Here are the Theatre Pathways opportunities for this week…
The Theatre503 International Playwriting Award is back and opens for submission on 1 Nov 2026.
Rebound Productions are looking for original one-act plays, featuring 2 or 3 characters, to be performed as part of a programme of new writing.
Tall Stories are calling out to emerging directors interested in family storytelling theatre for a free short course, Directing Storytelling Theatre in January 2027.
Birds of Paradise (BOP) Theatre have announced that applications for our Disabled Playwright Support Programme in collaboration with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland have opened.
Applications are now open for the February 2027 residencies at Summerhall Arts Studio in Edinburgh.
Canal Cafe Theatre have announced the return of SKETCHFEST in 2027, celebrating the best in live sketch comedy in North and West London.
Applications for the Orange Tree Theatre Writers’ Collective 2027 cohort are now open.
Applications for the Women in Theatre Network 2027 mentoring programme are still open, closing on 16 November.
The Theatre503 International Playwriting Award is back and opens for submission on 1 Nov 2026.
The team are seeking the best new plays and the most talented early career playwrights from around the world. Theatre503 is the home of new writers and the artists who bring their words to life. They stage the work of more debut writers than any other theatre in the world, and have launched modern classics including The Mountaintop and Rotterdam.
The winning playwright will receive the £6,000 Carne Prize, including an advance towards a guaranteed production at Theatre503 and publication by Samuel French Ltd, a Concord Theatricals company.
Deadline: 12pm (midnight) 31 Jan 2027
Photo credit: Rebound Productions
Rebound Productions are looking for original one-act plays, featuring 2 or 3 characters, to be performed as part of a programme of new writing.
Submissions will be reviewed by Rebound Productions and a panel of collaborators, with selected plays assessed on the following criteria:
Originality and creativity
Plot and structure
Storytelling
Writing technique
Overall impact and enjoyment
The team welcome bold, imaginative and boundary-pushing work featuring interesting, diverse characters. We are particularly keen to receive plays that allow for flexible casting, with characters who can be played by actors of any ethnicity and performed in any accent.
Deadline: midnight on 1 December 2026
Photo credit: Tall Stories
Tall Stories are calling out to emerging directors interested in family storytelling theatre for a free short course, Directing Storytelling Theatre in January 2027.
Artistic Director Toby Mitchell leads the course, now open for applications. with support from the Tall Stories team and professional actors. You’ll explore a range of texts, direct your own scene and learn how to work with performers to tell a story that grabs a young audience.
This is for Directors aged 18+ with some directing or assistant directing experience. No family theatre experience needed. Dates: 9, 16 & 23 January 2027, 10am - 6pm.
Deadline: 9am, 16 November 2026
Photo credit: Birds of Paradise Theatre
Birds of Paradise (BOP) Theatre have announced that applications for our Disabled Playwright Support Programme in collaboration with Playwrights' Studio, Scotland have opened.
This programme is designed to help you develop a new full-length play from initial idea to first draft. The programme includes:
Six months of tailored support
One-to-one mentoring with an established professional playwright
Community events, workshops, theatre visits and peer connection
Financial support
And more! Programme starts from January 2027.
Deadline: pm, 9 November 2026
Applications are now open for the February 2027 residencies at Summerhall Arts Studio in Edinburgh.
Summerhall Arts Studios are dedicated residencies for the early development of new theatre and cross-disciplinary live performance work. They are designed to give artists and collaborators time and space to test ideas, explore approaches, and begin shaping work intended for live audiences.
Studios are not about having a finished script or fully realised production. They are about experimentation, exploration and play. We are particularly interested in projects that benefit from working in real space: testing form, staging, sound, movement, liveness, audience relationship or collaborative process.
Deadline: 8 November, 11pm
Canal Cafe Theatre have announced the return of SKETCHFEST in 2027, celebrating the best in live sketch comedy in North and West London.
Applications are now open for SketchFest 2027 - SketchFest celebrates the best in live sketch comedy, uniting North and West London in a unique collaboration.
SketchFest dates are 15 Mar 2027 – 28 Mar 2027
Deadline: 1 January 2027
Photo credit: Orange Tree Theatre
Applications for the Orange Tree Theatre Writers’ Collective 2027 cohort are now open.
For over a decade, the OT Writers’ Collective has offered a cohort of mid-career playwrights an opportunity to share practice, build networks, gain industry insights, and develop new ideas.
This 15-month attachment to the Orange Tree includes:
Monthly in-person masterclasses and talks with leading writers, directors, agents and other industry professionals
Workshops and support in developing a new project, with dramaturgical feedback from the Orange Tree’s Literary Associate and other members of the team
Access to desk space and office facilities at the Orange Tree, and to our large reference collection of published playtexts
A tax-free training bursary of £1250
A final showcase of work in the Orange Tree’s main auditorium for an audience of industry guests and the general public.
Deadline: 10am on 2 Nov.
Applications for the Women in Theatre Network 2027 mentoring programme are still open.
This programme aims to connect aspiring and early-career theatre professionals with established women across the industry.
Deadline: 16 November 2026