturgical skill, helping you mine through the layers and meaning within your work. Her assistance has helped me look for clarity in my own plays and establish a clear relationship between playwright, narrative and audience. Her feedback is always thoughtful and considered, but it is also incisive in the way it provokes responses so you can fully explore what it is you are wanting to make.
Laurie Motherwell, Playwright