NOVA is Tara Theatre’s flagship paid playwriting programme. We are looking to commission playwrights of South Asian heritage or connections that want to develop and showcase their work.
The offer:
- A commission of £1,500
- Writing Masterclass and dramaturgical support from our in-house artistic team and an acclaimed playwright. Past playwrights include Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti
- Opportunities to speak to our marketing and producing team
- In-kind space at Tara Theatre to write and develop your work
- A period of development for your work from page to stage, culminating in a public performance led by a professional director and actors at Tara Theatre
- Invited industry and facilitated audience feedback for future development of the work
- Networking and producing opportunities
Key Themes for NOVA 2025/26:
- Radical Revolutions
- Stories of revolution that radically shifted the political landscape
- Stories that galvanised communities to action
- Hidden Legacies
- Stories of bravery, courage and autonomy
- Queer Lineages
- Hidden queer stories from the diaspora that have been lost to time
- Odysseys
- Untold migration stories about finding new homes / hopes
- Stories about the process of travel
- Defiant Victories
- Untold stories of protest and victory.
Key Dates:
Submissions open 12PM on Tue 8 Jul
Submissions close 12PM on Thu 31 Jul
NOVA Longlist announced W/C 15th Sep
NOVA Shortlist announced W/C 29th Sep
NOVA Playwrights announced W/C 27th October
Rehearsals and Showcase W/C 4th May 2026
Click here for more information.
Deadline: 31 July 2025, 12PM
Source: Instagram, Tara Theatre