What happens?

Now the science...

Writers
Over the next few weeks, writers - from or based in the North West of England - can submit a 12-minute version or 12-minute extract from a full length play (80-90 mins). Twenty will be selected by our team of readers to be part of the Festival.

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Read our full history.

First Time Writers

If you have never written a play before, do not let that stop you from submitting. We want to support unheard voices. If you have a story you want to tell, but are worried that you don't have the skills, write it down anyway. If we see potential, we may consider your play for the festival as part of our mentoring programme.​

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APPLY AS A WRITER BELOW

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The final 20 plays will be rehearsed by Manchester’s finest up-and-coming directors and actors, ready for performance. 
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They will be shown in four groups of five plays:
 
Group One - 24th and 26th June
Group Two - 25th & 28th June
Group Three - 1st and 3rd July
Group Four - 2nd and 4th July
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The audience will then be asked to vote for their favourite plays. The two plays with the most votes from each group will be performed again at two final shows on Sunday 5th July. 

Here, a panel of industry professionals will be awarding prizes alongside the Audience Awards.
 
Each of these plays will be in the running for these awards: 
The Audience Award for Favourite Play 
The Audience Award for Favorite Actors
The Panel Award for Writing
The Panel Award for Directing 
The Panel Award for Ensemble Acting
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The writer, cast and director of the Audience Award for Favourite Play will be invited to develop the piece, with support from the in-house team, into a fully-staged production at 53Two.
 
All participants will be asked to take part on a voluntary basis and all proceeds from the event will go directly back into the 53two charity to help them continue their work supporting new talent, new ideas, new creatives and their outreach work across Greater Manchester.