Script School

The course will involve a range of modules that have been approved by the exam board OCN. These modules will give you a variety of insights into playwriting and will be taught by a highly experienced professional playwright and theatre director. These modules include:

Studying a Play - Looking at the work of different writers, focusing on how they create characters, dialogue and use structure to create exciting pieces of theatre, film and audio.

Learning in a group - Focusing on skills to help each other with your writing. This will particularly look at how we formulate notes that are useful for our fellow creatives. This module will also look at dramaturgy and how this can be applied.

Extended Project - This is where we will learn how to start researching for a play that you want to write. This module will show you how to do research in a way that is practical and useful for your creative writing.

Performing Arts: Performing rights, copyrights and contracts - This module will show you how contracting for writers works and what you can do to protect your work in the future. It will also look at pitching and you will get the chance to pitch an idea to an industry professional.

Scriptwriting Project - This is where you will get to write your own script as part of the course. This can either be a pre-existing idea or something that builds through your time at ‘Script School’. At the end of the course your scene will be worked on by a professional theatre director and NYT actors.

Throughout these modules you will be writing every week under the tutors guidance. The course will culminate in a rehearsed reading of your writing directed by a professional director and performed by NYT actors. This will be presented to an invited audience at National Youth Theatre.

The in person lessons will be every Monday and Tuesday, in person at National Youth Theatre between 10:30 AM-1 PM. This will from the week commencing 9th March 2026 until the week ending 29th May 2026.

Thursday Zoom sessions

Every Thursday we will hold an online zoom session for the group. This will be talks with leading industry professionals who may be award winning playwrights, theatre producers, theatre directors and literary agents. This will be a chance for you to ask questions and learn more about how to peruse a career in theatre writing.

Interviews will be held at the National Youth Theatre building on Holloway Road. The Interviews are on two days which are:

Monday 26th January 2026.

Wednesday 28th January 2026.

(This might change- There is also the possibility of doing an online interview as well)

The Interview will be with a member of the Script School Staff. This will be an informal interview where we will ask you what interests you about Script School and why you would like to do the course. We will also ask some questions around eligibility for the course.

This is also a chance for you to meet us, ask any questions you have and to see if the course is right for you.

Places are available to both NYT members and non-members between the ages of 19 - 25 years old (or up to 30 if learning disabled).

Priority for places is given to those who are not in education, secure employment or training.

If you hold a degree this is fine and you will be considered for the course.

We welcome applications from care leavers and those whose challenging circumstances may have prevented them from completing Secondary School or FE education. We welcome applications from those with access and support needs, and those who are underrepresented in our industry including those who identify as neurodivergent, disabled or from the Global Majority.

Places are available to NYT members and non-members.

You are eligible for a place if you meet the following criteria:

• 19* – 30 years old.
• Live in London or the Greater London area.
• You are unemployed and in receipt of benefits or earning under £25,000 per year.
• You are not in education or training.
• You DO NOT have, or are studying for, a foundation/degree, A Level, or GCSE/Level 2 in drama or performing arts.
• You have the right to work in the UK.

*you must have turned 19 before the 31st of August 2025

The audition process takes place in three steps:

Initial application

This will be an online form gathering your details, along with a section to allow us to hear why you are applying for the course and this is where you will upload an extract of your writing. If an online application is inaccessible to you, please contact Hamish Macdougall at Hamish.macdougall@nyt.org.uk and arrangements can be made for you to receive support with this form. Please note, the deadline for initial application is 26^th January 2026 at 1 PM.

INTERVIEW PROCESS

There will be a low stakes, informal Interview at National Youth Theatre.

This will involve talking about why you are interested in the course and to find out a bit about you. This is also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions that you have about Script School and National Youth Theatre in general.

Please note -

Interviews will be on either:

January 26th 2026.

January 28th 2026.

These interviews will take place between 10 AM-6PM. A specific time will be sent to you ahead of the interview.

RESULTS

We will take time to review the applications after your Interview. You will receive an email by 2nd February 2026 to let you know if you have been offered a place. We will also let you know if you have made the reserve list for the course.

For those that have not been offered a place, we will direct you to alternative programmes for you to participate in at NYT that we feel would benefit you.

We are aiming to bring together young people from a range of backgrounds and create a balanced cohort that will successfully learn and grow together during their time on the course.