The VAULT Creative Arts Playwriting Award 2026 is open for submissions!
In 2025, VAULT Creative Arts launched the VCA Playwriting Award – a scheme to support early-career writers find meaningful pathways into the performing arts. In its inaugural year, the scheme paid a winning writer a £2,000 fee, and included a fully-produced realisation of their script. With almost 300 submissions, in defence of adventurous mothers was selected as the winner in March 2025.
The opportunity is open to any writer from anywhere in the world (please note we cannot pay for travel expenses for international writers.)
In exchange, the winner agrees to:
- Grant VCA the rights to produce the script for its run at The Glitch.
- Grant VCA exclusive producing rights to the script in the year following its production at The Glitch.
- Grant VCA the title of “Originating Producer”, and a 5% share of income for any future productions of the script.
- Grant VCA the right-of-first-refusal on any future productions of the script.
Additionally, up to 15 shortlisted writers will receive:
- Written, developmental feedback on your script.
- Invitation to a talk by Methuen Drama on getting work published.
And, 2 runners-up will also receive:
- Two, hour-long one-on-one mentorship sessions with our Artistic Director.
- Free, on-the-door comps to shows at The Glitch, and 15% off food and drink for a year.
They’re looking for:
- Completed scripts 60 to 90 minutes in length. (This would be roughly 40 to 70 A4 pages.)
- Scripts must be a world premiere – they may have had rehearsed readings, or short runs of up to 3 shows, but have never been fully produced.
- Scripts should be written to be performed with a maximum of two actors.
- Scripts should tell a riveting, engaging story – with a strong preference for unique, untold stories from under-represented voices.
They’re particularly interested in:
- Vibrant: fun, fast-paced, colourful, and full of life.
- Intimate: makes the audience feel safe and connected.
- Inspiring and Impactful: empowering and encouraging audiences to realise their potential.
- Ambitious: pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in our humble venue.
- Optimised for in-the-round: Our venue is in-the- round. We’d like to see work that fits this layout.
To apply, please submit the first 10-pages of your script, along with a brief story, theme, and character synopsis, and a CV via this Google Form linked here. If your script is shortlisted, they will ask you to submit the full script. Application is free.
Applications close at 23:59 on Friday 20th February. They expect to have notified all applicants of the outcome of their application within 8 weeks of the closing date. They will be hosting an information session about the award at 4pm on the 29th Jan – follow this link to join (no need to RSVP!)
See more information here
Deadline: 20 February 2026
Source: BBC writers