Play Readings

Chapter 1Going Public

Theatre is a public art. But when to “go public” with a new play is not an easy decision. Playwrights should believe their plays are ready for an audience before submitting them for a public Reading. In-house Readings and labs provide opportunities for writers to explore early drafts of new plays or ideas for new work. These are sound alternatives to public Play Readings. But at what point in its development might a play benefit from exposure to an audience?

Table reads, in-house Readings and public Readings all have value, with different benefits. Table Readings or in-house Readings are the best ways to translate the written word to the spoken word. They allow playwrights to hear how the words fall out of the actors’ ...