The Squint Playwriting Award discovers, develops and champions exceptional playwrights of the future.

Returning for its second year, our programme supports early-career, London-based writers from low-income backgrounds through a paid playwriting programme, providing the creative and financial support they need to develop their work and progress professionally.

Fewer than 1 in 10 arts workers are from working-class backgrounds. In 2023, our programme supported single mothers, Universal Credit claimants and people with experience of homelessness. Few playwriting programmes offer paid participation, we help talented writers facing financial barriers become employment-ready so they don’t fall through the cracks.

Eight exceptional writers will develop a one-act (70-minute) play across six months with the support of leading industry professionals, culminating in an industry showcase at Theatre Royal Stratford East. Participants are paid a seed commission for writing time, London Living Wage for contact hours and travel expenses. Bursaries for access costs are also available.

Core activity is led by Artistic Director Andrew Whyment and the Squint team, masterclasses by the likes of David Adjmi, Hackney Showroom and The Lighthouse Film & TV and industry mentors include James Graham, Rachel De-Lahay and Sonali Bhattacharyya.

At the end of the programme, one participant will be presented The Squint Playwriting Award, a one-act play commission to develop their original script with Squint.

Our 2023 participants were Amin Ali, Nicole Botha, Beattie Green, Jaime Lock, Gabrielle MacPherson, Sophie McKay, Tim McNiven, Neetu Singh and Milla Sutton. Our 2023 mentors were Zia Ahmed, Samson Hawkins, Matilda Feyisayo Ibini, Sami Ibrahim, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, Hannah Kumari, Tabby Lamb, Sid Sagar and Beth Steel. The Squint Playwriting Award 2023 was awarded to Beattie Green for their play Kill My Darling.

The six-month programme includes:

• 8 Writers from low-income backgrounds ready to write a one-act (70-minute) play.

• 9 Workshops with Squint (3 hours each).

• 5 Masterclasses with established artists/companies (3 hours each).

• 3 Q&As with leading industry figures (1.5 hours each).

• 3 Script Meetings with Squint (1 hour each).

• 3 Mentor Sessions with established playwrights (1.5 hours each).

• Industry Showcase at Theatre Royal Stratford East presenting play extracts written by the participants and performed by professional actors.

• The Squint Playwriting Award presented to one participant to write an original play for Squint (a Writer’s Guild of Great Britain one-act play commission of £7286.18).

The programme is free of charge and financially supported for all participants in the form of:

• Seed Commission (£250) for writing time.

• London Living Wage (£14.80/hour) for all contact hours.

• London Travel Expenses (£10.50/session) for all sessions.

• Access Bursaries where necessary.

The programme dates are:

• Monday 30 November 2026, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 1 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 7 December 2026, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 2 - Hackney Showroom

• Friday 11 December 2026 - Script Deadline 1

• Monday 21 December 2026, 18:00-22:00 - Script Meeting 1 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 4 January 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 3 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 11 January 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Masterclass 1 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 18 January 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 4 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 25 January 2027, 18:00-19:30 - Q&A 1 - Hackney Showroom

• Friday 29 January 2027 - Script Deadline 2

• Monday 8 February 2027, 18:00-22:00 - Script Meeting 2 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 15 February 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 5 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 22 February 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Masterclass 2 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 1 March 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 6 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 8 March 2027, 18:00-19:30 - Q&A 2: Agents - Hackney Showroom

• Friday 19 March 2027 - Script Deadline 3

• Monday 29 March 2027, 18:00-22:00 - Script Meeting 3 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 12 April 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Masterclass 3 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 19 April 2027, 18:00-19:30 - Q&A 3 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 26 April 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 7 - Hackney Showroom

• Friday 7 May 2027 - Script Deadline 4

• Monday 24 May 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 8 - Hackney Showroom

• Dates TBC - Showcase Rehearsals & Performance - Theatre Royal Stratford East

• Monday 21 June 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Masterclass 4 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 28 June 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Masterclass 5 - Hackney Showroom

• Monday 5 July 2027, 18:00-21:00 - Workshop 9 - Hackney Showroom

• Friday 9 July 2027 - Award Decision

To be eligible for the programme you must be:

• From a low-income background and currently facing financial barriers to professional development.

• Over the age of 18 at the start of the programme (no upper age limit).

• Based in London.

• In the early stages of a playwriting career and yet to receive a paid commission for a play more than 50 minutes in length.

• Ready to develop a one-act (70-minute) play.

As someone “from a low-income background”, you may identify as working-class, traveller-class, benefits-class, criminal-class and/or migrant-class, and have lived experience of one or more of the following:

• You might work full-time on an hourly-paid and/or zero hours contract.

• You might work part-time on an hourly-paid and/or zero hours contract.

• You might receive in-work welfare support.

• You might receive unemployment welfare support.

• You might be a renter who spends over 60% of monthly income on rent and bills.

• You might have attended a comprehensive/non fee-paying school.

• You might be the first person in your immediate family to have attended university.

• You might receive a state pension as your only income.

• You might be an unpaid carer for a sick, disabled and/or elderly relative.

• You might have served a UK prison sentence.

• You might have a lived experience of the UK's immigration system.

• You might have experienced homelessness.

Applications close on Monday 2 November 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview on Sunday 15 November, Monday 16 November or Tuesday 17 November 2026.

We accept both open applications and referrals from recruitment partners that have established relationships with artists from low-income backgrounds; Cardboard Citizens, Compass Collective, National Youth Theatre, Outside Edge and Synergy Theatre Project.

If you require assistance with your application or have any questions contact us here.