Kevin McNally and Phyllis Logan among judges for new writing festival

Writers are being encouraged to submit plays that can be performed with social distancing for a new theatre festival.

The Capsule Theatre Festival has been launched by actor, director and founder of the So and So Arts Club Sarah Berger in partnership with virtual theatre platform LIVR.

Judges for the inaugural event include actors Kevin McNally and Phyllis Logan, playwright Rex Obano, writer Ming Ho, director Simon Naylor and Hackney Empire artistic director Yamin Choudury.

Producer and artistic director of London’s Boulevard Theatre Rachel Edwards and literary agent Lucy Fawcett are also on the panel.

The judges will choose 10 pieces of work, four of which will be offered the chance to rehearse and perform in the So and So Arts Club’s new black box theatre space in West London.

Berger and some of the other judges will also provide help with dramaturgy, casting and finding directors for the pieces.

LIVR will film the four productions using a new technology that will enable audiences to watch the shows in 3D without the use of VR headsets.

The filmed shows will be uploaded online with a box-office system, with the money raised used to pay the creatives. The remaining six plays will also be uploaded on to the festival’s website for sale to companies for future productions.

Submitted plays must be no longer than 60 minutes with a maximum cast of four. The deadline for submissions is September 2, with the winners to be announced at the end of September.

Berger said: “We are not looking for pieces about Covid-19, but writing that uses the new restrictions in an inventive way and uses the added bonus of being filmed in 3D inventively.”

There will also be a short film festival alongside the theatre festival for films of all genres that have been filmed in lockdown. This festival is produced in collaboration with actor and writer Callum McGowan.