We want to work with vibrant, passionate and talented theatre makers. We want to help them stage successful shows, develop as artists and connect with their audience. We now have the technology and expertise to live-stream shows from the venue, which we offer as a free service to companies performing at the Space.
We operate a rolling submissions window, read below for our next season deadline.
Apply to be part
of our season
We’re always keen to read proposals from theatre-makers and have a rolling submission window. We are currently programmed until December 2024 and are now considering applications for future seasons (January 2025 onwards).
If you would be like to be considered for our next season, please submit an application as part of our rolling submissions. To be considered for January – April 2025, please submit to us by Midnight on Friday 4th of October.
We accept proposals from new, emerging and established theatre-makers. We only programme work that is/will be ready to stage, rather than work in development. We expect you to have/be able to recruit your own creative team, although we can provide support to livestream your show.
We are particularly excited by:-
- Theatre (in all its forms).
- A good narrative (we love stories).
- Pieces that have at least 45 minutes and no more than 3 hours in running time.
- Social relevance (a reason the story should be told).
- First runs/shows that haven’t performed in London before.
We enjoy listening to theatre-makers about the work that they want to create and are open to proposals on all subject matter. The following is a list of some of the themes and topics we think would be interesting to explore:-
- Multi-Disciplinary
- Heroes and Villain
- Reclaiming History
- Anarchy in the UK
- Aliens and Investigators
- Unconventional use of Space/Breaking Dimensions
- Language/Tongue
- The Gender Agenda
We recognise the inequality of opportunity that exists in our industry and society and strive to showcase and highlight the work of diverse theatre-makers. We monitor and review representation within our programming on a regular basis.
We offer:-
Box office splits and no upfront hire costs
Full live-streaming kit and support, with recordings of your production
Discounted rehearsal space (subject to availability)
Marketing and production meetings and support
A welcoming and supportive environment
A full box office service (online, phone and door sales)
Entry on our website, social media and regular e-newsletters
A unique performance venue situated in a Grade II listed building
To submit your production to our next season please download a Proposal Form and Theatre Information Pack 2024 and send a completed form to matthew@space.org.uk. You can download a .doc version of the Proposal Form (Word) here.
You are also welcome to submit a short video or audio recording discussing your proposal to Matthew@space.org.uk. In this video we’d ask you to briefly talk about the nature of your production, your background as an artist/company and your intended audience for the project.
We’re committed to delivering diverse voices/groups in our theatre programme. To help us with this, we ask the lead applicant to complete this monitoring form.
To view the performance space and facilities, visit our 360° tour.
Please feel free to enquire with any questions.
If you are interested in hearing about future seasons and arts opportunities at the Space please join our mailing list here.
Hire the Space
We offer competitive rates to artists for rehearsals and one off performances/short runs. Whilst the majority of our regular programme is theatre based, the Space is also suited to music, dance, cabaret and comedy events. Our atmospheric venue also makes for an excellent location for filming and photo shoots.
You can find out more about artistic hire of the Space here.
Virtual Open House
We host regular Open House events over Zoom, where you can meet members of the Space’s team, take a tour of our venue and share your ideas for making theatre with us.
To register for a free place, please email Matthew@Space.org.uk with the subject ‘Open House’.
ScriptSpace
Our ScriptSpace window is now CLOSED for submissions. We will re-open in January 2025.
ScriptSpace is our script development service for playwrights developing ‘early draft’ work. Each submitted play is read by at least two dedicated readers from a team made up of directors, actors, dramaturgs and theatre professionals. Led by our Literary Manager, we provide each writer with a written feedback report designed to help you shape future drafts. Since the start of 2020, we’ve provided written feedback on over 400 plays.
- Pay a supporter rate of £30, this will enable us to offer more bursary places.
- Pay the standard £20 fee
- Pay a low income rate of £10
- Submit for free – we have a limited number of bursary places available, there is no application process for this, submit as normal and we’ll contact you if we’ve run out of bursary places.
Submissions
This service is for early drafts of one act or full length plays (minimum 40 pages or an hour in length) and we only accept work that hasn’t been previously read (to an audience), workshopped or performed. We’re unable to accept film or TV scripts. ScriptSpace is open to all, regardless of age, experience or any other protected characteristic.
Readings
Some plays may be offered a prepared reading at the Space (or online), giving writers the opportunity to hear their early drafts read aloud by professional actors. The readings are open to everyone and free to attend.
The readings are followed by an informal feedback session and networking opportunity. Playwrights will receive a recording of the reading.
Since 2020, over 400 playwrights who submitted plays received written feedback, with 17 plays receiving readings. The majority of which can still be seen on our YouTube channel.
ScriptSpace feedback:
“The feedback from your readers is very helpful and spot-on, and will help me make edits to my play”
“Thank you so much for your email, and for the incredibly helpful feedback. I am really grateful to you and your team for taking the time to read my script and send me your thoughts and ideas.”
“It is amazing how a fresh perspective can refocus your attention, forcing you to look at things through a different lens. Plenty of food for thought.”
“The range of opinions and advice flying around in the heated discussion after my reading was massively helpful for me to develop the play further – and lots of fun!”
You can join our mailing list here.
Opportunities
We welcome interest from other practitioners interested in new writing. ScriptSpace readings are free to attend. If you are an actor, producer, designer or director and would like to work directly on new scripts, then ScriptSpace readings are an excellent networking opportunity. Please email your contact details and interest to ScriptSpace with “mailing list” as the subject title and we’ll keep you informed of upcoming readings.
Volunteer Readers
If you would like to join our team of script readers please email ScriptSpace with “readers” as the subject title.
“I loved Scriptspace. The small, intimate and friendly atmosphere and talented actors made a massive positive impact on my play.
I loved hearing The Lighthouse too and very proud to have given feedback on its first draft.”
– ScriptSpace Playwright
The UnDisposables
The UnDisposables, Arts & Theatre Collective provides a supportive network and platform for artists to collaborate on developing their skills and creating new work within the arts.
They are a collective of artists with varying skill sets, from actors to composers to filmmakers and beyond. They came together to combine these skills, allowing them to do what they love by creating their own opportunities within an industry which we feel is often too competitive
It’s common in today’s industry for emerging artists to be thought of as expendable or easily replaceable. Their name boldly rejects this idea, showing the world that artists don’t need to wait for someone else’s approval to do what they do best.
Mrs. C’s Collective
Mrs C’s Collective is proudly an Associate Company at the Space theatre. They exist as an ally to theatre artists and aspire to create an artistic community which operates from a point of inclusivity and care, by providing accessible initiatives and practical experience to all levels of experience! Their vision is to make a career in the arts accessible to all.
Mrs C’s are currently engaging with 256 early-career, emerging and practising artists across their various free initiatives, events and workshops, and their long-term development programme The Writers’ Collective, funded by Arts Council England.
Previous productions include That Was All (Theatre503, OSO Arts Centre, the Space) which was met with critical acclaim (“What a treat to see art on stage” The Spectator; “compelling” Everything Theatre). They are currently developing DREAM SCHOOL for its opening at the Space in Spring 2023. Funded by Arts Council England, this production aims to create an accredited ‘safe practice handbook’ which will explore ways in which trauma-responsive material can be handled safely for actors, practitioners and audiences.
To find out more, please visit their website at https://www.mrscscollective.co.uk/
Former Associate Company: Bric a Brac
Bric à Brac is an international ensemble who tell real stories in unexpected ways.
They work collaboratively to create original devised performance. Made up of theatre-makers from across the UK, America, and Norway, they graduated from the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in 2015. The company has a core ensemble of actors, directors, writers and musicians who received acclaim for their debut show, Ash, at the Southwark Playhouse, the Space, and at the Paris and Edinburgh Fringes 2016. Their work has been supported by the Space, ArtHouse Jersey and most recently they have been selected as one of the New Diorama’s Emerging Graduate companies 2018/2019.
Bric a Brac have now become an Associate Company of the Pleasance Theatre.
The Crossrail Place Roof Garden performance space is available for local organisations and artists to use. There is no fee to use the performance space and all events must be free for people to attend.
The performance space has a PA system and portable flooring and management of the events will be supported by the team at the Space.
If you’re a local organisation, school or artist/performer, looking for a unique location for your special event, please do get in touch. To make an enquiry, please contact Bethany Sharp.
Getting here
The Roof Garden
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
Canary Wharf
E14 5AR
Voila! Theatre Festival
What is Voila?
Voila! Europe is a multilingual theatre festival produced by The Cockpit. Our curated programme of cross-cultural, cross-disciplinary performance opens a trusted portal to new European theatre for independent artists and adventurous audiences. The festival is live on stage in London and live online everywhere, gathering together a welcoming community of the culturally curious.
How The Space is Involved
The Space will programme Voila! Festival performances from 4-23 November, 2024.
Read our FAQs for more information before you make your application.
Full festival details and how to apply can be found at the Voila! Theatre Festival website.
Applications are now OPEN!
The deadline for applications is 22nd of April.