Scratch nights in and around London 🎭
From Monday Monologue Night to Freshly Squeezed, come perform at a scratch night!
Hello Messies!
This week we have a special treat for those of you who are lovers of the STAGE! We asked someone who understands it much better than we do, the wonderful Mollie Semple (whose Substack, The Fully Intended, you should also go follow now), to give us insight into the world of SCRATCH NIGHTS!
Take it away, Mollie!
There is often no better way to develop your writing than to hear it read aloud, shared with a supportive audience who are able to give constructive feedback. Which is exactly what you get with a scratch night.
A scratch night is a showcase of writing extracts that are usually no longer than 15 minutes long, performed in relaxed settings in front of an audience who will usually be able to give useful feedback at the end. I used to attend one at university called Smorgasbord which I think is a great title to reflect the type of evenings scratch nights can promise: a delicious selection of writing tasters that give both audience and participants insights into the bigger pictures.
They are extremely useful to get a feel for how your writing sounds out loud, as well as a great way to meet creatives and start building teams for future productions. I have personally been involved in two scratch nights as both a writer and an actor in the last year that have lead to great partnerships and even a full blow production. Most of the time they are free to participate in, and if there is any payment it’s usually very minimal. And whilst the performances happen on stage, it’s also possible to try out all types of work like screenwriting too.
This list only scratches (get it?) the surface of what is out there. It is always worth keeping up to date with the BBC Opportunities page as some scratch nights get advertised there. Individual theatre companies often hold their own scratch night events too, so keep your eyes peeled on Instagram or sign up to newsletters.
Instagram handles for companies that I know sometimes hold scratch nights and may continue to in the future include: Bomb Factory Theatre, Thistle & Rose Theatre, Pistachio Theatre, Working Girls Theatre and Flawstate.
London:
Theatre in the Pound at The Cockpit
When: Third Monday of every month. Applications currently closed until July due to so many submissions (it’s popular!)
You have a full 15 minutes to perform in a wonderful space. You can have pretty decent tech (depending on the tech that is set for whatever is on in the week), and the tech run is extremely professional and helpful. Usually brings in a decent audience, including the owner of the venue sometimes in case this is someone you want to meet. You usually have to bring together your own team but you can ask the venue for support with this.
Has a £60 deposit, but only £20 per piece.
Sunday Fix at The Baron’s Court
When: The first Sunday of every month. Rolling monthly submissions deadline of 15th of the month.
A very relaxed evening of writing in development in the adorable Baron’s Court theatre. Unique in that you can just hand over your work and all the rest (finding actors, directors, and rehearsing the piece) is done for you because they have a pool of creatives. This is very useful for understanding how your piece is interpreted by creatives as well as by an audience.
They often have interesting Q+A guests accompanying the evening.
Pleasance Scratch at The Pleasance
When: It varies. The next one is in April but submissions closed a while back. Definitely worth keeping your eye open and signing up to their newsletter.
This one is pretty competitive with a relatively stringent selection process for submissions (I have never managed to get a piece on for this… Maybe next time!) I think it gets so many submissions because it’s such a popular venue, and they only hold this scratch a few times a year rather.
They now have a comedy specific one as well as their theatre one as well as stretching them over two nights in their main stage due to such popular demand.
Monday Monologue Club at the Old Red Lion
When: At least once a month, always on a Monday!
This is run by the current resident company Medium Rare Productions. It’s relaxed and does what it says on the tin, you submit a monologue (from an existing and longer piece, or a one off), and if it gets selected you spend a Monday evening with fellow creatives sharing their pieces with audience feedback at the end and a chance to mingle downstairs in the pub afterwards. Can’t go wrong with that.
Riverscribes Scratch Night at Riverside Studios
When: Once a month. Rolling submissions process.
This is a script in hand scratch night at the wonderful Riverside Studios (unparalleled views of Hammersmith bridge if nothing else). 4-5 10 minute pieces from different writers to be read in front of a supportive audience ready to give that all important feedback.
Scratch Nights at Jack Studio Theatre
When: Every two months.
Another opportunity to perform an extract of your work with full technical support from the award winning studio.
The difference here is that the audience gives their feedback anonymously and it is sent to you a few days later!
The Writers’ Corner (different venues each time - the next one will be at The Pleasance!)
When: No set dates but runs regularly. The next one on 1st May at the Pleasance has closed submissions.
Run by founder Winnie Arhin, the Writers' Corner gives writers from across the UK a chance to test out new scripts through in person and online scratch nights.
The latest in person scratch night is specifically for female writers from the African and Caribbean diaspora and has a theme sex. I have only heard great things about these, another one to keep your eye open for.
To Whom It May Concern by Salt Circle Productions at The Glitch Theatre
When: Usually monthly - they do call outs on their Instagram.
I love the concept for this one. “An evening of letters never sent”. You submit a monologue (up to 5 minutes, could be theatre, spoken word, poetry) that is addressed to someone (anyone!).
They usually have themes that you need to respond to, but you can go anywhere and be as bizarre and unique as you like. Such a unique concept, and a fun stimuli to respond to if you are looking for inspiration.
Flux Creative Collective at Jamboree in King’s Cross
When: Looks like their latest one was back in October, but worth following on Instagram for the next one.
It’s described as carefully curated short form works and open sharing sessions in order to showcase fresh talent and innovative performances to inspire and build community. A vibrant, relaxed vibe in a really beautiful venue.
Writers can submit all sorts of writing from poetry to theatre.
The Writing Shed in North London
When: Monthly
A community based group that hosts poetry open mic nights (as well as workshops and talks with established writers.) A cosy, inspiring event each month in a cafe called The Roasting Shed. I actually can’t think of a more nourishing way to spend an evening…
Scene Night by Actors East
When: Monthly
This one is aimed at actors and directors wanting to practice their craft in front of a live audience. This is a space to test material, sharpen performance, and get immediate feedback from the room. The night includes a mix of new writing and scenes from established plays.
Side note: Actors East is a fantastic company that owns a couple of venues that can be hired on a pay what you can bases. A rarity in London nowadays.
Anthrotalks by Anthroplay at Two Brewers
When: Monthly (apart from July and August)
This one has it all. You can submit anything from poetry, spoken word, monologues, comedy, songs, comedy-songs, drag acts… now that’s a real smorgasbord…
Each month has a different theme, so your piece will need to correspond in some way but the themes are very open and easily interpreted. Artists also receive a £10 travel fee, which is nice!
Freshly Squeezed by Flat4Theatre at St Margaret’s House
When: Fairly regularly but no set times as of yet. The next one is 8th May but submissions have closed.
Flat4Theatre, a queer and female led company, have been around for a while now but they have recently partnered up with St Margaret’s House, an Arts and Wellbeing centre in East London to make the scratch night as accessible as possible.
The standard of extracts performs is always very high - keep them on your radar!
Heads or Tales? by Slainté! Theatre at MAP Studios
When: Monthly
A unique scratch night run by a theatre company with a focus on Irish and Scottish heritage. Therefore, the work needs to reflect this. Also a unique format in that the artist(s) will present their first and their last scenes of a piece of work. Seeing an audience response to this is pretty invaluable.
Outside of London:
Scratch Club by Script Club Cardiff at Porter’s
When: First ever event happening 31st May! Hoping to become regular there after.
This one is from our very own Messy Pearl Andrews-Horrigan who works with the Script Club Cardiff team. This is a brand new event to get writing off the laptop and onto a stage. There is another fun twist here as well, about a month before the night a theme will be revealed and you have to respond with a 10 minute complete play (no excerpts for this one).
It’s always excellent practice to respond to stimuli, I actually ended up writing a short film script in response to a stimuli for a competition that Pearl was running and became a finalist… Sometimes these things give you the boost you need to think outside the box!
Scratch Night at Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot, Merseyside
When: One every quarter
Reading the synopses for extracts featuring in the next scratch night has made me want to align my next trip to see my granny with this. Scratch Nights feature a mix of two featured artists (Headliners) and a limited number of bookable slots for those eager to present their work.
They invite artists across disciplines - actors, playwrights, performers, and creatives of all kinds - to step into the spotlight.
Liverpool Scratch Network
When: Monthly
A regular coming together of likeminded creatives to share their new work that doubles up as a social/mixer. Usually looking for scenes that actors can perform with the help of a director.
Stage Write Night at Liverpool’s Royal Court
When: Bi-monthly
Quite specific rules for submitting to this one. You need to submit a full piece, from which an excerpt will be performed. You need to have a cast of no more than 8 and at the moment they are only looking for contemporary comedies or comedy-dramas.
However, don’t let that stop you from submitting something else if you have one to hand - you never know!
Thank you so much, Mollie!!
Love you always,
The Messy Women xx