Application FAQs
If you need this information in a different format, please contact [email protected]
QUESTION: IS THE HIGHTIDE WRITERS GROUP RIGHT FOR ME?
Who will be eligible to submit for the HighTide Writers Group?
Submissions are welcome from any playwright who meets the eligibility criteria for age and relationship to the East of England.
To be eligible for the HighTide Writer’s Group, the playwright must:
- Be at least 18 years of age (from 1 April 2026)
- Currently live in or have spent one year living in the East of England (we define this as Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and NOT Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire or Hertfordshire).
If I’m not from the East of England. Can I still submit a script?
No. If you’re not from the East of England, there are a number of playwriting prizes and writers groups you can submit to instead. We have included a few with links below:
The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting
The Women’s Prize for Playwriting
How do I know if my writing is right for the HighTide Writers Group?
We are not looking for a particular style, genre or approach; only exciting, vibrant and engaging voices for the stage.
I don’t consider myself to be an ‘early-career’ playwright. Can I still apply?
Absolutely! The HighTide Writers Group is for writers at all stages of development, both emerging and established writers. We are seeking to make the best cohort to learn from and grow with each other over the year.
I don’t have an idea for a play I want to develop on the Writers Group yet. Does that matter?
No. We don’t need to know about the play you would like to develop on the Writers Group at this stage. If you’re selected to join the group, that’s something you’d discuss with us when the group starts.
This means that the sample you submit doesn’t have to be the play that you work on while part of the Writers Group.
I don’t feel ready to join a Writers Group just yet. Are there other ways HighTide can help me, as an East of England playwright?
Yes. Please sign up to our Playwrights East newsletter and you’ll hear about lots of events and workshops we run, which are free to access, throughout the year for aspiring, emerging, and established playwrights in or from the East of England.Sign up here.
I have been or I am in another writers group – am I eligible to apply?
Yes, you’re eligible and welcome to. Please tell us in the form about how HighTide’s Writers Group will benefit you now in growing from that other experience.
I have a writing agent. Can I still apply?
Yes. We’re happy to have represented playwrights apply.
I mainly write in another medium such as short stories, flash fiction, poetry, novellas and/or non-fiction, screen. Am I still eligible to submit a writing sample?
Yes, as long the submission is a stage play and not in another medium. HighTide is open to supporting and meeting playwrights at all levels of their development and as long as they have a stage script sample to submit.. You will be developing a stage play during the HighTide writers group, so we would like to see a sample of your approach to this format.
I write plays for children and/or young people. Am I eligible to submit a script to HighTide?
Yes. We will happily read scripts meant for young audiences.
I work with a writing partner – will a submission with more than one writer be eligible?
Yes, but both writers must be from the East of England and must be prepared to participate in the Writers Group, if selected. If this is not the case, we recommend submitting a sample of your solo writing work instead.
Are verbatim theatre playwrights eligible?
Yes, as long as the script submission is written by and credited to you (though writing partners may be acknowledged).
Are musical theatre writers eligible? Can I submit a musical theatre book as a sample?
Yes, musical theatre writers (who write book and/or lyrics) are eligible to apply for the HighTide Writers Group. However, please note that the Writers Group is designed to support you writing a draft of a new play, not a new musical. Therefore, we would prefer it if you could send us a sample from a play script.
Are writers of adaptations or translations eligible to apply?
We would prefer it if you could send us a sample from an original play script.
QUESTIONS: ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE HIGHTIDE WRITERS GROUP…
How long should my writing sample be?
The submissions are for a (minimum) 8 page and (maximum) 12 page sample of writing. The full play does not need to be completed.
This sample should be a single sample of writing, either as a stand alone short play or as an extract of a longer play.
We will not consider samples that are made up of two or three shorter extracts (e.g. 1 document that contains 2 different samples of 5 pages each).
This is because it is important to us to see how much you sustain your story and characters over this length of pages.
How should I format my writing sample?
- Put the title of the play as the name of the File.
- Readers will read the scripts anonymously so please don’t include your name in the body of the script.
- Page one should be a Title Page, that includes the title of the script.
- Page two should be an Info Page, where you give us any information that we need about your sample. This would include but not be limited to:
- A character list. Please list all of the characters that are included in your writing sample.
- Any rules of the script, such as what / or … or – means to you.
- Page one and two are not included in the page total of your Writing Sample (so for example if you submit a 12 page writing sample, the total page count of the document will be 14 pages including your title + info page).
- Please number the pages of your script.
- Font should be size 11 and in an easily legible font like arial or calibri.
- There should be a space between the lines of different characters speaking e.g.
A I’m looking for my glasses, where are they?
B Look up. They’re on your head!
Can I submit more than one application?
No. Applications are limited to one per person, and we cannot consider multiple applications.
Will I receive acknowledgement of my application?
Yes. You will receive an automated email acknowledgement once you have submitted the submission form. We will reach out if there are any problems with your application or submitted materials.
How will submissions be assessed?
Applications will first be assessed for eligibility and checked to ensure that all documents provided can be opened by the HighTide team. All eligible submissions will then be sent to the professional reading panel, who will make their assessment. The readers will read the scripts anonymously, so won’t know who has written the sample they are reading. The reading panel will make recommendations for submissions to move into the second round. The second round will be re-read, including by the HighTide Artistic Director and Associate Artists. After second round reading is complete, HighTide staff and the reading panel will agree to the selected playwrights.
Will unsuccessful applicants be notified?
Yes. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 17th March 2025.
Will applicants receive feedback on their submissions?
Yes. Every applicant who has requested it will be given short written feedback from HighTide. After that feedback, unfortunately HighTide cannot provide any additional correspondence about the submission.
Can I receive and submit the application in other formats?
Yes. A large print version of the application form is available upon request. Additionally, you may provide your application as video / voice files or filmed BSL, if preferable. Please reach out to [email protected] with your accessibility requirements and we will help to coordinate your submission process. We will endeavour to respond within 48 hours.
What are the key dates of the programme?
17th December 2025: The Jerwood HighTide Writers Group script submission window opens.
2nd February 2026: Script submissions close at midday. All submissions will be given feedback or invited to join the HighTide Writers Group by the end of March 2025.
April 2026 – March 2027: The HighTide Writers Group takes place, meeting monthly.
The selected writers will be expected to attend 12 meetings over the year, once a month. There will be some in person and some online meetings. Travel expenses will be paid to support the writers in attending the in person events.
If I’m unsuccessful this year, can I submit again in the future?
Yes. We hope to continue to offer the HighTide Writers Group each year, subject to funding. You are welcome to submit in future years if you meet the eligibility criteria.
QUESTIONS: ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE WRITERS GROUP…
If accepted, can I choose the mentor I would like to work with?
If accepted as part of the group you will be asked for a short list of playwrights you would like to be mentored by and we will then approach them for you.
Are plays written during the HighTide Writers Group guaranteed to be produced by HighTide?
No. Sadly, HighTide can’t guarantee further development, funding or production of any script written during the HighTide Writers Group (beyond the script-in-hand extract performance at our HighTide Rising festival). However, we’ll be keen to support you in any way we can, long after the Writers Group has finished.
I’m unavailable for part of the year 2025-2026, and so wouldn’t be able to join every group meeting. Should I still apply?
We ask that our accepted writers endeavour to attend all meetings, within reason. If you’re already aware that you won’t be able to attend a large amount of meetings, please submit for another year when you are able to commit to the programme. We will do our best to make the specific schedule the best possible compromise for accepted writers.
…MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the HighTide Writers Group that were not answered, please contact us by email [email protected]. All queries and discussions will be treated confidentially.
