The VAULT Festival New Writers Programme is an 8 week practical writing course taking place at VAULT Festival 2020 (28 January – 22 March) for prospective writers over the age of 18 who have never had a full-length play staged before. Absolute beginners are highly encouraged. Optional weekly group show trips with post-show discussions will take place each week of the festival. Each participant will receive a VAULT Festival pass which entitles them to complimentary tickets.

Participants will develop a 1 hour play/piece of writing for the stage in their own time over the 8 weeks. Nick Hern Books will have first refusal over publishing and amateur-performance licensing for this play, or a longer version of it, pending further contractual agreement and payment of an advance against royalties.

Deadline 

5pm, Sunday 1st December 2019.

Six successful applicants will be announced publicly as participants of the VAULT Festival New Writers Programme
An introductory Meet & Greet event will be held at The Vaults in Waterloo in mid-January
Participants will be expected to attend weekly workshops at VAULT Festival. Workshops will last approx. 3 hours and will run every Saturday morning from 10am-1pm, starting on Saturday 1st February 2020 and lasting 8 weeks.
10 minute extracts of all plays developed during the course will be guest directed, cast and rehearsed over the final week of the course (Tuesday 17th March – Saturday 21st March 2020). These extracts will then be presented as part of an exciting industry showcase performance on Sunday 22nd March 2020.
Successful applicants will be notified in mid-December.

Guidelines 

To apply for the VAULT Festival New Writers Programme you must:

• Be over the age of 18
• Have never had a full-length play staged before
• Have not received any professional training in writing for the stage
• Submit 5 pages of writing for the stage. Your writing submission can take any form, so long as it is intended to be performed on stage.