Three Counties Talent Hub

A new joint venture for Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham and Malvern Theatres, are collaborating on an ambitious new development programme to identify and foster new industry professionals and offer them a platform to showcase their work for a wider audience.

3CTH LAUNCHES ITS 2026 STAGE WRITING COMPETION

The Three Counties Talent Hub has launched its 2026 stage writing competition with the theme Women in Rural Communities.  

Inspired by the UN's historic decision to declare 2026 the International Year of Woman Farmer, we recognise the essential but often overlooked role of women in rural communities.

This stage writing competition is a unique opportunity to explore the untold stories of women in the rural Three Counties (Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire), bringing first to the page and then to the stage the complex and dynamic lives experienced by those in our communities, either today, tomorrow, or looking back in history.  

The competition follows on from 3CTH’s successful launch in 2025, which saw Cathie Rolinson’s play In Veritas performed to excellent reviews at both Malvern Theatres and the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.

The 2026 edition will also partner Worcester Theatres and Hereford Courtyard.

Script submissions, suitable for a maximum of three performers, should have drama as its primary form, but could include music and/or physical theatre or other movement.

As well as seeing their piece performed on the professional stage, the winning writer or writing team will also receive royalties from the ticketed performances.

Who can enter?

3CTH welcomes submissions for a new play based around the given theme (this year: Women in Rural Communities) from writers based in the three counties (Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire).

Submission of content is free and 3CTH welcomes scripts from adult writers, all levels of experience, regardless of background, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, race, religion, or sexual orientation.

All writers must be 18 by the time of the submission deadline.

What can I submit?

·         New, original writing that has been previously unpublished, unproduced and unperformed, inspired by this year’s theme Women in Rural Communities.  

·         It should be suitable for a maximum of three performers

·         It should have drama as its primary form but could include music and/or physical theatre or other movement

·         It should be no longer than 75 minutes and not contain an interval.

How do I enter?

• Writer/s must submit:

  • A 200-word plot summary of your piece and a character list (the character list is not included in the 200-word count)

    • The summary must include all major plot details, including how it ends.

  • The first 10 minutes of the first draft of your completed script

    • The judging panel may request to read a full script at any stage during the selection process.

    • The full draft of all shortlisted scripts will be read

  • If your piece has music, include a demo recording of any originally composed music.

·         The script should be anonymised and submitted as a pdf attachment by email, with your name/s and a contact number in the body of the email to education@malvern-theatres.co.uk

·         Scripts should be submitted by 6pm on Sunday 30th November 2025.

What support will the selected writer/s receive?

·         Workshop and rehearsal support from the teams at Malvern Theatres, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Hereford Courtyard, and Worcester Theatres

·         Set, lighting, and costume design and provisions, as suited to the size and scale of the work

·         A professional director

·         The theatres will help with selecting professional performers that reflect the creative elements of the selected piece whether that is dramatic, physical, or musical

·         All theatres will provide marketing and press support.

By submitting your script, you confirm that you will be:

• 18 or over by the submission deadline

• Submitting an original piece that is entirely your own work

• Originally from, or living in, the Three Counties area (Worcestershire, Herefordshire or Gloucestershire)

• Available at selected times on the following weeks for development and performances (these may be subject to change):

w/c 14th Jan at Cheltenham Everyman Theatre 

w/c 7th April at Malvern Theatres

w/c 13th April at Malvern Theatres

w/c 20th April at Malvern Theatres

Other T&Cs:

·         The selected writer/s will receive royalties from the ticketed performances. No additional expenses will be paid and no other ‘prize fund’ is available

·         The writers of all shortlisted scripts will be contacted and asked to submit the full script for further consideration. The ‘winning’ writer/s will then be contacted by email if their piece has been successful

·         Physical scripts will not be accepted

·         Feedback on unselected scripts will not be given

·         Malvern Theatres' Three Counties Talent Hub reserves the right to add to or amend these terms and conditions, should situations arise that make that necessary

·         Criteria for how the ‘winning entry’ will be selected is extensive, though all pieces should have bold characters, a dynamic plot, and should absorb the reader/audience

·          Judges’ decisions are final, and further dialogue will not be entertained