StoryFirst

The submissions window will open on Tuesday 24 February and close on Tuesday 7 April at 11:30am. Any submissions sent outside of this window will not be considered.

We’d like you to submit:

- Two scenes from the play you want to develop as part of StoryFirst, the total amount of pages should not exceed 10 pages

- AND a one-page treatment (using the template provided)

- Please include the title of your play, but as this submission process will be anonymous, please do not include your name on any of the pages you submit.

- Please include page numbers and keep in mind if your scenes are longer than 10 pages we may not read all of them

- Scene should be written in at least size 12 font

When you are ready to send in your submission, log on to the Members board and complete the online Form. You will be asked to upload your scenes and treatment as well.

For more guidance on what to submit please read our Submission Guide on the website.

YES, you can submit again.

You can also resubmit your 2025 entry if you wish BUT we advise you to have made some edits and to read the Submission Guide

Members of NYT can submit a script. If you are not a member but attended one of our Storytelling workshops that were not in London, you can submit a script. When completed the entry form you will be asked to provide the date you attended.

A treatment is a pitching document that will tell the reading team everything they need to know about your script on one page. It contains the key information required to understand a project.

The document has the job of selling a script, it will give a taste of the script, highlight what is unique about the idea, and introduce the characters to capture the team's interest so that they want to learn more.

Download the Template form from the NYT Membersboard

If you’d like to submit your one-page treatment as a voice note or video file rather than as written text, you’re more than welcome to and you can do so within the form, however due to the nature of the project, the two scenes must be uploaded as written text documents.

At this stage we will just be reviewing two scenes and a one-page treatment, so please only submit the requested documents. On the treatment template there is a question that asks where within your play the scenes have been taken from, so you can elaborate here on how these scenes work in a full play.

Your script can be about anything that interests you – the key thing to remember is that all of our work is performed by and developed with Members of NYT so the characters in your piece should mostly be young people. We recommend reading the Submission Guide to get a sense of what the reading team will be looking for.

We are unable to accept an adaptation of an existing piece of work, even one out of copyright. These scenes should be completely your own. You can certainly be inspired by something and if you want to adapt a film that you have written to be for the stage, then that is fine.

No. We are only accepting one submission per person, so please only complete one submission form.

No. You cannot do both.

Applications to be a StoryFirst Reader will open in March.

Yes. Please just make us aware on your treatment page. The other collaborators should either be NYT members or should have come to one of our StoryTelling workshops outside of London.

6 scripts will be performed as part of StoryFest 2026 in July. These will be script in hand readings of a selection of scenes from your work, lasting 20-30 minutes.

NYT Members will act in the performances, and a Director chosen by NYT will work with the Company to rehearse this. StoryFirst nights tend to include an industry focus. For example, last year the nights included Q&As with TV Production companies including STUDIOCANAL and Orchid Pictures.

Your work will be read by the Script Reading Group made up of:

NYT Staff Team, 8 NYT members and 3 NYT Associate Artists.

Each script will be read by an NYT member and either an NYT team member or associate artist.

There will be 3 stages of scoring and review across the whole process and if your script is brought through to the final round, it will be read by the full panel of NYT Staff and NYT Members.

You should hear back from the team if your script is selected for the longlist w/c 04 May 2026.

If there is any change to this, we will let you know.

Due to the high number of scripts we expect to receive and read, we will only provide individual feedback to entries that reach the Shortlist.

If your script is selected to be developed for StoryFirst you will have a number of online script development sessions with us and a Director between May - July to expand your idea- we'll discuss themes and ideas within your work and identify which parts of the script should be showcased as part of the script-in-hand performance during StoryFest 2026.

Before your chosen performance night, there will be 1 day of in person rehearsal with your allocated Director and Cast at National Youth Theatre, before a short technical rehearsal.

Then your work will be performed, script-in-hand in the Workshop Theatre.

There will also be a chance to mingle with guests, industry professionals and other writers at the NYT bar.

To try and reflect a professional commissioning process that you would go through if you were contracted by a Theatre as a writer, we will offer fixed bursaries across the process. The idea behind these bursaries is that it will allow you to spend time with us, in the room, actively developing your work.

For this project you will receive a fixed bursary of £245.00

If you’re based outside of London, in addition to this fixed bursary, we will be able to support you with the travel/accommodation costs of you taking part, in line with our usual bursary process.

StoryFest will be taking place at NYT’s on-site Workshop Theatre from 06 July till the 25 July 2026, with May and June as the development period for writers.

Unfortunately not, StoryFirst is only for current members or people who have completed the below NYT related course/workshops:

• Directors Lab 2025 onwards
• Ignite programme
• Stepping Up
• Playing Up
• Drama Club Company
• Storytelling Workshops (includes online)
• NYT Script school

NYT will continue to have writing opportunities throughout 2026, if you would like to be kept up to date, sign up to the National Youth Theatre mailing list here

Alternatively, here some other theatres, schemes and companies that run opportunities for writers as well as some writing competitions, that you could look at. ·

https://royalcourttheatre.com/playwriting/

https://www.writeaplay.co.uk/

https://sohotheatre.com/project/writers-lab/

https://papatango.co.uk/

https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/

https://theatre503.com/503-twp/

https://www.talawa.com/get-involved

Please contact Production@nyt.org.uk with any questions relating to the Members Submissions.