The Deadline for Production Proposals has passed; the festival, originally scheduled for 15-21 June, is rescheduled for 2-8 November.
TALOS IV: Science Fiction Theatre Festival of London
Call for Proposals
TALOS: Science Fiction Theatre Festival of London
2-8 November 2020 (Originally: 15-21 June 2020)
“Talos is an adventure to undertake for every science fiction and theatre-lover as it combines these both passions promisingly.” (A Younger Theatre)
Fellow humans, posthumans, cyborgs – we’re delighted to announce that Talos, the original sci-fi theatre festival of London, the UK, and Europe, is returning for the FOURTH time! Talos IV is taking place at The Cockpit in central London, where we’re co-producing the festival with the awesome Cockpit team!
After a full eight days and nights of sci-fi plays, full length and shorts, workshops, and a conference, we’re back in 2020 to celebrate all kinds of science fiction and fantastical theatre, but also the 100 years since the word “robot” was introduced via the sci-fi play R.U.R. in 1920!
Talos IV invites theatre companies to submit proposals for full length shows of 50 to 60 minutes. The 2020 festival takes places in the Cockpit’s Auditorium and we’ll programme at least one main show per night.
We're excited to hear from all artists but want to particularly encourage BAME and LGBTQ+ artists and theatre companies to propose their own SF visions; we’re particularly excited to receive proposals for Afrofuturist and Queer SF. Please see below for information on how to take part.
Artistic Vision
At Cyborphic, the team behind Talos, we accept flexible definitions of science fiction and are looking for projects that feature science fiction or even speculative fiction elements. We’re interested in all kinds of science fiction performance, including but not limited to:
Cyborg Theatre, Robot Theatre, AI Theatre, Weird / New Weird Theatre
Afrofuturist Theatre
Queer Science Fiction
Utopian and/or dystopian theatre
Post-Apocalyptic, Post-Modern, Post-Dramatic
Science fiction dance performance
Solarpunk, Cyberpunk, Steampunk, Biopunk, Hopepunk, Mythpunk
For Theatre Companies:
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: 4th February 2020 (midnight)
FINAL DEADLINE: 20th February 2020 (midnight)
You will hear back from us by the end of February. Note there may be fewer available slots after the Early Bird deadline.
Submit a proposal via Google Forms HERE!
Slots: All slots are offered on a 50/50 box office split basis, with the theatre. Programmed slots will normally start at 8.30pm each night.
Registration Fee: £50 per slot/performance (paid after show has been accepted & confirmed.) The fee helps cover marketing and admin costs.
Venue Info: Find more about The Cockpit here.
For Playwrights (who aren’t attached to a theatre company):
Talos has morphed into a festival of theatre companies, though we plan to also commission playwrights. If you’re a playwright, you can submit a short play for The Cockpit’s Theatre in the Pound scratch night which will kickstart our 2020 festival and will have a sci-fi theme. Apply here!