Script Submissions

Please note, our script submissions window is currently closed.

Once a year, we open our unsolicited script submissions window so writers can send us their plays.

Open submissions is one of the ways we meet the most exciting new writers in the country. It is an essential part of our artist development programmes.

Plays needn’t be of a specific genre, theme, or style. The Bush wants to hear what makes you laugh, makes you angry, makes you sad and what makes you hope. We want to read stories about now, stories that are contemporary and stories that writers care about and feel need to be told.

When the submissions window is open, we look for:

  • plays that tell contemporary, diverse stories with wit, style and passion
  • full-length plays (running at 60 mins or more)
  • writers based in the UK or Ireland who are not currently represented by an agent
  • original plays – i.e. not adaptations

Last year, we received 1000 new plays. Two writers were selected for the Bush Writers’ Group, our literary team met with more than 30 writers and 100 more received written feedback on their plays.

‘Open submissions is one way we get to live out our mission to reach as many artists as we can across the year. We know how challenging it can be to get a play onto the stage, let alone have anyone read your work.”

– Titilola Dawudu, Bush Associate Dramaturg

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