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14th October 2025
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s Future Playwrights Competition 2026.
Searching for bold new voices in Drama Writing.
In partnership with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School’s MA Drama Writing Course.
Are you an aspiring writer with a story to tell? Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Future Playwrights Competition 2026, a unique opportunity designed to uncover and nurture new drama writing talent from all backgrounds.
Taking your first steps into playwriting, this is your chance to shine!
How to enter
We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible to enter. Simply submit:
1) a 3-page play
2) a 250-word bio about yourself
3) And do it by 1st January 2026.
But to be clear – this competition is for new writers, without any previous professional experience! And you should be over the age of 18.
How will the competition be judged?
– All entries will be reviewed in the first round of judging by current students of the MA Drama Writing and MA Drama Directing cohort.
– Shortlisted entries will then be judged in a second round by the Schools Head of Drama Writing David Lane and Artistic Director Emma Callander.
– The top entries will be invited to a special event at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the Spring, where the top three entries will be read out by some of our Acting students and a Winner announced.
What is the prize?
– The overall winner will get the opportunity to develop their script idea further with a one day development workshop, hosted at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, supported by an MA Drama Writing graduate, and an MA Drama Directing student, alongside upto four BA Professional Acting students. This will be held on a date to be agreed with the winner.
We’re looking for:
– Strong, compelling characters
– A vivid sense of the world you’re creating
– Clear, and impactful use of language
We will not be able to accept your entry if any of the below applies to you:
– Previous students of the MA Drama Writing course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
– Writers who have received professional commissions at approved ITC/WGGB/TMA contractual rates
– Writers submitting previously produced work (this does not include work-in-progress sharing, readings or open workshops)
– Writers not currently resident in the UK
– Scripts written for screen or audio
Helpful Links:
To ignite your journey into the heart of theatre writing, we’ve gathered expert tips and creative sparks to awaken your imagination and guide you into the world of playwriting. Let inspiration lead the way.
National Theatre Playwrights Series: bite-size online tips from National Theatre playwrights
Royal Court Playwrights’ Podcast: interviews with leading playwrights – find out how the best writers go about their writing
Traverse Theatre: Anyone Can Write a Play: free short workshop tuition from Scotland’s leading new writing theatre
The Literary Series: London Playwrights: 30-minute interviews with literary managers and dramaturgs – what do theatres look for in new work?
Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting: free full-length workshops from the Royal Exchange Manchester and the UK’s leading playwriting prize
That Black Theatre Podcast: interviews with leading Black British practitioners on their work and inspirations
Paines Plough: Advice for Playwrights: fantastic advice from internationally-produced playwright Simon Stephens and Vinay Patel
Fourth Wall: Playwrights in Lockdown: playwright and lecturer Dan Rebellato’s insightful and revealing series of interviews with writers during 2020’s lockdown
This competition is in partnership with the MA Drama Writing course at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School!
More about this course:
This vocational course nurtures your unique creative approach towards writing original drama for stage, radio and screen, alongside developing a systematic understanding of dramatic writing as art, craft and business.
The course is taught through masterclasses, workshops and seminars with experienced industry professionals, and cross-course collaborative projects with actors and directors to help support the development of your distinct writing voice.
You’ll graduate as an adaptable, imaginative and flexible drama writer with a broad portfolio of industry-ready work, offering professional skills for creating scripts in a variety of producing contexts.
Learn more about our MA Drama Writing course here
