Script Submission

The Orange Tree Theatre always presents a broad cross section of plays. New plays rub shoulders with translations, both new and established, as well as revivals and re-discoveries from many different periods and even the occasional musical. Each season of 7 or 8 plays will always have at least one new play, often more. The theatre is responsible for launching the careers of Martin Crimp and David Lewis and providing a home for James Saunders and David Cregan, as well as Vaclav Havel and Michel Vinaver.

We regret that the Orange Tree Theatre does not accept unsolicited scripts. If you would like to send in a script please e-mail us a short synopsis and we will advise you whether we wish to receive the whole script. Invited scripts are dealt with by our Assistant Directors in association with the Artistic Director.

Please email synopsis submissions to henry.bell@orangetreetheatre.co.uk.

Sadly, even with invited scripts we are unable to offer a full script reading service and we will only contact writers if we feel we are able to give them particular advice or help. Unsuccessful scripts will be returned only if a SAE is provided. Our decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into regarding rejected scripts.

If your submission is understood to have potential we can arrange to develop your play or organise a reading using our extensive database of young directors and a wide range of actors that have worked at the Orange Tree. However, we strongly discourage writers to send us (synopses for) first or early drafts of a play. Also, writers should bear in mind that our focus is on producing full-length plays, and that we do not invite submissions of TV, radio or film scripts.

We aim to read and return submissions within 2 to 3 months. However, sometimes the reading process may take longer. We kindly ask playwrights to be patient and not to call or e-mail us to check on the progress of their submissions.

As we are a producing house, not a receiving house, we are not interested in projects which already have a creative team (such as actors or directors) attached to them.

Submission Guidelines

When invited to submit your script, please adhere to standard professional practice for the formatting of your submission. All pages should be numbered, and we ask writers to include their name and contact details not only on the front page and accompanying letter, but preferably also in small print on each page. If we are unfamiliar with you or your work, kindly include a short CV of your writing experience. This will not affect how we consider your script, it is merely helpful for us.

Please do not send your only copy of a play. Although every care is taken with your work, we cannot be held responsible if it is lost.