ENG/CYM
A new development programme from Welsh National Theatre, Bad Wolf and Screen Alliance Wales for Welsh and Wales-based writers working across theatre and television
Applications are now OPEN for Stage & Screen, a brand-new development programme designed to support early- to mid-career Welsh and Wales-based writers working across both theatre and television.
The selected writer will be commissioned to develop a new original play for Welsh National Theatre’s development slate, with the aim of ultimately including the play in WNT’s future programming. Throughout the process, the writer will receive dramaturgical support from leading Welsh playwright and Welsh National Theatre’s Literary Programming Manager, Tim Price.
Bad Wolf, the television production company behind Industry, The Other Bennet Sister and His Dark Materials, will also work with the selected writer to develop a pitch document for the television adaptation of the play following delivery of the first draft of the play to Welsh National Theatre.
Welsh National Theatre Artistic Director Michael Sheen and Bad Wolf CEO Jane Tranter announced the new scheme at an event at Wolf Studios Wales on 27 May.
Jane Tranter said:
“Many of today’s most highly regarded television writers first found their voice in our theatres. We’re delighted to partner with Welsh National Theatre on this new initiative, which aims to discover, nurture and champion unknown and emerging Welsh writers whose work can resonate across both stage and screen. Together, we will develop an original piece that we hope audiences will soon experience both in theatres and on screen.”
Applications open Monday 1 June 2026, and close at 5pm on Friday 31 July 2026.
Applicants selected for the longlist will be contacted by the end of August and invited to submit a full-length play sample for consideration in the next stage of the process. Shortlisted writers will be contacted in September and invited to interview.
The successful writer will begin the programme on 1 October 2026. The development process will continue until Welsh National Theatre and/or Bad Wolf make a decision regarding acceptance of the play (please note: acceptance by either party is not guaranteed).
Application Form Here
The first part is an Equality and Diversity form, on completion of which, you will receive a link to the second part, where you will be able to fulfil the requirements listed in the Guidance below.
Stage & Screen – Terms and Conditions
All applications must be submitted via the Screen Alliance Wales application system here. By submitting an application, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and confirm that you have the legal capacity to agree to these terms and conditions.
Entry to the scheme is free of charge.
Applicants must either:
have been born in Wales;
have permanent residency in Wales; or
have attended secondary school in Wales.
Welsh National Theatre, Bad Wolf and Screen Alliance Wales reserve the right to request evidence of eligibility, including proof of residency, place of birth or educational history.
Applicants must have:
a minimum of one and a maximum of three professionally produced plays; or
at least one professional broadcast credit as a television, radio or feature film writer (short films are excluded).
For the purposes of this scheme, a “professionally produced play” means a play of more than 65 minutes in length that has received a production run of at least two weeks.
Applicants do not require agent representation to apply.
Applicants must be aged 18 or over by 1 October 2026. Proof of age and identity may be requested.
Bad Wolf, Welsh National Theatre and Screen Alliance Wales are committed to encouraging applications from writers of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of disability, age, gender, socioeconomic background, national origin, pregnancy or maternity status, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Successful applicants will have an opportunity to enter into agreements with Bad Wolf and Welsh National Theatre in respect of their creative work. Such opportunities will be subject to Bad Wolf and Welsh National Theatre’s terms and conditions (which will be sent separately to the successful applicants).
Applications may be submitted by individual writers or writing partnerships of up to two writers. All submitted material must be jointly authored by the partnership, and each writer must meet the eligibility criteria set out above. Applications from writing partnerships must be submitted by one lead writer on behalf of both applicants. For successful partnerships, the commission fees will be divided equally between both writers. A writer applying as part of a partnership may not submit a separate individual application.
All submissions must be the applicant’s own original work, and may not be based wholly or in part on the work of any other person, whether known, published, produced, or not (i.e. no adaptations) or infringe any third-party rights. Applicants confirm that their submission is not, nor ever has been, in development with any third party. Applicants also confirm that all elements of their submission complies with all applicable laws, and in particular are not obscene, defamatory, discriminatory, threatening, pornographic, libelous, harassing, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive and do not encourage any criminal activity.
Projects submitted to the scheme must not have a producer, theatre company or producing partner attached at the time of application unless marked as a writing sample.
Applicants must not have previously received a commission from Welsh National Theatre.
Bad Wolf, Screen Alliance Wales and Welsh National Theatre reserves the right to reject any entry for any reason at its absolute discretion. Bad Wolf and Welsh National Theatre’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Bad Wolf, Welsh National Theatre and Screen Alliance Wales accepts no liability if entrants ignore these rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify Bad Wolf, Welsh National Theatre and Screen Alliance Wales against any claims by third parties arising from breach of these rules.
By submitting your script and contact details to the form, you will provide personal data to Bad Wolf, Screen Alliance Wales and Welsh National Theatre. This personal data will be processed in accordance with Screen Alliance Wales’ privacy policy (link) and the applicable laws and regulations.
By submitting your application, you release Bad Wolf, Welsh National Theatre and Screen Alliance Wales, its employees, and anyone acting on its behalf, of and from any claims of any kind, known or unknown, arising out of or relating to your application. You agree to waive, and will never make or bring, any claim, demand, or action against Bad Wolf, Welsh National Theatre and Screen Alliance Wales in connection with the use or alleged use of your application and that in no event will you be entitled to seek injunctive or equitable relief.
Application Process
Applications close at 5.00pm GMT on Friday 31 July 2026.
Due to the anticipated volume of applications, we are unable to provide individual feedback on submissions.
Applicants selected for the longlist will be contacted by the end of August 2026 and invited to submit a full-length play script for consideration in the next stage of the process.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted in September 2026 and invited to attend an interview.
The successful writer will be notified by the end of September 2026.
The programme will commence on 1 October 2026 and will continue until Welsh National Theatre and/or Bad Wolf make a decision regarding Acceptance of the play. Please note that Acceptance by either organisation is not guaranteed.
Guidelines
Applicants must submit:
a 10-page excerpt from an original play; and
a 2-page synopsis of the full play.
The submitted play sample must be the applicant’s original work. Adaptations are not permitted.
All submissions must be written in English, as the commissioned play will be developed in English.
Applicants may submit the play they wish to develop through the scheme, provided it has not previously been submitted to other theatres or production companies. This scheme is intended to support a new commission. Alternatively, applicants may submit a sample from another original play and include a 500-word statement within the application form outlining the proposed play they would like to develop as part of the scheme.
All ideas and materials submitted must be original and must not be based wholly or in part on the work of any other person. Submissions must not infringe any third-party rights.
All materials must be submitted via the online application form. Please do not send materials by email.
File naming conventions must be followed:
“Your Name – Play Title – Sample”
“Your Name – Play Title – Summary”
All documents must be submitted in PDF format.
The play excerpt must be no longer than 10 pages and must consist of consecutive pages (we recommend submitting the first 10 pages of the play). No material beyond page 10 will be considered.
The minimum font size for all submitted materials is 12pt.
Please do not include images, illustrations or artwork within submitted documents.
Applications will be read and assessed by Bad Wolf and Welsh National Theatre readers and judged on the quality of writing and originality of the story.
For any further questions please contact blaidd@bad-wolf.com