Parley is a collective of Seattle playwrights committed to the long-term development of one another's work. We provided a protected space in which to welcome the authentic, unguarded expression of our differences on the stage. The term "parley" derives from the French verb "parler": to speak. Historically, a parley was a meeting between adversaries in order to negotiate an end to battle. To signal a willingness to talk peaceably, armies would run up a white flag. Writing is a solitary act, and it's easy for playwrights who feel isolated to become defensive. Our group seeks to cure that condition. By committing to a process of reading, discussing, and producing one another's work, we surrender the lone struggle and move creatively forward together.
