37 Plays is a new national playwriting project led by the RSC and our partner theatres. We are seeking the stories of our times: the comedies, the tragedies and the untold histories. We invite anyone in the UK of any age who would like to write a play to join us over the next 12 months – now is the time to tell your story.
The chosen 37 plays will be performed script-in-hand across the UK and online in autumn 2023. Submissions open on 1 January 2023.
ABOUT 37 PLAYS
2023 will mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio, the first time his plays were brought together in one book. We want to mark this anniversary by selecting and celebrating a new series of 37 brand new plays that reflect the world we live in today.
37 Plays is a national new playwriting project led by the RSC and Associate Regional Theatres, open to anyone in the UK who wants to submit a play. 37plays.co.uk will provide playwriting support and advice for everyone to get writing throughout 2022.
WRITE THE STORIES OF OUR NATION
Your play must be a complete original story, not a sample of a story or an adaptation of a story. It must not have had a professional production or be under commission at the time of submission.
37 Plays is supported by Jon and NoraLee Sedmak.
The RSCs Associate Regional Theatres are:
The Grand Theatre, Blackpool; The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford; The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury; Hall for Cornwall; Hull Truck Theatre, Hull; Intermission Youth, London; New Vic Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent; Northern Stage, Newcastle; Nottingham Theatre Royal, Nottingham; Norwich Theatre; Silhouette Youth Theatre; York Theatre Royal, York.
The RSC is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
The RSC is generously supported by RSC America.
The work of the RSC is supported by the Culture Recovery Fund.
The work of the RSC Learning and National Partnerships is generously supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Clore Duffield Foundation, The 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, GRoW@Annenberg, The Polonsky Foundation, Stratford Town Trust, The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity, Teale Charitable Trust and The Grimmitt Trust.
The work of the RSC Literary Department is generously supported by The Drue and H.J. Heinz II Charitable Trust.
SENDING YOUR PLAY
Submissions will open on 1 January 2023 and close on 31 January 2023. The chosen 37 plays will be announced in April 2023.
Anyone living in the United Kingdom may enter a play and there is no fee to enter.
Your play must be predominantly in English, with a translation provided for any text not in the English language.* It must be written down and needs to be at least one A4 page but no more than 100 A4 pages, in 10 point font or above.