LIVE PLAYWRITING
Live Playwriting Course 2026/27
OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS NOW
DEADLINE 12 noon, Tue 27 Oct 2026.
Live Theatre's Playwriting Course is a space for writers who already have some experience of seeing their work performed and are ready to take their craft to the next level. Whether you're itching to experiment with form, tackle a bigger story, or challenge everything you thought you knew about writing for theatre, this course is for you.
Over seven months, you'll get the chance to explore new approaches to storytelling, learn from some of the most exciting voices in theatre, and develop a brand-new play of your own. Expect lively conversations, creative challenges, honest feedback and plenty of opportunities to ask those big, brilliant (occasionally terrifying) questions that come with being a playwright. Because there's no one way to write a great play. And there's always something new to discover.
Who's it for?
Sitting beyond our 6 week Intro to Playwriting Course, this programme is designed for playwrights who have already had work staged or performed and are now looking to develop their practice further.
Maybe you're ready to tackle something bigger, shake up your process, take greater creative risks or rediscover what excites you about theatre in the first place. We are eager to spend these 7 months with writers who are curious, open to experimentation and excited to push their work in new directions.
What to expect
Facilitated by Live Theatre's creative team, with masterclasses led by established and acclaimed guest playwrights, this course offers the chance to get under the skin of what makes a play work.
You'll arrive with the seed of a new play idea and, over the course of seven months, develop it into a first draft of approximately 50–60 minutes.
The course is split into two halves. The first 5 sessions, November-December 2026, will be a series of weekly masterclasses run by guest writers. Previous guest tutors have included:
• Anna Jordan – YEN, Succession, Killing Eve
• Samuel D. Hunter – The Whale, A Case for the Existence of God
• Vinay Patel – Murdered By My Father, Doctor Who
• Chinonyerem Odimba – Unknown Rivers, My Best Friend Married A Warrior
• Phoebe Eclair-Powell – Shed: Exploded View, Epic Love and Pop Songs
After a few weeks off over the holiday season, the final 5 sessions will take place once a month, January-May 2027, giving you the breathing room to write, reflect, receive feedback and share your work alongside a supportive group of fellow writers.
The journey culminates in Live Theatre's Unearthed Festival 2027, where the work developed during the course will be platformed as part of a scratch night.
The practical bits:
Cost: Absolutely FREE. And you receive a writers fee of £150 for the festival scratch night.
When: Sessions take place on Monday evenings, 6pm–8pm
9 November - 7 December 2026: Weekly masterclasses with guest writers.
January - May 2027: Monthly sessions, allowing time for writing, feedback and sharing work (the last Monday of the month).
Where: A mix of in person at Live Theatre and online via Zoom.
Course length: 10 sessions across seven months. November 2026 – May 2027.
Places: Limited to 10 writers to ensure everyone receives meaningful feedback, encouragement and individual attention.
If you're ready to challenge yourself, connect with other playwrights and make space for your next big idea, we'd love to hear from you.
Applications are now open.
