Open Submissions Festival
A gateway for the best new work
We receive thousands more plays than we can possibly programme. Every theatre has its own list of closely-held near-misses: exceptional new plays by brilliant writers that we don’t quite get over the line into our programme, which we secretly hope another producer will snap up.
Now we’re going to start sharing that list, ensuring that our open submissions programme acts not just as a gatekeeper for our stages, but a gateway to other stages nationally.
From 2025, we’ll present an annual festival of staged readings, featuring those plays we just can’t bear to see overlooked.
With permission from submitted writers – and payment for the rights to present the readings – we’ll bring together a professional team to give these plays the best spotlight and platform possible. The festival will be open to the public, but with an industry promotional pack and allocation of tickets available to engage other producers, venues and agents scouting for the new plays and new talent.
The best news is, for writers, there’s no need for another application process. Just by having submitted a play through our open submissions portal, it will immediately be in consideration for the festival, as well as for future programming and other opportunities.
Full details including dates and line-ups for the first festival will be announced soon.
We receive thousands more plays than we can possibly programme. Every theatre has its own list of closely-held near-misses: exceptional new plays by brilliant writers that we don’t quite get over the line into our programme, which we secretly hope another producer will snap up.
Now we’re going to start sharing that list, ensuring that our open submissions programme acts not just as a gatekeeper for our stages, but a gateway to other stages nationally.
From 2025, we’ll present an annual festival of staged readings, featuring those plays we just can’t bear to see overlooked.
With permission from submitted writers – and payment for the rights to present the readings – we’ll bring together a professional team to give these plays the best spotlight and platform possible. The festival will be open to the public, but with an industry promotional pack and allocation of tickets available to engage other producers, venues and agents scouting for the new plays and new talent.
The best news is, for writers, there’s no need for another application process. Just by having submitted a play through our open submissions portal, it will immediately be in consideration for the festival, as well as for future programming and other opportunities.
Full details including dates and line-ups for the first festival will be announced soon.
