This years theme is "DESIRE"

SCRIPTS: Ireland’s Playwriting Festival, in partnership with Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, seeks new works for stage.

DESIRE… What pulls us forward, and what holds us fast? Desire can be a spark or a storm - an intimate whisper or a force that reshapes entire worlds. It drives choices, fuels conflict and reveals the deepest truths we try to hide.
Whether it’s longing for connection, power, escape, justice or transformation, desire shapes the stories we tell and the lives we lead. This year, we invite you to explore the many faces of desire with courage, imagination and emotional honesty.

Taking place in Birr, Co Offaly, Scripts Ireland’s Playwriting Festival creates unique opportunities for playwrights to have their work developed, mentored and brought to life on stage.
 

Three scripts, most suited for development, will be selected through a rigorous shortlisting process.

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These selected playwrights will receive a week of mentoring and script development under the guidance of Playwright and Screenwriter Eugene O'Brien, where the whole process of writing and rewriting is explored in a collaborative and supportive environment. 

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The residency supports three playwrights with a team of artists to mentor, develop, and produce the emerging scripts for a rehearsed reading of the new works by professional actors at the festival finale. Industry professionals then judge the final versions and a winner is selected. We are excited to confirm that the 2026 panel will include a representative from The Abbey Theatre.  (Other previous judges have included Jim Culleton of Fishamble Theatre, Phillip McMahon, David Horan (Bewley’s Cafe Theatre) and playwright, director, and performer, Gina Moxley).​

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There will be a prize for "Best Play" which includes: 

• Dramaturgy support with the literary department at The Abbey Theatre; 

• a scholarship with Fishamble, the New Play Company; 

• a Theatre Residency at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre in 2027.

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Conditions of Entry and How to Submit your Play:

● Playwrights (both established and emerging) are invited to submit an original 15 minute play on the theme DESIRE.

● Plays should have no more than 3 characters

● Original plays (unpublished/unstaged) only to be submitted

● The link below must be used - no email/post submission.

● Plays must be in a .PDF or .DOCX/.DOC format and no bigger than 15MB

● Scripts are read blind by a selection panel - therefore do not have your name on your script file (our admin team will have your details with your submission form).

● Cost of submission is €10.

● Limited to one play per person.

● Playwrights must be available to be in Birr for the residency period - Monday 29 June – Saturday 4 July 2026, as well as attend the headline event at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Sunday 5 July 2026 where the plays will be presented as staged readings.

● The judges’ decision is final and Scripts will not enter into correspondence concerning the judging or merits awarded.

● Requests for feedback: due to the volume of entries received and demands on our evaluation panel, we are unable to provide individual feedback. Thank you for your understanding. 

Download the full Call for Writers and T&C's here.

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Deadline for submissions is Tuesday 7 April 2026 @ 12 noon​

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SCRIPTS is supported by Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Jasango Theatre, Offaly County Council, Arts Council of Ireland

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