Scratch Nights and Events
GREAT ENTERTAINMENT - AT YOUR PLACE!
S&CO SCRATCH NIGHTS
NEXT EVENT: 16 OCTOBER 2026, AT YOUR PLACE VIA ZOOM!
Submissions deadline: midnight BST on Thursday 8 October 2026.
ENTRY FEE: £10
"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." Nilgin Yusuf, Scriptwriter
OUR OCTOBER 2026 PROMPT IS:
'MAGIC, SMOKE AND MIRRORS'
(feel free to choose just one word above, or any combination!)
We welcome entries from playwrights and screenwriters anywhere in the world. This time, we're looking for 4-12 pages of stage, audio or screenplay. Note that our readers only see your script, so do NOT add or attach a synopsis or any other information.
All genres are welcomed. It might be comedy, tragedy, hi-concept or kitchen sink drama, as you wish.
Eight (count 'em!) winning writers will:
- Watch their short piece performed by professional S&CO Actors;
- AND receive professional notes on the night from award-winning writers Zanna Cardash (our Creative Director) or Alex Hollister (repped by Zero Gravity Management in LA);
- AND win a licenced copy of FINAL DRAFT's FD13 scriptwriting software!
How you interpret our theme is entirely up to you, but there must be an obvious connection.
Zanna and Alex assess submissions very carefully, assisted by our team of trained and very lovely readers/judges.
Our Scratch Nights, live on Zoom, allow selected writers to hear their script or screenplay brought to life. It's a great way to find out what sings in tune - and what's gone flat. Everyone in the audience benefits from exposure to great new writing, and by formulating and listening to constructive comments, critiques and suggestions that aim to make great work even stronger. They are epic shows that last up to four hours!
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. But 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.
Please subscribe to our newsletter and, if you can, post about our Scratch Night contest online.
Please read the terms below
If you enter on FilmFreeway, you'll get an immediate confirmation and, when judging is completed, a status update to say whether or not you are successful.
If you enter via this website page (more cost effective for writers who are not U.S.-based), we aim to acknowledge receipt of entries by email within 48 hours so, if you haven't received a confirmation email by then, we haven't received your submission. However, we don't send rejection letters - who likes those?
Please note that any winner who does not respond to our 'congratulations' email within 48 hours may lose the right to a prize. Furthermore, it is a condition of entry that winners attend the Scratch Night.
Note: we run to tight timescales
Successful scriptwriters will be informed by email a few days before the contest, and must respond within 48 hours or their prize may be offered to someone else.
THEMES, RULES & ELIGIBILITY
Your script must be:
- in English
- relevant to the theme
- appropriate for the stated page count (which doesn't include the title page or, in plays, cast details), with no more than six 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'.
Terms: Copyright of all work submitted remains the writer's. Monologues and excerpts are accepted, but we still expect a clear story arc. Entries received after the deadline or with inappropriate page counts will not be read. We accept scripts that have been produced or have won other awards. Entries MUST adhere to the theme above. Winning writers must be able attend the Scratch Night to be eligible for their prize. 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.
Good luck!
Sign up to know about our events.
Performances of most previous winners' scripts can be seen 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 - KAI PARTENIE - RHYS OWEN - ELIZABETH HAMMOND - STEPHEN DRENNEN - PAUL UHLER - KAREN BARTHOLOMEW - DAVID VERREY - JONATHAN HANSLER - EMELYE MOULTON - SAM THORP - SAVANNAH BETTS - CAROLLE U - KAI PARTENIE - MARISSA McCALLAM - ZANNA CARDASH
SUMMER/AUTUMN 2025 S&CO WINNERS, CAST AND PROGRAMME
THE SCRIPTWRITERS & CO INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
(note: we're having a fallow year in 2027)
We welcome script entries from from screenwriters and playwrights, from shorts to full-length features and plays, and offer trophies, potential routes to production via our partners at Film Factory, and FD13 software thanks to our ongoing partnership with the producers of the world's finest, industry standard scriptwriting software, FINAL DRAFT.
Our guest speaker on 12 April 2026 was JUSTINE HART, Co-Director of The Script Factory, who offers training, development and events programmes to support emerging screenwriters. She loves nothing more than helping writers get to grips with the screenwriting craft tools that will enable them to share their own unique voice with the world. With over 20+ years' experience in the film industry, she's had the privilege of creating training and development schemes with industry partners that include the UK Film Council, Creative Skillset, BAFTA, BFI, Screen Australia, Film Distributors Association.
Our guest in 2025 was ASHLEY PHAROAH, below, best-known for the BBC's 'Life on Mars', plus follow-up 'Ashes to Ashes' and ITV's 'Wild at Heart'. He also created ITV’s 'Down to Earth' and 'Where the Heart Is', adapted Tom Brown’s Schooldays for a TV movie, and has written for EastEnders, Casualty, Hustle and Silent Witness - among others.
In 2024, we were joined by screenwriter, playwright and novelist Stephen Volk as guest speaker;
Screenwriter/playwright JOHN HODGE and screenwriting guru LUCY V HAY (aka leader of BANG2WRITE), and DOMINIC MORGAN (aka SCRIPTFELLA) kicked things off in 2022 .
Our festivals take place at THE RONDO THEATRE in Bath, UK.