Taking the theme Inside Out as their starting point, the 40, mostly local, writers went in all directions - from the future to the past, the solitary inner life to the complexities of relationships, from the darkness of kidnap and torture to the shiny brightness of rhinestone studded boots.
"It was a fantastic display of imagination and talent and the task of choosing nine of these ideas to develop into scripts was not an easy one, " said artistic director, Ann Stiddard. But an even greater challenge was to come - selecting four of these nine to be included in a ten week season taking place at Clifton's Alma Tavern from 19 September - 25 November. But now the judging is over and along with a piece called The Voice that Keeps Silent, which was commissioned from David Carter and is another co-production with Chrysalis Theatre, these four plays make up a season full of contrast and bursting with ideas. This year, for the first time Theatre West has formed a small repertory company of six actors who will between them perform all five plays in the season. As a bonus they're also presenting rehearsed readings of the ones that got away. A chance to see the five plays that narrowly missed being included in the season in a ‘script in hand’ performance. Actors will work on the script with a director for half a day, culminating in a public reading in the Alma theatre. No fixed price but a bucket will be passed around at the end of the performance. It's the culmination of a busy year for Theatre West who have toured Latvia with Mike Akers Little Pictures and jointly produced David Carter’s Viral Sutra at Bristol Old Vic Studio and The Finborough Theatre in London. The Inside Out programme is:
19-30 September - The Inhabitants of the Moon are Noses by Steve Hennessy.
3-14 October - The Keith Ashton Experience by Mark Breckon.
17-28 October - Eggshell Blues by Sarah Curwen.
31 October - 11 November - Salt’n’Sauce by Tim Massey.
14-25 November - The Voice that Keeps Silent by David Carter. | 
