We are currently not accepting submissions for the British Theatre Challenge
Looking Ahead: A 10th Challenge While we’re proud to have hosted nine successful British Theatre Challenges, we will not be running a competition this year. We remain dedicated to celebrating new playwriting and hope to hold a 10th British Theatre Challenge in the future. As the competition is a major commitment, we aim to resume it when we can devote the time it truly deserves.
In the meantime, we encourage writers to explore our Script Appraisals for personalised feedback on their work. This service offers detailed insights to help you refine and develop your script. Additionally, our Playwriting Courses provide an immersive way to build and shape your playwriting skills in a supportive, interactive setting. Email us for details on upcoming course dates and topics.
Thank you for your understanding and ongoing support of Sky Blue Theatre’s mission to uplift emerging writers. Please check back for future updates!
The British Theatre Challenge and Sky Blue Theatre Co. – Supporting and producing work by emerging and established writers across the globe since 2011
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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…
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 […]
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2021
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 […]
READ MOREBTC 2021
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. […]
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge 2021 is Open!
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 […]
READ MOREBRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE WINNERS 2019
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 […]
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2019
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 […]
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Longlist 2019
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 […]
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Winners 2018
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
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2018
So here it is playwrights, the British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2018
READ MOREScript Appraisal Service
Need a second opinion? Try our script appraisal service today. Quality feedback, competitive prices, professional appraisers.
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Longlist 2018
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 […]
READ MORECASTING BREAKDOWN – BRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE 2017
See casting breakdowns for this year’s British Theatre Challenge here…
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Winners 2017
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 […]
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge 2017 Shortlist
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.
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge 2017 Longlist
Congratulations if your play has been placed on our Longlist for this year’s challenge. Click here to find out…
READ MOREA winner of the BTC ’15
Joe Starzyk has two more plays performed at Claremorris Drama and Fringe Festival. Find out more here.
READ MORECasting Breakdown – British Theatre Challenge 2016
See casting breakdowns for this year’s British Theatre Challenge here…
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge 2015 News
Break a leg Joe Starzyk with your upcoming performances of two more of your plays.
READ MOREThe Masters – British Theatre Challenge 2016
Performance Details Here
Book your tickets now for the new writing event of the year.
British Theatre Challenge Winners 2016
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 […]
READ MOREBRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE SHORTLIST 2016
So here it is folks, The British Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2016
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Longlist
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 […]
READ MOREKickstarter Campaign
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 […]
READ MORECasting for That Catholic Thing
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 […]
READ MOREThat Catholic Thing
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.
READ MOREEddie Coleman’s Winning Play Published
Lazy Bee Scripts have now published 2015 British Theatre Challenge winner Eddie Coleman’s ‘Idiot Spaz’, you can find the
READ MOREBroadway World Article
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
READ MOREBrian Coyle a winner of BTC 2014 writes new play
A political satire that asks if politicians ever have to face up to the decisions they have made.
READ MORENew poster for BTC 2015
The ten winning plays of The British Theatre Challenge will be performed at The Lost Theatre 23rd & 24th October 2015
READ MOREShakespeare Rewired featured in QA
Shakespeare Rewired has recently been featured in QA Arts Magazine for Teachers.
READ MOREBRITISH THEATRE CHALLENGE WINNERS 2015
We are delighted to announce that the final 10 winning plays have now been selected.
READ MOREBritish Theatre Challenge Shortlist 2015
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.
British Theatre Challenge Shortlist
Will be announced later today (fingers crossed there are no problems with the new website)!
READ MOREOut with the Old, In with the New!
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…
READ MOREPast and Present Partners
Rules
British Theatre Challenge Rules
- The competition is open to all nationalities, but plays must be written in English and unpublished for the duration of the competition.
- Plays must be written for the stage for more than one actor with a running time no more than 30 minutes.
- By entering the competition the writer affirms that their entry is original and they have sole rights to all matters contained within the play.
- The authors name and contact details must be removed from all pages of the script. All pages to be numbered.
- 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.
- 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.
- The organisers will not accept responsibility for the loss of scripts in transit.
- 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.