New Scripts Residency

This platform is for playwrights of any experience level who would like to receive considered, professional feedback on their scripts.

We accept completed drafts of full length plays (at least ~ 60 minutes) in English, or in other languages with translations provided in English.

Future editions of the New Scripts Residency may specifically call for scripts in Malay, Tamil, or Chinese. At this time, we are not accepting books for musicals, screenplays, or libretti.

We are not accepting straight adaptations of other work (e.g. novels, films), but will accept adaptations with a clear creative, re-inventive, and/or radical approach.

A team of readers, made up of directors, playwrights, and dramaturgs, will consider the submissions. Based on the quality of the script and the writer’s needs as expressed in the application form, they will then recommend either a table read or one-on-one dramaturgy sessions with our Writer in Residence. This programme prioritises writer development over polish, and aims to get the writer excited to work on the next draft of their script, with a clearer sense of where to go

Because of our current reading capacity, we will only consider the first six eligible scripts that come into our inbox at closing time. These six scripts will be handed over to the team of readers, who will then read and deliberate on which three scripts will go on to the next stage.

The table read will be organised by Centre 42, who will invite actors, writers, directors, and dramaturgs from a pool of artists we have been working closely with on this programme.

The scripts receiving one-on-one dramaturgy sessions will be scheduled directly with our Writer in Residence, who will read the scripts and provide detailed feedback in discussion with the writer.

Scripts that were not shortlisted will receive written feedback from the reading team and writers are welcome to submit subsequent drafts for future iterations of the New Scripts Residency.

No. This is a revised version of the previous New Scripts Residency, which was a short-term incubation and presentation platform. In this iteration, the focus is on detailed, discussion-based dramaturgical support. The table read is a closed-door event, the purpose of which is for the play to be heard and appraised in a discussion facilitated by a writer, director, or dramaturg.

This Residency takes place every other month. The Open Call for script submissions is announced a month before the scheduled dramaturgy sessions. The submissions box will be open for 1 week, and closes once it receives the first six scripts.

We only accept one play per writer each cycle. 

If you had submitted multiple plays in one cycle, only the 1st submission will be considered as eligible.

If you did not make the cut-off time, you are welcome to apply again for the next cycle.

If your submission was eligible but not shortlisted for either the Table Read or 1-on-1 consultations, you are welcome to apply again with a subsequent draft.

If your play has received dramaturgical support in one cycle, we cannot support it again in subsequent cycles of the New Scripts Residency.