The Popcorn Writing Award has unveiled its 2025 shortlist, spotlighting 26 daring and diverse new plays set to premiere at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Founded by filmmaker Charlotte Colbert, Popcorn Group has partnered with ten leading Fringe venues to champion bold storytelling and fearless new writing.
This year’s shortlist explores themes of identity, inequality, and resilience. From the empowering drag persona in KING to the satirical corporate critique in In The Black, the plays reflect a wide spectrum of voices and experiences.
Other standout titles include Ohio: The Bengsons, a true story from a folk duo navigating joy and loss, and Refuse, which portrays a Ukrainian neighbourhood on the brink of war through the eyes of a bin man.
Consumed brings together four generations of Northern Irish women, while Trouble, Struggle, Bubble and Squeak uses comedy to highlight housing inequality. Brainsluts offers a humorous take on financial precarity and human connection.
In true Fringe spirit, some works defy categorisation. HOLE! is an apocalyptic musical about queer discovery and cult dogma, while Hot Mess stages climate disaster as a millennia-long breakup musical between Earth and Humanity.
Charlotte Colbert, founder of Popcorn Group, said: “The shortlist this year is exhilarating in its breadth and bravery. These plays interrogate power, challenge societal blind spots, and do so with extraordinary craft and humour. This award has always been about giving writers the space to be unapologetically bold.”
Now in its seventh year, the Popcorn Writing Award continues to elevate emerging voices. Past winners have gone on to major stages including Soho Theatre and The Royal Court, with commissions from leading broadcasters.
All shortlisted writers will receive one-to-one meetings with Popcorn Group and BBC Writers. UK and Irish longlistees are invited to submit work to the BBC Writers portal for BBC Writers Voices 2026.
The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 20th August at 11am at the Pleasance Courtyard Cabaret Bar.
Partner venues for 2025 include Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance, Summerhall Arts, theSpaceUK, Traverse, Underbelly, Greenside, ZOO Venues, and Paradise Green.
More information can be found here
