Hi There,
This fortnight I am hugely indebted to playwright and screenwriter ROBIN CANTWELL, who was on one of my recent two-day screenwriting courses and subsequently very kindly went to the trouble of compiling this invaluable list of current writing opportunities in UK theatre.
About Robin: Robin Cantwell is an award-winning playwright based in London. He trained on schemes at the National Theatre and Theatre503, and has since graduated from Mercury Playwrights, Criterion New Writing, London Library Emerging Writers and the Yale Writers’ Workshop. He has a Masters in Writing For Performance from Cambridge University, and was a recent writer in residence at the Atelier Samuel Beckett in Méricourt, France. He’s currently under commission at Marylebone Theatre for his professional debut, set in 1920s Paris.
Robin’s notes – ‘I’m assuming more experienced playwrights already know about the mid-career opportunities, so this is very much for entry level/beginners. Tried to make it as regional/inclusive as I can. Started in London and worked my way out. The list is by no means exhaustive (I just know I’m going to think of a million more opportunities as soon as I press send on this email!), but it does show just how much is out there. My advice to anyone looking to get involved with theatre is to approach your local playhouse. They will almost certainly have some initiative for local engagement. Also: stay on the lookout for scratch night opportunities, which you can often find on BBC Writers Opportunities, Londonplaywrightsblog (they post opportunities UK-wide, not just London), and Playwriting UK.’
— Prizes —
Bruntwood Prize (https://www.writeaplay.co.uk) — likely back up and running in late ’26/early ’27.
Women’s Prize For Playwriting (https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk) — like the Bruntwood, runs every 18/24 months.
Woven Voices Prize (https://www.wovenvoices.org/wovenvoicesprize) — open to all migrant writers in UK.
Verity Bargate Award (https://sohotheatre.com/project/verity-bargate-award/)
Theatre503 International Playwriting Award (https://theatre503.com/503-twp/award25/) — will likely run next year.
Bold Playwrights (https://www.boldtheatre.com/playwrights) — winning playwrights receive dramaturgical support / further development of their work.
Polka Playwriting Award (https://polkatheatre.com/polka-playwriting-award/) — geared towards TYA (Theatre for Young Audiences). Began in 2024, but not sure when it will return.
Yale Drama Series (https://yalebooks.yale.edu/yale-drama-series-rules-and-submission-guidelines/) — runs annually.
Alpine Fellowship Theatre Prize (https://alpinefellowship.com/theatre-prize) — winner/runner-up normally invited to a symposium in Europe.
DCC Playwriting Prize (https://www.dividedcultureco.com/playwriting) — for playwrights born/living in North West, not sure if it runs annually.
VCA Playwriting Award (https://www.theglitch.london/development) — began this year, winner has work staged. **The VCA Playwriting Prize actually closes on Friday Feb 20th (but you will have until 23.59 if you have something ready!)
Bill Cashmore Award (https://lyric.co.uk/bill-cashmore-award/) — for playwrights aged 18 – 30.
David MacLennan Award (https://playpiepint.com/david-maclennan-award/) — for playwrights living in Scotland.
Papatango Prize — They have recently started the Papatango Playwrights Studio (https://papatango.co.uk/studio/), which includes digital workshops, mentorship, funding opportunities etc. And the Papatango Prize has been revived again for 2026. Entires close on March 16th — https://papatango.co.uk/new-writing-prize/
London
Royal Court — Recently introduced their Writers Card initiative (free to join), which offers one-to-one advice sessions, invitations to meet/greet events, and all sorts of other opportunities. They no longer have a window for Writing Group submissions — these are now selected via their script submissions portal (open to all).
https://royalcourttheatre.com/writers-card-membership-2/
Theatre503 — run seasonal writing programmes as part of their 503Studio, most of which are suitable for beginners. They regularly run Rapid Write Response, an early career initiative where you are encouraged to write a short piece in response to one of their live productions (ie. you go and watch a play at the 503, then send in a 15 min play about that piece, to be performed (if selected) for a scratch night).
https://theatre503.com/503-twp/theatre503-twp/
https://theatre503.com/503-twp/rapid-write-response/
Young Vic — would recommend joining their Creators’ Program network (it’s free)
https://www.youngvic.org/creators-program/what-we-do
Riverside Studios — Regular meet-up for early-career playwrights, where they can share work and learn more about the industry.
https://riversidestudios.co.uk/see-and-do/riverscribes-playwriting-84534/
Bread & Roses Theatre — recently started their Bread & Proses programme, an 8-week intro-to-playwriting course with a showcase at the end. They also are still doing (I think!) their playwrights circle, where more experienced playwrights regularly share extracts and workshop them.
https://www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/playwriting-course—bread–proses.html
https://www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/playwrights-circle.html
Soho Theatre — run their annual Writers Lab, massively oversubscribed and a bit of a punt, but always worth going in for!
https://sohotheatre.com/project/writers-lab/
Tara Theatre — all sorts of development opportunities and schemes for playwrights, with a focus on South Asian, mixed heritage and Global Majority artists.
https://taratheatre.com/participate/
Omnibus Theatre — check out their Engine Room scheme, for new works that need a platform for rehearsed reading.
https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/engine-room-submissions/
Cardboard Citizens — for playwrights with lived experience of homelessness, poverty and/or inequity. Check out their membership scheme and free workshops.
https://cardboardcitizens.org.uk/get-involved/
Graeae Theatre — a theatre which specialises in promoting deaf and disabled & neurodivergent playwrights, with occasional call outs for new writing festivals and other development opportunities.
https://graeae.org/get-involved/new-writing/
Regional
Mercury Theatre, Colchester — they have a year-long attachment for playwrights based in East of England — scheme was known as Mercury Playwrights, but not sure if that’s changed since they started their Creatives platform. Is usually via submission, but I’d suggest getting in touch with the theatre to express interest as I think last year was invite-only.
https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/playwrights-development-programme/
Kali Theatre, Bradford — have a free writing programme for female/non-binary playwrights of South Asian Descent, applications open now!
https://kalitheatre.co.uk/discovery-2026-bradford-applications-open/
Royal Court, Liverpool — 9-month development programme for playwrights based in Liverpool, applications open now til November 3rd.
https://liverpoolsroyalcourt.com/stage-write-playwright-development-programme/
Middle Child Theatre, Hull — Hull-based playwriting programme, for playwrights who have yet to write a full-length piece (I assume on the programme that’s what you will therefore be doing!)
https://www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/writers-group
Exeter Northcott Theatre — for writers based in South West. They’re making a big push to reach out to local playwrights with their Elevate programme in particular.
https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/get-creative/
https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/get-creative/elevate/
Broken Silence Theatre, Brighton — run a zoom-based 9-month programme called Playwrights Hive (therefore open to those beyond Brighton too), during which you write a full-length play. Runs yearly, applications open in January.
https://www.brokensilencetheatre.com/playwrights-hive
Box of Tricks — for writers based in North England. I particularly like their Accelerate programme, aimed at the 35+.
https://boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk/playmakers/
https://boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk/playmakers/accelerate/
Leeds Playhouse — offer all sorts of opportunities for development, with open script submissions (deadline coming up!) and their Yorkshire Disabled Creatives programme too —
https://www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk/for-artists/
Lyric Theatre, Belfast — often send call outs for various new work initiatives and schemes, and have a seasonal open call for full-length works —
https://lyrictheatre.co.uk/new-writing
Sherman Theatre, Cardiff — offerings galore here, including their Hone Your Craft scheme (which annoyingly has just closed for applications, but hopefully will run again next year)
https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/join-in/
https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/programme/hone-your-craft/
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh — has an intro-to-playwriting programme for the 18-25s, The Loop for under 40s, on demand workshops for all, and various other early/emerging/mid-career opportunities —
https://www.traverse.co.uk/get-involved/artists-and-creatives/traverse-young-writers
https://www.traverse.co.uk/the-loop
https://www.traverse.co.uk/get-involved/artists-and-creatives
Clean Break Theatre — for women or non-binary people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, or who are at risk of entering it due to the challenges they’re facing.
https://www.cleanbreak.org.uk/get-involved/
THANK YOU SO MUCH ROBIN.
High Tide Theatre Company – And I’ll add – in the East of England, playwriting initiatives from High Tide – https://hightide.org.uk/playwriting-2-0/
SCREENWRITING THE CRAFT AND THE CAREER
To celebrate my book’s first birthday, Nick Hern Books have very kindly given me a discount code for subscribers to this newsletter.
The discount code is PHILIP25. The discount code is worth 25% off the full price, so with the discount the price is £12.74 (which would make the total saved £4.25!).
https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/screenwriting
CREATIVITY FOR SCRIPTWRITERS
I will be running this course in central London on Saturday June 13th. A day spent doing a series of fun creative exercises that will help re-energise your writing, arm you with new ideas, characters and stories – in a warm, supportive, non-judgemental setting. This day is always a lot of fun – and many brilliant story ideas have come out of it. (Several of which are referenced in the above book!)
Guest speaker for the day is playwright / novelist / screenwriter / political activist, the brilliant ANDERS LUSTGARTEN.
https://script-consultant.co.uk/creativity-for-scriptwriters/
SCREENSKILLS ASSISTANT SCRIPT EDITOR TRAINING – NORTHERN IRELAND
We have some fantastic guest speakers lined up for this course taking place in Belfast March 11-13 (including writers and script editor of Blue Lights).
NB ENTRIES FOR THIS COURSE CLOSE TODAY FRIDAY FEB 20th.
The next newsletter will be sent out on Friday March 6th,
Best wishes
Phil
PHILIP SHELLEY
You can also find me on TWITTER, LINKED-IN, FACEBOOK and BLUE SKY.
Friday February 20th 2026