The Jack Studio and The Bridge House Theatre collaborate for the third year to create a festival that promotes and celebrates new writing.

SE Fest 2026 dates: Tue 01 – Sat 12 September 2026.

Submissions are NOW OPEN and close on Friday 15th May at 5.00pm.
SE Fest gives companies the unique opportunity to perform at both venues during the festival fortnight.

SE Fest is passionate about plays that engage with how we live today. If you have a new script you want to perform, we’d love to hear from you!
We’re looking for new work, so all scripts submitted by companies should not have been publicly performed more than three times prior to their performances in SE Fest 2026.
All productions must be socially conscious and demonstrate how they provide opportunities for, or representation of, underrepresented groups including, but not limited to: Working class artists, Artists from the Global Majority, Non-binary or gender fluid artists, LGBTQ+ Artists.
The theatres’ artistic teams and SE Fest reading panel will read your applications and confirm the work to be programmed in late June.

Each programmed company has three consecutive performances during the festival. Your performances take place at both theatres, with two at one venue and one at the alternate venue.
Evening performances start at 7.30pm, with Saturday matinees at 3pm.
Performances should last between 50 and 90 minutes.

With the support of Arts Council England, for eight programmed companies SE Fest 2026 offers:
A 70/30 box office split in companies’ favour.
A £500 contribution to each company to help offset your travel and practical production costs.
A technician at each venue to programme your sound and lights, and to operate your shows (you may bring your own operator if you wish).
Professional dramaturgical support. We’re thrilled to partner with AH HA! Dramaturgy who will provide Individual feedback on your script prior to performances
Box office staff for each performance and ticketing updates.
All programmed companies are invited to a Festival Network Event, to meet other creatives taking part.
If you’d like, we can film your production too!

Publicity
We will design and print a Festival brochure featuring your production.
We will contact the press with a listings line-up and invite press to review your show, should you wish.
Your production will be listed on the theatres’ websites and will also be promoted in our venue e-shots and social media posts.

Workshops
We will run also three workshops during the festival which are open to all, and which give practical insights and advice on bringing your work to the stage.
Dates and venues will be announced shortly.

If you’re interested in taking part, please send in your application! 

The link to the application form is at the end of the page.
We need to read a copy of your script which must be sent in with your application.

Please read our Ts & Cs before you submit your application.

Applications are open now! 

Please fill in your application form and send on your script.
Applications to SE Fest close on Friday 15th May at 5pm. We cannot accept submissions received after this date.

We will be in touch with companies we are programming at the end of June. At this point we will confirm the dates of your performances.

If you have any questions, please use the SE Fest contact form to be in touch, this is the best way to contact both venues about the festival.

We look forward to hearing from you!

This production is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Technical and Practical info:
The Bridge House Theatre and Jack Studio Theatre are 50 seat award-winning studio spaces.
There will be a fixed rig in place, which is the same at both venues.
Each company will be allotted eight hour’s get-in time (10am-6pm) before their first evening performance.
We’ll arrange a production meeting (online or in person) before your get-in. We’re here to help!
Your get-out will take place directly after your last performance at each venue.

For more info on each venue, please visit our websites:
BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE        JACK STUDIO THEATRE