We are excited to announce that we are collaborating with the National Theatre of Scotland, A Play A Pie and A Pint and Playwrights’ Studio Scotland on the South Asian Playwrights’ Programme.
This writers’ programme forms part of a long-term commitment from the National Theatre of Scotland to developing South Asian theatre artists, and platforming their work.
The programme provides a paid opportunity for two South Asian playwrights based in Scotland to develop a new play each, with support from professional dramaturgs, actors and directors, ahead of the play being licenced and further developed and produced by A Play, A Pie and a Pint in a future season.
This programme recognises that South Asian writers face specific barriers to developing their craft and accessing a ladder of progression to professional production opportunities, rooted in historic marginalisation and underinvestment.
It has been designed for writers who have already written at least one full length stage play (50mins +), but not yet received more than one professional funded production of their work (or had a production at PPP), and would benefit from professional artistic and dramaturgical support in their development as a writer.
The Offer
Each selected writer will receive a fee of £2,750 towards the writing of a first draft of a new 50 min play, for a maximum of 3 performers. This fee is in addition to the license fee which will be paid by Glasgow Lunchtime Theatre on production.
The play is to be written across 2/3 development stages with the following support:
- Dramaturgy from the partners, and a trainee dramaturg from the South Asian artist community. This dramaturgical support will include verbal and written feedback on each draft to support your decisions around structure, characters, narrative arc etc.
- A paid day-long workshop on a development draft of your new play with a professional cast and director*.
- An additional paid day of development on your full first draft, culminating in a rehearsed reading in front of a small, private, non-paying audience, to provide you with additional professional and audience feedback.
- *Directors and performers for development stages will all be Scotland-based and selected in line with the characters, themes and skills required for each play.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- be 18years+
- not currently be in full time education
- be based in Scotland
- identify as South Asian or of mixed/South Asian Heritage
- have not had a play produced at A Play, A Pie and A Pint not had more than one fully funded professional production*
Please note that this opportunity is aimed at individual writers, rather than those writing collaboratively.
*By professional production we mean productions where the full cast and creative team and crew were paid at least union minimum rates.
Ready to find out more and apply?
Application Deadline | Mon 16 March
Outcomes communicated in early April 2026.
How Will the Selection Be Made?
Writers will be selected by representatives of each partner organisation.
Writers will be selected on the strength of their idea for a new play and their existing writing skills.
