Playwriting Competition 2026

THE MADDERMARKET THEATRE’S PLAYWRITING COMPETITION.

After a successful debut in 2025, our Play Writing Competition and New Writing Festival are back! 2026 will see Norfolk and Suffolk creatives submit a script in the hope of seeing it performed on the Maddermarket stage.

This year, we will be searching for one act scripts to be submitted with the chance of appearing at our New Writing Festival, 3rd – 5th of July.

We will be accepting submissions until the 25th March, 12pm. Playwrights will be aware of the outcome by the end of April, 2026. 

REQUIREMENTS.

The script will be a one act play, with a duration of 30 – 45 minutes.
We highly recommend that your script does not exceed a cast of five. 
Due to the nature of the New Writing Festival, the staging will be simplistic and easy to set up. There will be limited prop, furniture and costume demands. We will rely heavily on the Maddermarket Theatre’s inventory/resources.
The scripts must be original, and not previously performed. 
The playwright must be living locally in Norfolk and Suffolk. 
Only one play script will be submitted per playwright. 

We are looking for plays that entertain and challenge the audience with their dramatic engagement through concepts, language, character, plot, etc… Whether that be through laughter or thrills, is completely down to you.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are keen to read a variety of genres and writing styles that excite and intrigue our panel. A strong use of themes integrated into an original concept will certainly grab our attention, with compelling characters that build a believable relationship with the audience.

The plot will be consistent and fresh, creating a world that the audience will want to explore and discuss after the duration of the play. There will be a clear structure maintained, guided by dialogue that sounds natural and interesting to listen to.

This time, we will not be preferencing specific genres. Comedies, thrillers, dramas, adaptation, mystery, horror… to name but a few. Write whatever feels right for you!

OUTCOME.

We will be selecting four successful submissions to be performed at our New Writing Festival, which takes place over the 3rd – 5th of July. Two submissions will also be successful in our runners-up category, in which extracts from their script will be performed.

We will select a talented director and a cast to perform the successful festival plays.

To submit a script or ask any questions, please do so by emailing mmtplaywritingcompetition@gmail.com. We will respond as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you.

Enjoy writing!