Lyric Hammersmith and Bristol Old Vic Theatres Partner For Writing Award

Submissions are open for this year’s Bill Cashmore Award

Young writers in the UK can submit a brand new one-act play for a chance to see it professionally produced and staged.

The Lyric Hammersmith and Bristol Old Vic have teamed up in a new partnership for the 2027 Bill Cashmore Award.

This will see two winners have their work staged at both theatres in a double bill.

In Bristol, the two winning entries will be performed by Bristol Old Vic’s Young Company and Young SixSix.

In London, the same will happen but with performances by the theatre’s SPRINGBOARD programme for trainee actors.

Writers must be aged between 18-30 years of age, with no literary representation and no more than two professional writing credits. The deadline for submission is Tuesday 25 August 2026 at 12pm.

Bristol Old Vic’s Engagement Director, Lucy Hunt, said that it was “great” to be working with the Lyric because of the “opportunities” for young writers to get work out there – as well as the chance for young actors to perform “fresh new work”.

“Bristol Old Vic and the Lyric Hammersmith share an ethos towards the development of young artists, and we hope that our writers and casts will network and learn from each other through this process”, Lucy added.

The winners will also receive a fee of £4,078.47 and be creatively involved in shaping the marketing for the play. They will also be involved in the rehearsal process and receive dramaturgical support from both the Bristol Old Vic and the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre.

For more information about the award, visit: https://lyric.co.uk/programmes/the-bill-cashmore-award-2027/

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