Awarded biennially, Polka’s Playwriting Award offers a writing commission, full play staging and script publication as its prize.
It puts the creation of professional theatre for audiences aged 7-13 at the centre of creative, vital conversation, and was set up to find diverse stories, new voices and brilliant new writing for this overlooked age group.
“It’s hard to imagine how this play could ever have been produced without the Polka Playwriting Award – it’s a game changing award!”
Sarah Middleton, Writer ‘Dweeb-A-Mania’.
Alongside the award, you can take part in online masterclasses exploring new writing for young audiences explore the quality, rigour and imagination needed to write for and inspire such an exciting audience base, who are so often overlooked.
Applications are now open, closing on the 19th July.
2026 Masterclasses are detailed below.
Full details are below for eligibility, submission process and handy FAQ’s about the award.
The Polka Playwriting Awars is generously funded by The Garek Trust
Award Partner: Methuen Drama, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing PLc.
Prize:
- Full play commission under Writers’ Guild rates and associated Royalty.
- Script published with our Award Partners, Methuen Drama.
- Production staged at Polka Theatre, in Polka’s Adventure Theatre, within 2 years of the script being selected.
Who can apply?
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- All writers must be over the age of 16, and live in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
- There is no upper age limit on applicants.
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Play of no longer than 60 minutes.
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Can be written by someone who has no experience in the TYA writing sector – we are looking for stories that have not been told before, and encourage people who may not have seen their experiences on stage as children to apply.
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For any age range between 7-13.
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- Hasn’t been performed before, with the only exception being as part of a workshop or R&D process.
- Isn’t an adaptation of a musical or play that already exists, or a TV or book adaptation – we are looking for an original work. The Writer must own all copyright and material in the script and it cannot be on attachment or in development with another producer or theatre.
- Can be co-written with another person, however the commission amount is for one script.
- Scripts must have a maximum cast of 4 performers (not characters).
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- All plays are read anonymously so please do not add your name or contact details to the script itself.
- A shortlist of plays will be selected by a reading panel in consultation with Polka Grads Young Readers.
Submit your script to The Polka Playwriting Award
Email your script to [email protected] by midday on 19th July 2026.
Your script must be submitted as an attachment anonymously, without your name on the document itself.
A panel of readers will read the scripts, anonymously, and decide on a shortlist of 5 plays.
Following consultation with Polka Grads (young ambassadors aged 12-15) the winning script will be selected.
Shortlisted writers will be offered a 1:1 follow up with Polka’s Artistic Director.
Any questions please email [email protected] or check the FAQs below.
Zoom Masterclasses
Join us for 3 Zoom Masterclasses with renowned playwrights to learn more about writing and creating plays for Young Audiences. All sessions are free, and available to book now.
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Sarah Middleton is the winner of the 2024 Polka Playwriting Award, with ‘Dweeb-A-Mania’. Her other productions include SHEWOLVES (UK tour/ Southwark Playhouse), Pinocchio and Little Red Riding Hood (both Nottingham Playhouse), The Wishing Stone (Separate Doors/Derby Theatre/Chichester Festival Theatre) and Wilf Goes Wild (MPTheatricals).
FAQs
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No, and it cannot be in development already with another theatre or producer.
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Yes, the award is open to all playwrights at any stage of their career.
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No, the work must be original. You must own all the rights to your script, and it can’t be an adaptation of an existing musical or play.
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Yes. We will work with you on the next stages of the script and collaboratively decide what format the public performances of the work will be and when they will happen.
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No, plays must be suitable for any ages within the 7-13 bracket.
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No, we will not read any scripts received after the deadline.
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No, this award is purely for playwright(s) with a finished piece to submit.
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Unfortunately we will not have the capacity to meet any writers ahead of submission. Should you have any specific questions or difficulties with applying please email [email protected]. You should also try to attend the online information sessions.
Learn more
Read about 2024’s winner, Dweeb-A-Mania
