Squint Theatre Company has announced the return of the Squint Playwriting Award, launching its second programme in partnership with Stratford East.
Designed to discover, develop and champion the next generation of playwrights, the initiative supports early-career, London-based writers from low-income backgrounds through a paid development programme running from December 2026 to July 2027.
The award follows the success of its inaugural edition in 2023, which was won by Beattie Green for Kill My Darling.
Eight writers will be selected to develop a one-act, 70-minute play over six months, receiving support through workshops, masterclasses, Q&A sessions and mentoring from leading theatre professionals.
The programme culminates in an industry showcase of script extracts at Stratford East, with dates to be announced.
Development activity will be led by Squint Artistic Director Andrew Whyment and the Squint team, with masterclasses from organisations and practitioners including David Adjmi, Hackney Showroom and The Lighthouse Film & TV.
Industry mentors include James Graham, Kenny Emson, Rachel De-Lahay, Sam Bailey and Sonali Bhattacharyya.
All participants will receive a seed commission for their writing time, London Living Wage payments for all contact hours, travel expenses and access bursaries where required.
Following the showcase, one writer will be awarded a Writer’s Guild of Great Britain one-act play commission worth £7,286.18 to further develop their script with Squint. The recipient will be announced on 9 July 2027.
Andrew Whyment, Artistic Director of Squint, said: “as a new work company working with artists from low-income backgrounds, we know the barriers that can prevent talented writers from building a career in theatre. A lack of money, limited industry networks and the feeling that you don’t belong can all make it harder to stay in the industry and develop your work. The Squint Playwriting Award is about removing those barriers. By paying writers for their time, giving them space to develop a one-act play and connecting them with experienced artists and industry professionals, we’re giving exceptional writers the time, support and confidence to take the next step in their journeys”.
Applicants must be over 18, based in London, from a low-income background and facing financial barriers to professional development. Writers must also be in the early stages of their careers and not have received a paid commission for a play longer than 50 minutes.
Alongside open applications, Squint will work with recruitment partners including Cardboard Citizens, Compass Collective, Hackney Showroom, National Youth Theatre, Outside Edge Theatre Company, Synergy Theatre Project and Theatre Royal Stratford East to identify eligible participants.
Founded in 2009 and now based in London, Squint creates and develops new writing while offering opportunities for artists from low-income backgrounds. Previous productions include Long Story Short and Molly.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
