SUBMISSIONS INVITED for GrimFest SCRATCH NIGHT at OLD RED LION PLAYHOUSE 16 March

Deadline 23 January



It may only be January but we’re already preparing for GrimFest 2026 😈

And what better way to kick off the spooky shenanigans than with a scratch night? So if you’ve got a terrifying extract of a play you’d like to perform, a ghoulish bit of new writing or an interesting take on a ghostly classic, you can get in touch now to be a part of it by emailing the team on grimfestuk@gmail.com 📧 For more info, follow THIS LINK 

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR WOMEN WRITERS FESTIVAL 2026 at The Etcetera Theatre, Camden

Women Writers Festival 2026 is a month-long theatre and new writing festival taking place at The Etcetera Theatre, Camden, throughout March 2026. The festival celebrates bold, original work by women and female-identifying writers and provides a dedicated platform for new voices in UK theatre.

Thanks to support from Arts Council England, the festival removes key financial barriers for participating artists.

Selected shows will be presented with no venue hire fee and no in-house technician costs, enabling writers and companies to focus on making and sharing their work.

The festival builds on the success of previous editions, which have supported hundreds of artists, reached thousands of audience members, and provided opportunities that many participants would otherwise have been unable to access.

Writers and companies interested in taking part are invited to email admin@etceteratheatre.com for further information and submission details.

Further announcements, including programme highlights and event listings, will be released in the lead-up to the festival.

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.

Event / listings page:
https://www.etceteratheatrecamden.com/women-writers-festival-26

PRECARIOUS NIGHTS NEW WRITING LABORATORY AT DRAYTON ARMS - SUBMISSIONS INVITED

We’re happy to announce we’re bringing Precarious Nights back!
Precarious Nights is a new writing laboratory and this time we’re bringing it to Drayton Arms (Kensington) 29 March.

We’re looking for 4-6 challenging and creative new scenes from writers responding to the simple prompt, ‘take the risk, make the leap, be precarious’; the selected pieces will then be performed with us providing a member of our team to direct and guide each piece, as well as actors to bring the work to life!

We explicitly encourage writers of any and all races, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds to submit.
Precarious Nights is for everyone!

If you’re a writer and would like to be involved, then please fill in our onlinesubmission form

We look forward to hearing from you!
.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR NORTH SAPPH-FEST AT THE HOPE THEATRE

Applications are now open for The Hope Theatre’s exciting new festival “North Sapph-Fest”, a month-long theatre festival dedicated to uplifting and platforming the bold work of queer women and non-binary artists. Running from Monday 3rd to Friday 28th August, it will transform The Hope Theatre into a vibrant hub of new writing, genre-defying performance, and authentic queer storytelling.

Each evening will feature two performances per night, with participating companies offered short runs of 2–5 performances that give audiences a rolling programme of fresh discoveries. In a move to remove barriers and open doors for emerging voices, there are no entrance fees & no hidden charges for artists — part of The Hope Theatre’s ongoing commitment to nurturing underrepresented creatives and creating genuinely accessible opportunities.

North Sapph-Fest aims to become a joyful, community-focused fixture in London’s theatre landscape: a space where new talent can be seen, where risks are encouraged, and where queer stories are celebrated loudly, proudly, and without compromise. The Hope is on the hunt for an eclectic mix of bold new writing, inventive re-imaginings of existing shows, and intimate stories that reflect the breadth and brilliance of the community.

And applications are now open. Artists wishing to take part in this vibrant new festival that champions fresh voices and uplifts the community are asked to send an email to northsapphfest@gmail.com attaching 2 items: -

1. A proposed script
   OR
   A script outline accompanied by an example of past writing
2. A short cover letter telling us a bit about yourself and your hopes for the project

Applications are open until 6pm on Sunday 31st May 2026.

CAMDEN FRINGE FESTIVAL IS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications are now open for Camden Fringe Festival which runs 3 - 30 August.  25 venues are currently booking shows, with more to come.  Pub theatres include Barons Court, Canal Cafe Theatre (Maida Vale), Circle and Star Theatre (Hampstead), Etcetera Theatre (Camden), Hen and Chickens (Highbury & Islington), Lion and Unicorn (Kentish Town) and Rosemary Branch (border of Islington and Hackney).

Check it out here

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR SHAKEFEST at OLD RED LION THEATRE

Applications are now open for our second annual summer festival celebrating all things Shakespearean. Part of Camden Fringe

Be it a bold reimagining or innovative production of his original texts, or one of his contemporaries, a modern retelling, a spin-off or sequel, something about the man himself or someone within his sphere, a musical adaptation, a drag show, a sketch show, a cabret or whatever it be - play on

Apply via Eventotron

ETCETERA THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS FOURTH SEASON OF THE INDIE ARTS FESTIVAL 

Applications now open for independent artists and new work. 

Camden’s Etcetera Theatre has invited applications from upcoming theatre makers and fringe artists to showcase new work in February for its Indie Arts Festival. The festival has been designed for accessibility and has promised to be a low-risk opportunity for early career actors, directors and writers to present their work. The festival is open to everyone, and target artists who couldn’t put their work on at Etcetera theatre due to higher rates throughout the rest of the year.

16–22 Feb 2026

Etcetera Theatre, Camden

Box office splits • Minimal hire fee

Read LPT write up on this festival here

Email admin@etceteratheatre.com

REASONABLY PRICED WORKSHOPS AT DRAYTON ARMS THEATRE

Course: Designing The Shadows

13th January 2026

Panel: How Do I find a Producer for my Show?

14th January 2026

Workshop: Give Your Play a Second Life

15th January 2026

Course: A Hitchhiker's Guide To Tech

16th January 2026

Course: Safety First

17th January 2026

Panel: How Do I find an Intimacy Coordinator for my Show?

20th January 2026

Course: More than Pressing Go

21st January 2026

Course: Deaf Awarness

24th January 2026

Further information / Book

REASONABLY PRICED REHEARSAL SPACE AVAILABLE AT AWARD WINNING GOLDEN GOOSE THEATRE

Very reasonably priced rehearsal space available at the multi-award winning Golden Goose Theatre!

We are offering special discounted rates for the theatre space and for our new studio space!

Theatre generally available 9.30-5pm
Studio 2 generally available 9.30-3pm

Get in touchto book and for more information!

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR SKETCHFEST AT CANAL CAFE THEATRE & THE HEN & CHICKENS THEATRE

SketchFest is putting sketch comedy firmly back on the map

Applications are now open for SketchFest London! A brand new festival celebrating the best in live sketch comedy, SketchFest unites North and West London in a unique collaboration between two of the city’s most iconic comedy venues — Canal Café Theatre, home of Guinness World Record-breaking sketch comedy NewsRevue, and Award-winning, Hen & Chickens Theatre.

ELIGIBILITY

- Your show must consist of a minimum of 2 performers and no more than 6 performers on stage.
- Running time must be between 50 and 60 minutes.
- Shows do not need to be premieres — previous performances elsewhere are welcome.
- All content must be original work.

📅 KEY DATES:

Applications close on 31st January 2026
Festival runs 16th-29th March 2026

Apply via eventotron (account required)!

Email mail@canalcafetheatre.com if you have any questions

CIRCLE AND STAR PUB THEATRE IN HAMPSTEAD ARE PROGRAMMING FOR 2026

• We’re inviting both new and established voices to shape the 2026 season at Circle & Star Theatre, Hampstead.
  
  This is your opportunity to explore how your work might live within our space — a theatre built for presence, proximity and imagination.
  
  We welcome submissions across all creative forms:
  stage · music · comedy · installation · experimental performance
  
  We’re especially drawn to productions that thrive in intimate settings, where the closeness between performer and audience becomes part of the story itself.
  
  Whether you’re developing something new, revisiting a favourite work, or testing something daring — we’d love to hear from you.
  
  📩 Submit your proposal: onstage@circleandstar.com
  🗓️ Submission Window: 11 November 2025 – End of January 2026
  
  Let’s make something remarkable together — onstage at Circle & Star.
• 
  

CALLING ALL COMEDIANS - Rosebuds Comedy Festival at BREAD AND ROSES THEATRE

If you're interested in performing at Rosebuds, a comedy festival from The Defectors and The Bread & Roses Theatre, running from 26th January - 1st February 2026 further details and application can be found here .

The purpose of this festival is to give emerging comedy artists a platform to grow, and perform to some friendly audiences in the heart of South London. Last year's Rosebuds festival was a great success, with many of the WIP's or works debuted with us now fully-fledged shows! We are looking for WIPs, new, and existing work, ranging in length from small snippets and sketches to fully formed fringe shows. As we are a budding festival, we will not be asking for any registration or venue hire fees, and all acts will receive a 50% split of the box office taking for their show. There are a few additional costs to be aware of, which are explained on the web link shown above.

REGULARS

Opportunities for WRITERS at THE SCENE PODCAST, with live showings at BREAD & ROSES and TABARD THEATRE

Since its formation in 2004 Get Over It Productions has always been a safe space for marginalised voices to take the stand. Starting life 16 years ago, touring all-female Shakespeare across the UK Fringe Festivals, these days the stories of all key identity groups are nurtured here. With London residencies at the Bread and Roses Theatre (Clapham) and Theatre at the Tabard (Chiswick) this tenacious collective is driven to create opportunities for new narratives to be heard and is always planning their next step.  Follow them on X for updates on their next submission date @getoveritpro

BURNT ORANGE THEATRE runs SCRATCH NIGHTS at BARONS COURT THEATRE designed for young artists 16 - 25 years every few months

Submit here Sunday Sessions Launch Night | Burnt Orange Theatre Company

SCRATCH AT THE JACK is back, SUBMISSIONS are open regularly

Join us for our Scratch nights of new theatre and performance at the Jack Studio. Every two months we host a 75-minute show of five to six performances.

We are looking for pieces that are exciting, innovative and engaging. We are strong advocates of diversity in theatre and are open to all. The audience will give feedback after the event which we will send to you. Are you ready to surprise us?

Full details and how to submit Scratch at the Jack Studio • Jack Studio Theatre (brockleyjack.co.uk)

Opportunities to be part of Hatch & Scratch 2024 at Golden Goose Theatre

Want to take part as an actor, director or writer in our Hatch & Scratch outings this year? We're always looking to meet new faces

Catch us on scratch@pathwaytheatre.co.uk

The Sunday Fix at BARONS COURT THEATRE

Submissions deadline 15th of every month

You're invited to our monthly scratch night with a difference!

Get your creative fix in an evening that's part Q&A, part scratch night and a whole lot of fun.

Are you a writer with 10 minutes of a new play that you'd like feedback on? 

Maybe you're a director or actor who loves new writing and wants more experience?

Or a theatre lover who's curious about the theatre making process?

Come along to the Sunday Fix and join our growing network of emerging artists getting creative together.

The Sunday Fix | Barons Court Theatre

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Playwriting Opportunities at BREAD AND ROSES THEATRE

We run the monthly Bread & Roses Playwrights Circle, a friendly and supportive group in which playwrights can share their work and work-in-progress, as well as a biennial Playwriting Award for full-length plays and a biannual scratch night The Platform for short plays. We also publish selected plays from our theatre programme.

PAID SCRIPTWRITING OPPORTUNTIES AT NEWSREVUE, CANAL CAFE THEATRE

Deadline: Rolling

NewsRevue is the world’s longest running live comedy show at it's home in Canal Cafe Theatre, Little Venice, Edinburgh Fringe and the West End.  This current affairs parody song and sketch show is acknowledged as a “rite of passage for all comedy newcomers” (Chortle).

NewsRevue is always in need of good scripts and writers are invited to submit their work.  It’s important to see the show first (complimentary tickets are available from the venue to see the show).    mail@CanalCafeTheatre.com

DATABASE FOR STAGE MANAGERS AND THEATRE TECHNICIANS

Since the pandemic there has been a shortage of  Stage Managers and Theatre Technicians in London.  Bridge House Theatre is compiling a database which they will share with other off west end and independent theatres.  

If you would like to add your details to the Bridge House Theatre database please click here

LINKS TO OTHER OPPORTUNTIES

BBC WRITER ROOM https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/