This award is for everyone. First-time writers, late starters, people who’ve been sitting on an idea for years. The Verity Bargate Award don’t care about your background or your credentials – they want a great play. If you’re in the UK or Ireland and you’ve got a story burning a hole in your brain, something urgent or funny or devastating that won’t leave you alone, send it to the Verity Bargate Award. Just a brilliant idea, a bold voice, and the guts to put it on the page.

The winner will receive £12,000 and a full production at Soho Theatre. Alongside the winner of the Award, Soho Theatre will also be selecting another writer to receive the Character 7 Commission. This writer, selected by their sponsor Character 7 in consultation with Soho Theatre, will be commissioned by Soho Theatre and join the 2027 cohort of writers on Soho ReDraft.

Submissions open on Monday 12 January, 11am and close on Monday 13 April, 11am.