York Theatre Royal, Harrogate Theatre and Cast are seeking to commission a new 45-minute play specifically for youth theatre groups aged 11–14, in response to the lack of existing repertoire for this age group.
The appointed playwright will work closely with each of the partner youth theatre groups, placing youth voice at the centre of the creative process. They will receive dramaturgical support throughout the development period.
The playwright will lead workshops and develop the script over the course of the 2025–2026 academic year. Performances by each partner’s youth theatre group will take place between Sep 2026 and Jul 2027.
– Experience of working with young people
– Experience of writing for multiple voices
– Experience of co-curation and a willingness to collaborate with, and be guided by, young people’s thoughts and opinions as part of their process
– A strong connection to the Yorkshire and Humber region
– Have written at least 1 play before, this does not need to be published and can be in the context of a youth theatre leader writing for their own group.
– Hold an existing enhanced DBS with the update service or be willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check
We actively encourage applications from writers from the Global Majority, LGBTQ+ communities, D/deaf and Disabled writers, and those from other underrepresented backgrounds.
– 45 minutes
– Suitable for a cast of up to 30, who may be from a variety of backgrounds
– Writing is age-appropriate, narrative-led, full of strong stories and characters, and responsive to the ideas and interests of young people.
– Application Deadline: 22 Oct 2025
– Online Interviews: 14 and 15 Nov 2025
– Jan 2026: Initial venue workshops with the playwright. Good availability required between 12 and 24 Jan
– Feb 2026: Treatment due
– 17 Apr 2026: First draft due
– End of Apr 2026: Feedback session with all partners and young people
– Jul 2026: Second draft due
– 31 Aug 2026: Final draft due
– Sep 2026 to Jul 2027: Individual companies to schedule their own production dates
To apply, please email youththeatre@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk with the subject line YOUTH THEATRE COMMISSION. Your application should include:
– Your CV
– A sample of your work (maximum 20 pages)
– A short statement responding to the question:
“What excites you about this project, and how would you approach this commission?”
Deadline for application is the 22nd of Oct at 5pm.
– £4000 plus 8% of the Box Office for the delivery of the play.
– £150 attendance at writers’ workshops (4 in total)
