Playwright Mentoring Programme
Applications are Open
Applications are Open
About
Deadline for applications: 1pm, Friday 21st November.
Every year, Playwrights' Studio, Scotland offers six aspiring or emerging playwrights the opportunity to take part in an intensive eight-month Programme which includes mentoring, script development, workshops, opportunities to widen your network and to meet colleagues from the wider creative sector.
The Mentoring Programme is delivered by established professional playwrights, to support the development of new, full-length plays. This is a professional development opportunity which will improve playwriting skills and allow participants to gain valuable insight into the playwriting process.
The Programme gives playwrights the structure and support to write the play they want to write without the constraints of writing in a particular style or to a specific brief.
Content
Playwright Mentoring Sessions
Six one-to-one playwright mentoring sessions with an established professional playwright who will support you from the initial idea to the first draft of a new, full-length play. This support gives you the space and time to experiment with your writing and grow in confidence as a playwright.
Financial Support
To cover eight days of your time in contact with your mentor and with Playwrights' Studio, we will pay you a rate of £180 per day. The total amount you will receive is £1440. Payment will occur monthly, after each mentoring session has taken place.
Case Study Sessions
These sessions are group activities available to you as a playwright currently being supported by Playwrights' Studio. They are designed to enhance your skills and knowledge of the theatre industry, give you the opportunity to ask questions and think about the other sides of being a playwright that don't necessarily involve writing.
Community
Playwrights' Studio will create space for you to make connections with your peers within the industry. This includes the Playwright Introduction Day, a group visit to the theatre, invitations to meet other practitioners in Scottish theatre and social events with other playwrights.
Key dates
The Playwright Introduction Day will take place on 30th January 2026.
Case Study Sessions happen around once a month from February to September. You will be able to set specific dates with your mentor for individual sessions monthly between February and July. The programme will take place over the course of eight months.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the Playwright Mentoring Programme, you should:
You are an aspiring or emerging playwright living anywhere in Scotland, or from Scotland and living elsewhere. We don't want to define too neatly what ‘aspiring or emerging’ could mean, but you may have had no experience at all writing plays, or a little; you may be returning to playwriting from another career. It’s unlikely to be the right fit if you have substantial production experience.
You have a specific idea you want to develop into a full-length play. You will receive the most benefit from the Mentoring Programme if you are writing a play from scratch, so your play should not already be substantially written.
You are available from mid-January for eight months to work on your script regularly. This includes monthly two-hour mentoring sessions.
You should also:
Be resident in Scotland or from Scotland and living elsewhere
You are available for the Playwriting Programme Introduction Day. If you are unable to make this date, please let us know via info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from playwrights who:
Are in full-time formal education (i.e. 16 hours total or more per week) at the start of the Playwright Mentoring Programme. If you are in part-time education, please contact us to discuss your options
Have received financial support from Playwrights' Studio in the previous 18 months (this doesn't include attending workshops or groups run by us).
If you are in any doubt regarding your eligibility, please contact us at info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk.
Access & Equality
Applying
As part of your application, you will be asked to:
Tell us about your experience as a writer to date.
(Suggested word count: up to 500)
Tell us about why you would like to participate in the programme and why you think it may help you right now.
(Suggested word count: up to 500)
Tell us about the idea you would like to develop into a play
(Suggested word count: up to 500)
Submit two samples of your writing. Either:
Two fifteen-page extracts from stage plays, or;
One fifteen-page extract from a stage play and one approximately 3,750 word extract of writing in any genre
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Here are a few things you may want to think about before you proceed with your application:
This process isn’t about ‘teaching’ you how to write a play but supporting you to grow your writing skills. For this reason, some experience of writing for live performance is essential.
If you have recently been through a similar development process with a play, you may not be prioritised in the selection process. This might include undertaking a Masters or other mentoring programme where you were supported to write a full play.
Your mentor will support you from the initial idea through to the first draft of a full-length play. For this reason, you should only apply if the idea you're proposing hasn't already been written.
Please submit using the Playwright Mentoring Application form. You can either submit a written application, or a video application. We accept submissions in English, Scots, Gaelic or BSL.
If you are unable to submit online and would like the application form in a different format or have any questions at all regarding the application process, please email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk.
Deadline for applications: 1pm, Friday 21st November.
What happens next?
You will receive an email confirming the submission of your application.
Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their submission no later than Friday 19th December 2025.
Questions?
Please read the Frequently Asked Questions. If your question is not answered, please email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk and we will be happy to help.
"I feel like this opportunity gave me the space and guidance not only to explore my craft, but figure out how I can work as a playwright in all its aspects. So not only did the programme help me become a better writer in my writing, but also in terms of networking, organisation and working collaboratively."
— Previous mentored playwright