Playwrights' Studio, Scotland

To apply, you should have a draft of a full length play. For more information and to apply, click here: form.jotform.com/260613092682...

The session aims to help you through creative challenges you may be facing and prepare you for working on your next draft.

This opportunity is part of Playwrights’ Studio’s national work, taking place in Inverness; playwrights based in the Highlands and Islands will be prioritised.

Off the Page
Thurs 19 March, Eden Court
Deadline: 5pm Weds 11 March

Having other people read & engage with your play can be a huge help to move through sticking points. Working with a dramaturg & two professional actors, Off the Page is a chance to explore your play in a supported workshop setting.

Whether you’re applying for our Playwright Mentoring Programme or Disabled Playwright Support Programme with Birds of Paradise Theatre Company (BOP) we’d love to hear from you.

Deadline: 1pm, Friday 21st November

Applications are still open for some of our Playwright Supports 2026 and you’ve got just over a week to get yours in.

State of the Nation was a collaboration between @atandmt.bsky.social, Citizens Theatre and Playwrights' Studio, Scotland

Photo credit: Julian Bailey

If you took part, check your e-mail for a link to provide feedback and notes from the day.

We’ll be sharing a summary of the event and what attendees wanted to see from the sector via social media before the end of the year.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the State of the Nation event at the Citizens’ Theatre on Friday, 24th October for a productive day of conversation and joint thinking about the future of the performing arts in Scotland.

State of the Nation was a collaboration between @atandmt.bsky.social, Citizens Theatre and Playwrights' Studio, Scotland

Photo credit: Julian Bailey

If you took part, check your e-mail for a link to provide feedback and notes from the day. We’ll be sharing a summary of the event and what attendees wanted to see from the sector via social media before the end of the year.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the State of the Nation event at the Citizens’ Theatre on Friday, 24th October for a productive day of conversation and joint thinking about the future of the performing arts in Scotland.

Bursaraidh Leasachaidh Dealbh-chluich Gàidhlig
• In partnership with the @leughleabhar.bsky.social, the bursary offers early career and professional playwrights space to explore a new piece of writing in Gaelic.

Link: playwrightsstudio.co.uk/bursaraidh-l...

Self-Led Projects
• Help for playwrights to self-design and deliver their own project. Up to £4,000 is available per project, whether you’d like to focus on developing your craft, foster new collaborations or explore a new piece of live performance.

Link: playwrightsstudio.co.uk/self-led-pro...

Play Development Bursaries
• Offers professional playwrights space to invest in a new idea, with financial and practical support to help you get to the first draft of a new play.

Link: playwrightsstudio.co.uk/play-develop...

Applications are now open for three of our supports for playwrights. Each one includes financial contributions to help you make space for your writing.

Apply now and give yourself the time to explore your next big idea.

Follow the links below for more details and to apply.

3.30pm
Future Life: Thinking beyond the Fringe
A range of industry guests discuss how to keep momentum up after a production, including writers Uma Nada-Rajah and Karis Kelly, producer Ellie Keel and dramaturg Jackie Crichton.

1.45pm
An Idiot’s Guide To The Fringe: 10 Ways To Be A Bad Producer
Ellie Keel (the youngest ever winner of Producer of the Year at The Stage Awards) leads a workshop examining the pitfalls of being a producer at the Fringe.

10.45am
Ivo Graham: Where Comedy and Theatre Meet
Join comedian and theatre writer Ivo Graham for an informal workshop about the crossover between the two.

10.30am or 2.30pm
Write Your Way Out: An Escape Room for Writers
It is September 1883 and the opening night of the Royal Lyceum Theatre looms large over Edinburgh. But things have gone awry and only you can help… by getting some writing done.

We have a full day of events happening tomorrow at the Lyceum & there’s still time to sign up!

You can join us any time to use our informal writing space & meet other writers, or book in for any of the individual events below.

Email info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk before 10.30am Aug 21st to sign up.

Bring scraps of ideas you’re working on, weather appropriate clothes, and a sense of adventure.

We’ll be holding a virtual version of this later in the autumn, so if you can’t join us in Edinburgh, you won’t miss out.

For more information & to sign up, click here: form.jotform.com/252165239742...

Writing on Location
Fri 22 August
2-4.30pm
Free

Take some time to explore Edinburgh with your writing hat on, guided by our Associate Playwright Davey Anderson.
After a brief introduction, you'll be let loose with a zine full of prompts to get you going, before gathering to share your findings.

Join us on Monday afternoon as three leading Scottish theatre makers each share a favourite chapter from this groundbreaking and influential book.

For more information and to book, follow this link: www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/eve...

A Good Night Out: Scenes from John McGrath’s Theatre Manifesto
Monday 18th August
3pm
Traverse Theatre

Writer and theatre-maker John McGrath’s A Good Night Out is a rallying call for a revolutionary, compassionate and challenging theatre culture that centres audiences in content and form.

Sign up here and join us for an hour of conversation: form.jotform.com/251692852975...

Case Study Sessions are online, free to attend and open to playwrights at any stage of their career.

Our final Case Study Session of the year is tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd July from 2-3pm with Lesley Hart.

Lesley will offer insight into the process of working on the development of new plays, sharing examples from throughout her extensive career working across theatre, film, television & radio drama.

Arts Professional: Arts Pay survey 2025 Please take part in our latest Pulse survey: Arts Pay 2025 We want to know how you experience work in the arts today - from pay, access and precarity to equity and workplace culture. In this latest iteration...

Don't miss: Arts Professional: Arts Pay survey 2025 from Arts Professional and Baker Richards. Tell us how you experience work in the arts - from pay, access and precarity to equity and workplace culture. Take part in our latest survey.

Announcing our 2025 Associates!

We're delighted to announce our Associate Playwrights for 2025 are Davey Anderson & Linda McLean.

Stay tuned to our socials & make sure to sign up to our enews to find out more about what they will be doing over the next year.

We can’t wait to share more with you.

Sign up today by clicking here: form.jotform.com/251692852975...

Case Study Sessions are online, free to attend and open to playwrights at any stage of their career.

Drawing from her experience working across theatre, film, television and radio drama, Lesley will offer insight into the process of working on the development of new plays, sharing examples from throughout her career of working as a writer, dramaturg and actor.