BUDDING stage, TV and film writers are invited to a festival of scriptwriting in Dorchester.

The Script's The Thing is Dorset's first festival of scriptwriting and takes place on Saturday, October 28 at the Corn Exchange.

Billed as a takeover of the building by writers for stage, TV, film and all performance mediums, there'll be extracts from new work and pieces written specifically for the festival.

Audiences will be able to plan their own programme through the day choosing to visit different performance spaces in the Corn Exchange building (and additionally Tom Browns pub in the afternoon!).

Each performance lasts 15 minutes and there'll be a range of scripts of all genres including thrillers, comedy, drama, physical theatre, musicals, and genre-busting work.

Much of the work will be in development so it's a first chance to catch something before it becomes big!

Producers, venues, and arts organisations from across Dorset will be coming alongside national organisations including BBC Writersroom and NT New Work.

Theatre director Natasha Nixon will run a workshop on how actors work with scripts, and screenwriters Oriane Messina and Ashley Pharoah, will be on-hand for Q&As.

Festival Director and Writer Ed Viney said: "The takeover of the Corn Exchange offers writers across Dorset the opportunity to get their work out there.

"Writing for performance is always a collaborative effort and there are so many people involved with bringing work to the stage or screen. This is a chance for writers to be centre stage."

The festival is organised by Dorchester Arts and supported with seed funding from the Arts Development Company.

Organisers say: "It's a terrific opportunity for writers to have conversations about their work, and for audiences to have a fantastic day out with a real festival vibe!"

The festival is open to all and free to attend.

There will be a celebratory party in the evening with live music from local band Stealing Whiskey.

Doors open from 9.45am and the festival runs from 10am until late, with performances at Tom Browns from early afternoon.

The full programme is available at https://www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/the-scripts-the-thing/.