The Ashton Group Young Play Write - Deadline for submissions: Friday 11th July 2014

The Ashton Group is searching for a new stage play with which to tour the North West, professionally produced by its acclaimed Apprenticed Actors Company.

Calling all young playwrights…


The one act play should have a running time of 60 minutes.

The play should be written for four young actors: 2 male, 2 female. If practicable, these four actors can play any number of different characters.

The writer should be no older than 25.

The play can be upon any theme or subject.

The Apprenticed Actors Company

For the last eight years, The Ashton Group, based in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has been touring a ground-breaking project... The Apprenticed Actors Company.

Each year, the AAC takes small groups of young people aged 16-21 into the company as apprentices. They audition for roles and then work as paid actors on a new play which is toured to venues across the North West. With the guidance of experienced industry professionals, they function as a fully professional touring theatre company.

Since 2009, the company has extended this process to include young writers, and has so far toured four new plays written by young people aged 18-25.

Selection Process:

All writers should submit before the deadline below a synopsis including plot and character outline, and the first ten pages of their play.

Four writers will then be given the opportunity to expand their work into a full length piece with the support and guidance of a professional mentor.

One of these plays will then be selected to go into development for production by the Apprenticed Actor Company.

All writers will be offered feedback on their work.

Please send submissions to The Ashton Group’s Associate Director Chris Loveless: chrisloveless@hotmail.co.uk

or email for further info if required.

Deadline for submissions: Friday 11th July 2014