Are you interested in making work for young audiences? Have you got an exciting new script that’s ready to be seen by local young experts? Aberdeen Performing Arts, Catherine Wheels and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland are looking for writers making work for young audiences to test out new material at Light the Blue 2026.

Assembly is a wee scratch for wee audiences taking place on Tue 9 June 2026 in Aberdeen as part of Light the Blue, Aberdeen Performing Arts’ festival for and by young people.

Together with Catherine Wheels and Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland, they’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, they’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 they looking for?
They 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. They’ll offer dramaturgical, directorial and mentoring support in taking these plays from page to stage – and beyond.

They want to hear from you if you have a script that:
– is aimed at a primary school age audience;
– involves a maximum of four 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.

They will assemble a team of actors and directors for the event – all you need to focus on is the writing.

Who are they looking for?
They are looking for writers based in Scotland, with a particular interest in hearing from those based in/around Aberdeen and the North East. They 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.

What can they offer?
They will offer successful writers a fee of £400 to cover one rehearsal day and one performance day, as well as reasonable expenses if based outside Aberdeen and a package of additional support.

Read the full call-out here and apply by Thu 23 April 2026 at 11pm: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/call-outs/light-the-blue-2026-assembly-a-scratch-for-wee-ones-writer-call-out.

For further information, please contact lightthebluefestival@aberdeenperformingarts.com (Jordan Blackwood), or visit https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/call-outs/light-the-blue-2026-assembly-a-scratch-for-wee-ones-writer-call-out.