The Scratch Theatre’s Free-to-Enter
Scriptwriting Competition — Open Call 2026
How to Enter
1. Write a short script.
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This is an open call — submit anything you want.
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Your script can be up to three pages long, but shorter pieces are very welcome.
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Your piece may be a monologue, a duologue, or a script for up to three voices.
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Consider stage directions to help bring your script to life on stage.
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Please avoid extreme violence or over-sexualised content.
2. Format your script.
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Submit as a Word document (.doc / .docx).
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No more than three pages.
3. Submit by email.
Send your script(s) to: writing@thescratchtheatre.co.uk
Include:
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Your name
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A short biography (optional but encouraged)
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You may submit up to two scripts.
Entry deadline:
10am 23rd March 2026
Who can enter?
Open to writers of all levels, all backgrounds, and all voices.
No entry fee.
What we’re looking for
Our judging panel — five members of our creative theatre, directing, and writing team — will be looking for:
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emotional impact
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originality
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clear voice
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strong character or concept
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a script that works as a short, powerful moment on stage
What you could win
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£100 cash prize for the overall winner
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The overall winner and selected runners-up will have their scripts staged in Bristol
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All selected pieces will be professionally filmed
Ready to enter?
Your story could be the next piece we bring to life on stage.
We are looking for scripts with heart, imagination, and impact — nothing more, nothing less. Submit your work to writing@thescratchtheatre.co.uk by 10am on 23rd March 2026. We cannot wait to read what you create.
New Writing Competition
2026
Why We Do This
At The Scratch Theatre, we believe in opening doors — real ones, not the kind only a select few ever get to walk through. We run this competition because we want to bring new writing into the light: the scripts sitting in drawers, the ideas living only in someone’s head, the stories that might never reach a stage without an invitation.
We’ve done this before, and the results have been extraordinary — bold ideas, brilliant characters, moments of truth, humour, heartbreak, and imagination. This competition is our way of saying: your story deserves space.
We are passionate about new writing. We are committed to creating opportunities for anyone — regardless of background, experience, age, or confidence level. If you have a story to tell, we want to hear it. Whether you're writing your first ever script or you’ve been crafting plays for years, this competition is for you.
We will read every submission. We can’t offer feedback, but we can promise that your script will be treated with genuine attention and respect.
There are no barriers. No theme. No fee. No limits on imagination.
