Once again, it’s that time of year when we look to writers to help us put together an evening of short plays for our Summer Shorts slot (11 – 15 August 2026). You don’t have to be an experienced writer or even an SLT member to write and submit, we’re just looking for amazing new writing* whoever it comes from.

We’re typically excited to announce that our theme for this year is:

Window

This year’s Summer Shorts theme is Window. Your play might take place on one side of the glass, or the other — or in the act of looking itself. A window can frame a view, hide a truth, offer a moment of opportunity, or make us aware that we’re being watched. It could be a shop window, a bedroom window, a computer window, or a narrow window of time. Take the word wherever it leads you, have fun with it, and see what comes into view when you let a window open on a new short play.

Whichever direction you go, note that we’re looking for a range of tone and genre for a varied evening’s entertainment, so avoid clustering with other writers around the obvious. We want your writing to push the window, whether it be period or contemporary, comedy or drama, monologue or ensemble.

For those scripts that are shortlisted, we’ll also put on a read-aloud workshop to give you the opportunity to hear your words spoken and potentially receive some constructive feedback.

So pick out your pen, or get your keyboard clattering and put together a short play which fits the following important criteria – but please note – learning from our previous experience of staging this multi-play event, we’re keeping our stricter suitability criteria, so that we can pack in all the best plays and put on the swiftest, most seamless, selection box we possibly can:

• Keep it short: It absolutely must be capable of being performed, beginning to end, in 10 minutes, allowing for audience reactions, pauses, effects etc. (2025’s audience critics, your voices were heard!) Shorter is fine
• Keep it tight: Cast per play should not exceed 5 actors – we will have multiple casts all sharing the space backstage
• Keep it simple: We’re effectively producing 10 plays at once, so staging must be such that all props and furniture can be brought on and removed by the actors – think, a couple of chairs or the odd portable, personal prop. Scenic projections will not be possible and your writing should keep in mind that generic lighting schemes and minimal sound cues will be in order.
• Keep it themed: Ensure that your text relates to and exhibits the Window theme; don’t make the connection too oblique or too evidently shoehorn a previously-written play into the theme.
• Keep to the writing: Any scripts selected will be cast and directed by others, as the Summer Shorts is a truly collaborative project. Once your script is handed over, your involvement will end, so if you have any interpretive notes, include them in your script.

The first step is to let us know you intend to throw your hat into the ring – please complete this form by 28 February 2026. We’ll then want to see first drafts one month later to begin making our selections. Instructions as to how to submit your script are contained within the form, so please read and complete it carefully.

So that’s your window of opportunity. All the best seeing it through!

Your SLT Shorts team for 2026

*This is an amateur performance showcase. Rights are not payable and submission of scripts will be taken as permission to perform the material according to SLT’s 2026 programme, without conditions. If you have a precious creative idea that you wish to see through from the keyboard to the final curtain, you may be better off submitting a script for our regular season, as a writer/director.