Once again, it’s that time of year when we look to writers to help us put together an evening of short plays for our Summer Shorts slot (5 – 9 August 2025). You don’t have to be an experienced writer or even an SLT member to write and submit, we’re just looking for amazing new writing* whoever it comes from.

We’re hugely excited to announce that our theme for this year is:

Scale

All plays selected will be written with a nod to that word. Whilst your 10 minute play will be small-scale in duration, you can dream big. Why not write about dinosaurs, reptiles, or giant scaly fish? Your piece could be a big shake on the Richter scale, or on a scale so minute that the props need to be oversized. You might immediately know a way to creatively scale the heights of this writing task, or you might need more time to weigh up your options, but whatever your process, let the scales fall from your eyes and see a way clear to completing a cracking short play.

Whichever direction you go, note that we’re looking for a range of tone and genre for a varied evening’s entertainment. We want your writing to tip the scales, whether it be period or contemporary, comedy or drama, monologue or ensemble.

And it’s not all on you to conjure a mini-masterpiece, if that feels daunting. For those scripts that are shortlisted, we’ll also put on a read-aloud workshop to give you the opportunity to hear your words spoken and potentially receive some constructive feedback.

So pick out your pen, or get your keyboard clattering and put together a short play which fits the following important criteria – but please note – learning from our previous experience of staging this multi-play event, we’re getting ever-stricter on suitability criteria, so that we can pack in all the best plays and put on the swiftest, most seamless, scaly selection box we possibly can:

• Keep it short: It absolutely must be capable of being performed, beginning to end, in 10 minutes. (Or shorter is fine!)
• Keep it tight: Cast per play should not exceed 5 actors – we will have multiple casts all sharing the space backstage
• Keep it simple: We’re effectively producing 10 plays at once, so staging must be such that all props and furniture can be brought on and removed by the actors – think, a couple of chairs or the odd portable, personal prop. Scenic projections will not be possible and your writing should keep in mind that generic lighting schemes and minimal sound cues will be in order.
• Keep it themed: Ensure that your text relates to and exhibits the Scale theme; don’t make the connection too oblique or too evidently shoehorn a previously-written play into the theme.
• Keep to the writing: Any scripts selected will be cast and directed by others.

The first step is to let us know you intend to throw your hat into the ring – please complete this form by 28 February 2025. We’ll then want to see first drafts one month later to begin making our selections. Instructions as to how to submit your script are contained within the form.

Here’s looking forward to seeing the scale of your creative prowess.

Your SLT Shorts team for 2025

*This is an amateur performance showcase. Rights are not payable and submission of scripts will be taken as permission to perform the material according to SLT’s 2025 programme, without conditions.