The 2025 iteration of Tip Tray Theatre’s playwriting competition, What Happens Next?, is set to take the stage, merging interactive theatre, exciting competition and development. This unique event offers playwrights an opportunity to showcase their work, engage with audiences and industry experts, and be in with a chance to win a fantastic prize package.
What Happens Next? is now in its third year, continuing its tradition of spotlighting exceptional new writing. The 2023 winner, I Am Steven Gerrard by Sean McLoughlin, has just completed a successful run at the Royal Court Liverpool following its origination at The Hope Street Theatre.
As we look forward, we’re excited to be working on the 2024 winner, Four by Elspeth Todd, gearing up for its debut in the near future. What Happens Next? distinguishes itself from traditional writing contests by involving both the audience and a panel of judges in the selection process and having a deep focus on providing training opportunities to local artists.
Over the course of three evenings, eight compelling plays will showcase their opening 20 minutes in front of a live audience. The audience, alongside the expert panel of industry professionals, will cast their votes to determine which play deserves the spotlight, the coveted prizes and most importantly, which play made them say ‘What Happens Next?
The winners of What Happens Next? will be awarded an impressive array of prizes designed to support their artistic practice going forward:
- Five Days of Complimentary Theatre Space: Utilise The Hope Street Theatre for a week, providing a dedicated space to develop and rehearse your play.
- Professional Production Contract: Tip Tray Theatre will contract the full production of the winning play, offering a platform for a polished, professional showcase.
- Expert Dramaturgy: Benefit from in-depth dramaturgical support from Papatango Theatre Company, ensuring that your play reaches its highest potential.
- £1000 Kickstarter Budget: Secure a financial boost to support the realisation of your creative vision with a £1000 Kickstarter budget.
What Happens Next? focuses on the development of early career artists in Liverpool. Tip Tray Theatre started the competition as a way to develop and showcase emerging talent, providing a platform for new voices to be heard. The initiative was designed not only to discover fresh, dynamic work but also to foster a supportive environment where writers, directors, and performers can collaborate and grow. By offering the opportunity for artists to see their work staged in front of a live audience, Tip Tray Theatre aims to bridge the gap between script and performance, helping new artists take their first steps toward a sustainable career in the arts.
Maisy Gordon, Tip Tray Theatre’s Executive Producer talks about how important the competition is for local artists:
“There are so many barriers to accessing the arts. We wanted to create a platform for writers to have their work staged in front of a paying audience and industry professionals without having to worry about theatre hire, paying a team and selling tickets. What Happens Next? offers the chance to win some fantastic prizes, but aside from that, our competition gives all involved the chance to build a community, network with professionals, showcase their work and get a headstart in the arts. So far, the competition has allowed many participants to progress onto future work in the industry and we are so excited to be running the competition again in January 2025!”
This year’s competition promises an exhilarating experience for both participants and audiences, blending the excitement of live theatre with the thrill of new writing. Tip Tray Theatre is currently fundraising for this project to ensure the quality of training and financial viability for emerging artists. Help them to continue to provide development opportunities to local artists by checking out the fundraiser here.
Supported by The Hope Street Theatre.
For more information on how to participate or attend, please visit tiptraytheatre.com/whn