fence /fens/ n 1 a barrier intended to prevent escape or intrusion
<a garden ~> 2 informal 2a a receiver of stolen goods
b a place where stolen goods are bought 3 an upright obstacle to be
jumped by a horse 4 an international association of playwrights and theatre-makers
who meet to share thought and experience, and who help each other, esp. in Europe,
also worldwide. vt 1 To enclose with a fence 2 to receive or
sell stolen goods. vi 1a to practise fencing (with a sword) b(1) to
use tactics of attack and defence resembling those of fencing b(2) to engage
in skilful or witty conversation.
Fence members teaching and performing in: (left to right) Rokiskis, Lithuania;
Waterford, Connecticut, USA; La Charité sur Loire, France; Rabat, Morocco
A cultural network for the 21st century
The Fence is an international network for working playwrights and people who make playwriting happen, across Europe and beyond.
Established in October 2003, the network in 2018 comprises 250 members from 50 countries
Purpose of the Fence
The Fence was founded on the core principles of:
the importance of the playwright to wider culture and society
that in practice, diversity and mobility are the same thing,
and that through engagement with others our own work develops.
The network exists as a space to think, to be and to do.
The Fence aims to open up routes to opportunities for playwrights and cultural operators seeking to extend their vision and their practice beyond their own national and infrastructural boundaries.
The Fence runs network meetings on average twice yearly, but also works in a variety of modes with Fence members collaborating on diverse initiatives.
As a mature network, now 15 years old, which has held 24 network meetings to date,
The Fence can offer:
- Workshops
- Consultancy
- Surgeries
- Master classes
- Diverse models of practice
With a wide variety of expertise in the following areas:
Playwriting |
Dramaturgy |
Teaching skills |
Translation |
Professional development planning |
Wider cultural landscapes |
Cultural mobility |
Intercultural Dialogue |
Cultural policy contexts |
Internationalising practice |
Negotiation |
Togetherness |
Collaboration |
How to work in partnership |
Catalytic Processes |