Young Playwrights
Theatr Iolo’s Young Playwrights project encourages and develops young Welsh writers across the whole of Wales to write their very own podcast drama.
This digital project is targeted at children and young people aged 7-18 and is run online so that we can reach all corners of Wales. In the past, we’ve even run it internationally, working with partners in India!
We offer a wealth of free online resources in both Welsh and English, to give children the skills and inspiration to start writing their own podcast drama. Included in these online resources are filmed tips by a variety of inspirational Welsh playwrights. To access our free downloadable playwriting resources, including playwriting top tips videos from some of Wales’ best playwrights, please visit our Playwriting Resources page.
Theatr Iolo also delivers a series of in-person ‘Introduction to Playwriting’ workshops to schools and community settings, to encourage children from diverse backgrounds to have the confidence to submit their podcast drama idea.
Four Young Playwrights are chosen each year, to work with Theatr Iolo’s Artistic Director to develop their story further. These plays are then transformed into a recorded podcast drama*, with the opportunity for the young writers to be part of the rehearsal, recording, and editing process with professional actors and recording team. The final edited and fully produced podcast drama is then added to the Theatr Iolo free podcast channel and our Youtube channel.
Over the last two Young Playwright projects, we have produced 8 podcast dramas and they are all available to listen to for free through our podcast channel and to listen to and read on YouTube (with captions). They can also be read, along with the plays that were highly commended, in our downloadable playtext.
*For scripts written in BSL, chosen young writers will have the option to have their play recorded as a video with actors who use BSL. For children who are Deaf, disabled, neurodiverse or have other access needs, we will adjust the recording process to make it accessible, should they be selected to have their play developed further.
Young Playwrights 2023-2024
The 2023-2024 Young Playwrights project is now open for submissions!
To submit your play, please send it as a PDF or word document (English and Welsh) or as a video (BSL) to hello@theatriolo.com
This is the criteria for Young Playwrights submissions:
Plays must be between 10 and 15 minutes to read out loud, in a slow speaking voice or signed in BSL.
Plays must feature no more than three characters
Submissions must be in either Welsh, English, BSL, or bilingually (BSL scripts can be recorded as a video).
Submissions must include your name and your age (entrants must be aged 7-18)
You must have a permission of an adult to submit your play (a teacher or adult with parental responsibility)
There will be a series of free Playwriting workshops during the 2023 summer holidays and the 2024 spring term in schools.
If you would like to go to one of the free sessions (offered in Welsh and English) or book one for your school,
email us on hello@theatriolo.com or call on 029 2061 3782.
To submit your play, send it to hello@theatriolo.com with your first name and age clearly stated.
Submission Deadline: Monday 26 February 2024
To access all our free downloadable playwriting resources,
including playwriting top tips videos from some of Wales’ best playwrights,
please visit our Playwriting Resources page.
The four chosen plays in 2021/22 were;
A Life in The Wild by Mabli (age 9)
Y Lladrad Lloerig by Awen (age 12)
A Warning to the Museum by Shiraz (age 12)
Small World by Mahiya (age 11)
The four chosen plays in 2020/2021 were;
Wakey Wake-Amatic by Esme (age 10)
Cer i Ffwrdd by Rhiana (age 15)
Two Worlds, One Meal by Faaris (age 13)
Home from War by Lauren (age 14)
“Roedd cymryd rhan yn y gystadleuaeth dramodydd ifanc yn brofiad bythgofiadwy. Wnaeth y gystadleuaeth adeiladu hyder yn fy ysgrifennu, a fy annog i barhau i ysgrifennu. Roedd pawb yn garedig iawn, ac yn barod i helpu ac ateb unrhyw gwestiynau trwy gydol y broses. Rwy’n ddiolchgar iawn i Theatr Iolo am brofiad mor anhygoel, ac mi wnes i fwynhau llawer.” Rhiana, Winner 2020
“When I entered the Young Playwrights’ competition I never expected to win, so when I found out I did win I was very excited!! It was so interesting seeing my play come to life, working with the voice actors and director. Everyone there treated me like a professional and like I was part of the team - which adults don’t usually do with kids. Overall it was an amazing experience!” Esme, Winner 2020