Scratch Nights and Events

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT - AT YOUR PLACE!

 

 

S&CO SCRATCH NIGHTS

NEXT EVENT: JANUARY, DATE TBC, AT YOUR PLACE!

"The whole thing is a miracle of technology and collaborative talent. I really enjoy the range of work, so many twists and turns, such great story-telling and performances. Thanks for being so friendly and welcoming, and for all the really helpful and constructive comments. This event is one great thing that came about as a result of lockdown." - Nilgin Yusuf, Scriptwriter/Journalist

 

We know how much everyone enjoys our free S&Co Scratch Nights, because you tell us. We now host two each year, in late summer (September/October) and winter (January/February), giving us ample time to organise and judge the Scriptwriters & Co International Festival. 

 

OUR  SUMMER/AUTUMN 2024 THEME WAS:

'PRIDE OR FALL'

It's always FREE to enter and attend. In return, we ask you to post a comment and link to our FILM FREEWAY PAGE on your social media page (or one hosted by another scriptwriting group), and email us a screenshot or link along with your entry. However, if you don't use social media, please let us know how else you will help spread the word about S&CO's festival. In this way, you'll help to support us by encouraging entries, helping us maintain our free events. Also make sure you've signed up for our newsletter to be eligible, and so you'll receive information on all our themes and events.

We welcome entries from playwrights and screenwriters anywhere in the world. We usually look for 6-10 pages of audio, stage or screenplay (perfect for entering the Mini Script category in our 2025 festival. Just saying)! Note that our judges will only see your script, so do NOT add or attach a synopsis or any other information.

How you interpret our prompt is entirely up to you, but there must be an obvious connection. Comedy, tragedy, hi-concept or kitchen sink drama, as you wish.

The prize? A coveted Scriptwriters & Co laurel and the pleasure of seeing your script performed by our multi-talented, professional S&Co Actors, then discussed by Zanna Cardash and Alex Hollister as well as our supportive audience members. Our Scratch Nights, live on Zoom, allow you to hear your script or screenplay brought to life . It's the best way of finding out what sings in tune - and what's gone flat.

If your piece gets greenlit, we'll invite you to introduce it at the event. And after the performance, you can anticipate rapturous applause (of course!) followed by constructive, moderated debate in a safe environment. We're all on your side.

Each of us benefits from exposure to great new writing, and by formulating and listening to comments, critiques and suggestions. It helps us improve our own work. Writers and actors alike should treat it like a pitch or audition, because you never know who might be listening. You could get commissioned or cast.

Award-winning scriptwriters Zanna Cardash and Alex Hollister - the latter repped by Zero Gravity Management in LA - assess submissions very carefully, assisted by our team of trained readers/judges . Please don't be disheartened if yours isn't chosen, or leap to the conclusion that it isn't engaging or well-written. Decisions won't just be based on talent, but to offer the audience variety.

There's no charge to enter or attend, but you must subscribe to our newsletter and post about our festival online, and any contributions are appreciated, to help keep us running free contests. Even if you don't enter this time, our newletters let you know about themes and event dates in advance, so do sign up.  

PLEASE read the terms below. Sadly, every time, we have to disqualify scripts that don't comply.

We aim to acknowledge receipt of all entries within 48 hours, so if you haven't received a confirmation email, we haven't received your submission.  Winners are informed by email, then announced on social media and below. We don't send out rejections - who likes those?

THEMES, RULES & ELIGIBILITY

Your script must be: 

  • in English
  • relevant to the theme
  • formatted to industry standards, or so it's an easy read for us and our actors - the BBC offers some handy downloads
  • devoid of  watermarks (professionals don't do this and - trust us! - we have zero interest in stealing ideas or passing your work off as ours)
  • appropriate for the stated page count (which doesn't include the title page or, in plays, cast details), with no more than eight speaking characters
  • in PDF format, with its title and your name in the file name AND on the title page, such as: 'A Wondrous Work by Al Anon'.

Also make sure you've:

  • subscribed to our mailing list
  • Spread the word about S&CO on social media or other means
  • proof-read your work so it's free of spelling errors and typos
  • stated, on the title page, whether your piece is for stage, TV, film, radio or other medium, and if it's an excerpt
  • not submitted more than one piece
  • not included a synopsis or any notes - readers will not see your email and only receive the script.

Terms: You must subscribe to our newletter to be eligible to enter and/or attend, since this is where we provide key information and the Zoom link to the event. Maximum of one entry per person, and writers may win twice in one year. Monologues and excerpts are accepted, but we still expect a clear story arc. Writers must be over 18. Copyright of all work submitted remains the writer's. Entries received after the deadline or with inappropriate page counts will not be read. Failure to follow the rules may result in disqualification. We accept scripts that have been produced or have won other awards. By submitting your work you agree to be present at the appropriate scratch night on Zoom if your script is chosen. Entry to each online event is limited to the first 100 people who join us. By entering or attending S&Co events you acknowledge that we have the right to publish recordings of winning scripts performed by S&CO Actors on our YouTube page, as well as images of attendees, or feedback received, in or on our website, emails or other publicity materials. Successful scriptwriters will be informed by email a few days before the contest, and must respond within 24 hours, or their 'slot' may be offered to someone else. We do not send rejection emails, so if you don't hear from us by that date, your submission was not successful. Good luck!

 SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!

(If your computer or device doesn't like that link, please send your script to submissions@scriptwritersandco.com)

Sign up for your link to be eligible to win, and to know about our events!

Performances of most previous winners' scripts are on YouTube!

 

THE S&CO ACTORS COMPANY

MATT NATION - ROSIE CLOSS - AL BRUNKER - HOLLY BODIMEADE - DAVID COLE - REBECCA PARR - ALEX STABLER - JACQS GRAHAM - MICHAEL BRAND - LAURA CORRADI - DAVID BECK - LILY MARYON - RYAN SETT - JOHANNA THEA - RUPI LAL - RHIANNON SKERRITT - CANDICE CLARKE - RHYS OWEN - ELIZABETH HAMMOND - STEPHEN DRENNEN - PAUL UHLER - KAREN BARTHOLOMEW - DAVID VERREY - JONATHAN HANSLER - EMELYE MOULTON - SAM THORP - SAVANNAH BETTS - CAROLLE U - ZANNA CARDASH

 

AUTUMN 2024 S&CO WINNERS, CAST AND PROGRAMME

 

 

THE SCRIPTWRITERS & CO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

We're delighted, excited and immensely proud to partner again with the producers of the world's finest, industry standard scriptwriting software, FINAL DRAFT, and welcome script entries from shorts to full-length features and plays , from screenwriters and playwrights, and offer trophies as well as two non-guaranteed but potentially route-to-production prizes. 

We were honoured to have had screenwriter, playwright and novelist Stephen Volk as guest speaker in 2024; screenwriter/playwright JOHN HODGE and screenwriting guru LUCY V HAY (aka leader of BANG2WRITE) as guest speakers at 2023 event; and DOMINIC MORGAN (aka SCRIPTFELLA) in 2022.

The next festival will take place at THE RONDO THEATRE in Bath, UK, on 11 MAY 2025.

S&CO CHATS

We had a blast with Joey Tuccio on pitching to Hollywood, and Savannah Morgan on preparing yourself for a pitch! So much useful industry information and energy. Next chat to be announced soon!