Get Involved - Writing
Whether you fancy yourself onstage, backstage or offstage, Progress Theatre offers a variety of ways for you to get involved.
We’re all volunteers here, learning on the job and from each other. There’s always room for more though, so if you want to pick up a new skill, perfect an old one, or share your expertise with us, we’d love to have you.
We offer a variety of opportunities to budding playwrights based in and around Reading.
Whether you’re looking to meet like-minded people, join a workshop, or even see your writing performed on stage!
WriteFest 20 Submissions Now Open!
We're thrilled to announce that submissions are officially open for WriteFest 20. You have until 31 May 2026 to submit.
Next year is extra special as we celebrate Progress Theatre's 80th anniversary alongside 20 years of WriteFest showcasing incredible new writing from our local community
We warmly invite playwrights — both new and experienced — to submit their work!
What we're looking for?
- Original, unperformed plays
- Running time: 8-18 minutes
- Writers living within a 20-mile radius of Reading (UK)
- Scripts in Word format (.doc or .docx)
- Suitable for black box production
- Monologues and multi-character plays welcome
- Maximum of two submissions per author
Special themes
If you can work with any of these themes, that is up to you:
- Unheard voices
- Untold stories
- 80 years of Progress
How to submit:
Email your script(s) to: [email protected] (FAO: Jo Metcalf).
The submission window closes at midnight on 31 May 2026.
Be Part of This Milestone Year!
WriteFest has long been a platform for both emerging and established writers to see their work brought to life on stage. We can't wait to read your submissions and celebrate the creativity of our local writing community.
Reading Playwrights
Launched in 2019, Reading Playwrights is now a thriving community of writers based in and around Reading. We host a mix of monthly workshops, short courses, and feedback groups. Our aim is to offer amateur and pre-industry playwrights opportunities to develop, and a community in which to grow their writing practice.
All workshops are free of charge and open to beginner and more experienced writers. To take part, you must be 18+ and live within 20 miles of Progress Theatre, Reading.
Feedback from previous participants:
"Even if you've never written a play before, this course will give you the confidence and the motivation to get started."
"Friendly environment, positive feedback, no pressure to share, able to listen and encourage each other."
"Helped me get my inspiration back."
"Thank you for a wonderfully helpful course it's deffo boosted my confidence."
"It's such a gift to share your practice with others and Reading Playwrights has really shown me how heartening and productive that can be."
Our events have limited places and book up fast! Sign up to the dedicated Reading Playwrights mailing list and be the first to hear about new events: http://eepurl.com/gTjieb
For more information email: [email protected]