StageWrite is Bedford’s annual New Writing Festival.  Running since 2013, StageWrite is designed as a platform for emerging and published writers to see their work up on its feet, in front of an audience and performed script-in-hand by professional actors.  This allows the writer to gain multiple perspectives about their work so that they can develop it further based on the feedback of the actors, director and audience members.  It’s also for audiences, giving them the experience of brand new material and the chance to say what they think about it.

The Festival will partner with The Place Theatre, the home of StageWrite since 2013. All the plays are in development, and are followed by a Q&A with the writer, director and actors.

Three pieces from previous StageWrite years have gone on to full production and/or tour including ‘Confetti’ by Bruntwood Prize Judges Prize winner 2017 Tim Foley.

Deadline: 31 January 2018

The festival will take place on 3rd and 4th May 2018.  Submissions will close on 31st January 2018.

What to submit: 

• Scripts that follow industry standard in terms of font size, layout, page numbering etc.
• Scripts of between 45 and 60 minutes in length, either a complete piece, or part of a longer piece that is able to stand alone and be coherent for an audience
• A maximum of 6 actors required – if there are more than 6 roles, it should be feasible for the actors to play multiple roles
• Stage directions kept to a minimum where possible
• Please note that, at present, this is only open to UK residents as you will need to make yourself available for the performance of your piece if selected.

For more information and to apply via the online form please go to the StageWrite website