Light the Blue 2026: Assembly, A Scratch for Wee Ones, Writer Call-Out
Light the Blue 2026
Assembly, A Scratch for Wee Ones
Writer Call-Out
Are you interested in making work for young audiences? Have you got an exciting new script that’s ready to be seen by our local young experts?
Assembly is a wee scratch for wee audiences taking place on Tuesday 9th June in Aberdeen as part of Light the Blue 2026, Aberdeen Performing Arts’ festival for and by young people.
Together with Catherine Wheels and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland, we’re hosting a gathering of actors, writers and primary school aged children to test out extracts of brand-new plays for young audiences. Following a sharing of first draft ideas by Scottish writers, we’ll invite a show of hands and ask the experts, our young audience, to share their thoughts and inform the next stage of development for the plays.
What are we looking for?
We are looking for existing scripts that haven’t yet been seen by an audience, and that would benefit from dramaturgical support, advice from industry professionals and feedback from a supportive young audience.
If selected, writers will be invited to a rehearsal session with professional directors and actors to bring the text to life before presentation in the assembly hall. Aberdeen Performing Arts is partnering with Catherine Wheels and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland for this project to offer dramaturgical, directorial and mentoring support in taking these plays from page to stage – and beyond!
We want to hear from you if you have a script that:
- is aimed at a primary school age audience;
- involves a maximum of 4 performers;
- is between 10-15 minutes in length, either as stand-alone idea or as part of a wider concept;
- could be performed at this stage with limited or no technical requirements.
You must be available to attend a rehearsal day on Monday 8th June and the scratch itself on Tuesday 9th June (the event will run 1pm – 2.30pm), both at the Music Hall, Aberdeen. We will assemble a team of actors and directors for the event, all you need to focus on is the writing.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for writers based in Scotland with an interest in making work for young audiences, and who have an original play idea that they’re looking to develop further. You might be at the very start of your writing journey or have a few performances under your belt; this project is open to anyone with words on a page ready to be read out loud!
In the interests of supporting artist development in Scotland, we will accept submissions from those based across the country, with a particular interest in hearing from those based in/around Aberdeen and the North East.
We are keen to support writers who will most benefit from this opportunity and therefore are only looking for submissions from writers who self-identify as early or mid career. We are also particularly interested in hearing from those who feel their voices are not well represented on our stages, and those whose work promotes inclusivity.
What can we offer?
Assembly offers a supportive space for writers to experiment, test ideas and gain valuable feedback to inform the next steps in their play’s development. If selected, each Assembly writer will receive:
- A fee of £400 to cover 1 rehearsal day and 1 performance day, as well as reasonable expenses if based outside Aberdeen;
- A half day rehearsal session with a professional director and actors;
- Dramaturgical and mentoring support in the lead-up or reflection of the project;
- Professional photography for future documentation;
- Feedback from attending industry professionals and young audiences to inform future development;
- Free tickets to select events across the Light the Blue programme;
- Networking opportunities with other artists involved in the event and wider festival.
We will work with all programmed artists to ensure access requirements are provided for.
About the Assembly partners
LIGHT THE BLUE is Aberdeen Performing Arts’ festival for and by young people which takes place across Aberdeen every June and has a programming strand dedicated to supporting early career artists.
Catherine Wheels is Scotland’s most celebrated producer of work for children and young people, working with a diverse range of artists to create projects and tours to communities, theatres and schools in Scotland and internationally.
PLAYWRIGHTS’ STUDIO, Scotland provides artistically independent career support to the playwrights of Scotland and are the only arts organisation in the UK exclusively dedicated to the artistic development of writers for live performance.
How do you apply?
Please submit your extract, contact details and answers to a few questions by Thursday 23rd April at 11pm via the following online form.
If you require any additional support in submitting such as receiving the call-out information in an alternative format, or you have any questions please contact us via lightthebluefestival@aberdeenperformingarts.com.
What happens after the deadline?
We will accept submissions until Thursday 23rd April at 11pm. Any submissions received after this time will not be considered.
Submissions will be reviewed and discussed by a panel with representatives from Aberdeen Performing Arts, Catherine Wheels and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland. We will select scripts that excite us the most, that best support artist development and that allow us to fulfil our ambition to create a diverse and relevant festival.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of our selection process by end of day Thursday 30th April at the latest. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
Deadline: Thursday 23rd April at 11pm.
