info@skybluetheatre.com07941 012293

We are not currently open for submissions

After a series of sad and difficult events including the death of a company director, it was decided to hold off until 2024.

9th British Theatre Challenge

– Performances will take place in 2024
10th British Theatre Challenge – Entries will open on the 1st of November 2024

Please look at our Script Appraisals page if you have a play for us to look at

The British Theatre Challenge – Supporting and producing work by emerging and established writers across the globe since 2011
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates

The 5 Winning Plays will be:

  • Given a weeks performance at the Jack Studio Theatre, London!*
  • Developed by professional directors!
  • Performed by professional actors!
  • Given written assessments by theatre professionals!
  • Considered for publication by our partnered publishers!
  • Filmed in performance by Mini Mammoth Films!
  • A public audience will vote for their favourite!
  • *If Covid-19 restricts live audience at the time of performance, plays will be live-streamed (with live editing by Mini Mammoth Films)

What will Happen

  • Submissions accepted from 1st November each year
  • Closing date 30th March
  • A long list will be drawn up by 30th May
  • A shortlist will be drawn up by 30th June
  • Winners will be announced by 30th July
  • Performance dates to be confirmed
  • Winning playwrights will be presented with assessments in October
  • Videos of winning plays will be released in November
  • Over 50 winning plays have been given offers of publication as a direct result of the BTC!
  • Find further play submission opportunities here -www.playsubmissionshelper.com/blog/

Latest News

Many Thanks…

April 29, 2022 Sky Blue Theatre Co

We’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you have not heard from us within 24 hours, please check your spam folder. The workshops work well as a kick-start to a project as it gives the children a very clear understanding of the story of your chosen play from the outset or as […]

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British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2021

July 20, 2021 Sky Blue Theatre Co

So here it is, The British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2021. From this list of 30 plays, 5 winning plays will be selected by the end of July to be performed at a London venue. Congratulations if your play has been listed below as you have been marked in the top 7% of submissions and placed […]

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BTC 2021

June 20, 2021 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Thank you so much for submitting your play to the British Theatre Challenge 2021. Our international playwriting competition saw entries from 20 different countries, showing us just what a wealth of talent there continues to be around the world. What’s really stood out this year has been the authenticity of the characters and their dialogue. […]

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British Theatre Challenge 2021 is Open!

November 2, 2020 Sky Blue Theatre Co

We are delighted to announce that our international new writing competition, the British Theatre Challenge, is returning for its ninth year and open for submissions! 2021 will see five winning plays produced by a professional cast & crew for a one week run of performances in London. Moreover, this opportunity will also see the winning works filmed […]

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BRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE WINNERS 2019

August 3, 2019 Sky Blue Theatre Co

A massive congratulations to our winning writers! Tickets are now on sale at brockleyjack.co.uk/jackstudio-entry/the-british-theatre-challenge-2 This years winning plays will be given 5 full performances at the Jack Studio Theatre, London Tuesday 1st October – Saturday 5th October 2019  at 7.30pm. If you are in or around London at this time please come and support us and make yourself […]

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Drama Holiday Workshops

July 16, 2019 Sky Blue Theatre Co

summer drama kids camp

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British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2019

July 14, 2019 Sky Blue Theatre Co

So here it is, The British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2019. From this list of 30 plays, 5 winning plays will be selected by the end of July to be performed 01st October – 5th October at the Jack Studio Theatre, London. Congratulations to all our writers for submitting such diverse and well researched scripts to […]

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British Theatre Challenge Longlist 2019

June 14, 2019 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Thank you so much for submitting your play to the British Theatre Challenge 2019. This year saw entries from 14 different countries, showing us just what a wealth of talent there is around the world. Congratulations if your play has been listed below as you have been marked in the top 25% of submissions and […]

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British Theatre Challenge Winners 2018

July 18, 2018 Sky Blue Theatre Co

A massive congratulations to our winning writers!

This years winning plays will be given 5 full performances at the Jack Studio Theatre, London Tuesday 28 August – Saturday 1 September 2018  at 7.30pm

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British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2018

June 27, 2018 Sky Blue Theatre Co

So here it is playwrights, the British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2018

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Script Appraisal Service

June 11, 2018 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Need a second opinion? Try our script appraisal service today. Quality feedback, competitive prices, professional appraisers.

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British Theatre Challenge Longlist 2018

May 30, 2018 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Thank you so much for submitting your play to the British Theatre Challenge 2018. This year saw entries from 16 different countries, showing us just what a wealth of talent there is around the world. Congratulations if your play has been listed below as you have been marked in the top 25% of submissions and […]

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CASTING BREAKDOWN – BRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE 2017

September 13, 2017 Sky Blue Theatre Co

See casting breakdowns for this year’s British Theatre Challenge here…

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British Theatre Challenge Winners 2017

August 14, 2017 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Thank you to everybody that has entered this year’s playwriting competition – It’s been a pleasure reading all of your scripts over the past few months so please, keep up the awesome writing! Choosing ten plays has been an incredibly difficult task, well done to those writers who were chosen for the shortlist but we […]

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British Theatre Challenge 2017 Shortlist

July 3, 2017 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Click here to find out…Click here to find out if your play has made it onto this year’s shortlist… The British Theatre Challenge 2017 will be held at The Lost Theatre.

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British Theatre Challenge 2017 Longlist

June 2, 2017 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Congratulations if your play has been placed on our Longlist for this year’s challenge. Click here to find out…

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A winner of the BTC ’15

February 27, 2017 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Joe Starzyk has two more plays performed at Claremorris Drama and Fringe Festival. Find out more here.

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Casting Breakdown – British Theatre Challenge 2016

October 28, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

See casting breakdowns for this year’s British Theatre Challenge here…

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British Theatre Challenge 2015 News

October 1, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Break a leg Joe Starzyk with your upcoming performances of two more of your plays.

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The Masters – British Theatre Challenge 2016

September 26, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Performance Details Here
Book your tickets now for the new writing event of the year.

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British Theatre Challenge Winners 2016

August 1, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

We would like to thank everybody that has entered this year’s playwriting competition – It’s been a pleasure reading all of your scripts over the past few months so please, keep up the awesome writing! We are delighted to announce that the 10 winning plays have now been selected. The 10 winners of the British […]

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BRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE SHORTLIST 2016

July 5, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

So here it is folks, The British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2016

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British Theatre Challenge Longlist

May 30, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Thank you one and all for entering this year’s British Theatre Challenge. Once again the writing has been of the highest standard meaning our readers have had a thoroughly enjoyable yet incredibly challenging job. Congratulations if your play has been listed below as you have been selected and placed on our Longlist for this year’s […]

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Kickstarter Campaign

May 24, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Sky Blue will be granting the wish of terminally ill playwright Anne Bartram by producing her first full length comedy at Camden People’s Theatre, London. That Catholic Thing is inspired by Anne’s own experiences of disability and views of religion. With the help of Mini Mammoth film makers we made a Kickstarter page where we’re […]

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Casting for That Catholic Thing

May 18, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Hard hitting and very dark, this new comedy by Anne Bartram is seeking it’s cast… Religion is a hot topic with its global and very grave repercussions. Christian churches today are finding their numbers dwindling as more people question the origins and the stories of the faith they have been taught and are expected to […]

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That Catholic Thing

Sky Blue Theatre Co

Sky Blue Theatre Company will be granting the wish of terminally ill playwright and company director Anne Bartram by producing her first full length comedy at Camden People’s Theatre, London.

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Eddie Coleman’s Winning Play Published

January 2, 2016 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Lazy Bee Scripts have now published 2015 British Theatre Challenge winner Eddie Coleman’s ‘Idiot Spaz’, you can find the

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Broadway World Article

November 5, 2015 Sky Blue Theatre Co

A brief article in ‘Broadway World’ about ‘Suribachi’, winner of the Audience Appreciation Award in this year’s British Theatre Challenge – http://bit.ly/1PpcD1y

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Brian Coyle a winner of BTC 2014 writes new play

September 23, 2015 Sky Blue Theatre Co

A political satire that asks if politicians ever have to face up to the decisions they have made.

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New poster for BTC 2015

September 21, 2015 Sky Blue Theatre Co

The ten winning plays of The British Theatre Challenge will be performed at The Lost Theatre 23rd & 24th October 2015

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Frank Canino’s New Play

September 5, 2015 Sky Blue Theatre Co

British Theatre Challenge winner writes a new play.

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Shakespeare Rewired featured in QA

August 27, 2015 Sky Blue Theatre Co

Shakespeare Rewired has recently been featured in QA Arts Magazine for Teachers.

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BRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE WINNERS 2015

July 31, 2015 Sky Blue Theatre Co

We are delighted to announce that the final 10 winning plays have now been selected.

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British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2015

June 30, 2015 Sky Blue Theatre Co

So here it is folks, The British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2015
From this list of 25 plays, 10 winning plays will be selected by the end of July to be performed at the Lost Theatre, London on the 23rd and 24th October 2015.

READ MORE

British Theatre Challenge Shortlist

Sky Blue Theatre Co

Will be announced later today (fingers crossed there are no problems with the new website)!

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Out with the Old, In with the New!

Sky Blue Theatre Co

As we say goodbye to our old website we welcome in our new website. There are still a few kinks to iron out, please be patient…

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Past and Present Partners

Rules

British Theatre Challenge Rules

  1. The competition is open to all nationalities, but plays must be written in English and unpublished for the duration of the competition.
  2. Plays must be written for the stage for more than one actor with a running time no more than 30 minutes.
  3. By entering the competition the writer affirms that their entry is original and they have sole rights to all matters contained within the play.
  4. The authors name and contact details must be removed from all pages of the script. All pages to be numbered.
  5. The first page of each script should include a completed play synopsis of no more than 50 words, a list of characters, a description of setting.
  6. Entries must be submitted with full payment of £16 per play. Entrants may submit any number of plays and each play must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee.
  7. The organisers will not accept responsibility for the loss of scripts in transit.
  8. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence concerning the results will be entered into.

Play submissions that do not comply with all competition rules will be read in their entirety but may be discounted from the competition without notification to the writer or refund of entry fee.

The closing date for all entries is the 30th March. (We're not currently open for submissions).

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates!

Entry form

When you have submitted the entry form and paid the submission fee (payment details below form) please email your play to newplay@skybluetheatre.com with the play title as the subject line.
Remember to remove your name from the script, we ask that all identifying information is removed to keep the anonymity of the writer for the readers.

Please complete one entry form per play submitted

Entry Form
Payment Method (£16) *
All UK residents please pay by bank transfer to Barclays Account: 33531783 Sort: 20-74-05 Ref: Play Title
By entering the British Theatre Challenge, in the event that this play wins, I give permission for it to be rehearsed and performed by Sky Blue Theatre Company for the purposes of the competition. I give permission for my play to be filmed in rehearsal and performance and the film to be made available to interested parties, posted on the web and used by Sky Blue Theatre Company, in whole or in part, for publicity purposes. *
I confirm that I have read and agree to abide by the Sky Blue Theatre Playwriting Competition Rules and that I have sole rights to all matters contained within the play. *

Payment

UK residents please pay by bank transfer to: Sky Blue Theatre - Account: 33531783 - Sort Code: 20-74-05 using the title of your play as the reference. All other payments can be made through the Paypal link below, you'll be given a 17 digit transaction ID.



Suggested Format

The following suggested format is used by many playwrights.

Page 1 – EXAMPLE – is the title page

The Crooked House

Synopsis:


The granddaughter of tycoon Jerry Attrick, Annette Curtain, visits history teacher Barb Wyer in her office. Annette wants Barb to explain a recently discovered portrait, for she believes her grandfather is in grave danger after threats from a member of his sprawling and idiosyncratic family.

 

Characters:

Annette Curtain – 14 – 16yrs, Emo
Barb Dwyer – 50's, Annette's history teacher, unemotional
Jerry Attrick – 60's, Annette's grandfather, young at heart
Al Dente – any age, joker

Page 2 – EXAMPLE - Begins with description of the setting in brackets and opens the play.
All stage directions for the actors should be in brackets. Plays may include sound and lighting direction (in brackets) but this is not essential.

(A cold dark evening in the park. There is an overflowing bin next to a park bench and a sign saying Keep off the Grass. Jerry Attrick is seated on the bench asleep. Annette enters)

Annette: (shouting) Granddad.... Where are you?

(Jerry snores and wakes himself up)
Jerry: What? What's happening?

Annette: What are you doing here Granddad? Mum's been calling you.

Jerry: I can't help that. There was a UFO hovering around yesterday and if it lands I get to see the aliens and ask them if they will take me with them.

video and winner boxes

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