We will be matching 6 UK playwrights with 6 Singaporean playwrights to for an international playwriting exchange. Writers will work together over a 6-month period from January until June 2025. Each pair will send each other work-in-progress and maintain regular contact through online meetings.

Box of Tricks and Centre 42 will introduce Pen Pals online, discussing their ideas at the start of the process, and meet again for a midway catch-up. We will host an online scratch event halfway through the process to allow writers to hear extracts of their work in progress and receive feedback from their peers.

At the end of the exchange, all 12 Pen Pals will send their drafts to Box of Tricks and Centre 42 to be read ahead of a final debrief and feedback session. To celebrate our first international Pen Pals exchange we will present live events in Manchester and Singapore after the exchange to showcase the work of our 12 writers.

The first of these live events will be presented on 8 March 2026 as part of Spring Collection 2025/26: New Plays from Centre 42. Click below to find out more!

Spring Collection 2025/2026: New Plays from Centre 42

Start: 7 March 2026

Play Read Excerpts ft. Pen Pals International

Start: 8 March 2026

Meet the Playwrights

The 6 pairs of playwrights that have been matched for this programme are:

Dia Hakim (SG) & Sarah Teale (UK)

Dia Hakim K

Sarah Teale

Cherilyn Woo (SG) & Jilly Sumsion (UK)

Cherilyn Woo

Jilly Sumsion

Ahmad Musta'ain (SG) & JD Stewart (UK)

Ahmad Musta’ain Khamis

JD Stewart

Rachael Ng (SG) & Naomi Sumner (UK)

Rachael Ng

Naomi Sumner

Alia Alkaff (SG) & Lizzie Milton (UK)

Alia Alkaff

Lizzie Milton

Jaryl Solomon (SG) & Lauren Ellis Stretch (UK)

Jaryl George Solomon

Lauren Ellis-Stretch

Schedule

7 October - 31 October 2024:

Application window.

November 2024:

Pen Pal selection and matchmaking process.

December 2024:

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application.

January 2025:

Introductory meetings between UK and Singapore writers.

February 2025:

Full cohort zoom meetup.

April 2025:

Midpoint meetings between writers and members of the Box of Tricks and Centre 42 teams.

May 2025:

Online scratch. 6 writers will have the chance to hear up to 10 minutes of their script read aloud by other members of the Pen Pal cohort.

Documentation

On 17 May, the participants of Pen Pals International held their scheduled scratch sharing over Zoom. Five plays were presented, and parts were read by fellow participants.

A screenshot of a Zoom recording featuring three persons.

We kicked off the scratch sharing with an excerpt from Hide and Seek with Jimmy Ling by Manchester-based playwright Naomi Sumner, read by Joel Tan and Ahmad Musta'ain.

A screenshot of a Zoom recording featuring four persons.

The next excerpt to be read was from The Thirds by Singaporean playwright Alia Alkaff. The four characters in the play were read by Sarah Teale, Shridar Mani, Ahmad Musta'ain, and Dia Hakim.

A screenshot of a Zoom recording featuring two persons.

The opening excerpt from Mancunian playwright Lauren Ellis-Stretch's monologue, Elvis Isn't Dead, was read by Caitlin Clough.

The penultimate play to be read was Sewa, written by Singaporean playwright Dia Hakim, and presented in English and Malay. It was read by Shridar Mani, Lauren Ellis-Stretch, Ahmad Musta'ain, and Alia Alkaff.

We wrapped up the scratch sharing with an excerpt from London-based Sarah Teale's The M6 to Cockermouth, read by Jilly Sumsion, Jayne Marshall, and Naomi Sumner.

A screenshot of a Zoom recording featuring fourteen persons.

Thank you to all of our playwrights, readers, and friends who joined us for the scratch sharing, and provided valuable feedback that will help in the further development of the written plays!

June 2025:

Drafts submitted.

July 2025:

Debrief meetings.

From July 2025 onwards:

Live showcase(s).

Application

Our Pen Pals International programme is open to writers who have already got experience of writing for theatre. We define that experience as having written at least one full length script (60mins+), although this does not need to have been professionally produced.

UK writers must be members of Box of Tricks’ PlayMakers Network. Writers must also be 18+, and either resident in, or originally from, the North of England.

Singapore writers must be Singapore residents and/or are residing in Singapore and must have written ONE (1) full-length play.

Interested writers can apply to be part of the next Pen Pals cohort via this online form. The application window will open on the 7th October 2024, and the deadline for applications is 10:00 BST (which is 17:00 UTC in Singapore) on the 31st October 2024.

The application consists of the following:

A short example of your playwriting (up to 15 pages). This can be a short play or an extract from a longer piece.
An indication of your level of writing experience. Please don’t worry if you don't have a traditional CV - just let us know what you have done to date.
A short statement expressing what inspires you to write for theatre, why you’d like to be a Pen Pal and what you’d hope to gain from the experience. UK playwrights please also indicate where in the North you are based or are from.
A brief pitch/treatment/outline of the piece you’d like to develop with your Pen Pal. If you’ve already started writing the script, feel free to include a short extract.

I’ve never had a play performed - can I apply?

In order to apply, we ask that you have written at least one full length play (60 mins+). This play does not have to have been performed.

What should I send as a script sample?

Your writing sample should be a maximum of 15 pages of script written for stage (i.e., not for film, TV or radio.) It may be a standalone piece or an extract from a longer work. It should be a single extract (i.e., not 10 pages of excerpts from multiple pieces.) It should be a sample that you feel best reflects your voice and ability as a playwright.

When will the pair meetings be?

It is up to you and your Pen Pal to decide how often, and at what time you want your online meetings to be. You will agree on your preferred means of communicating and giving feedback. There will be 3 Zoom meetings throughout the programme where you will be joined by representatives from the Box of Tricks and Centre 42 Teams – the timing of these meetings will be agreed between you, your partner and those teams.

Do I need to write a new script as an example of my writing?

No. We’re looking for an existing script – or even something you’re currently working on – that you feel best reflects your voice as a writer.

Does my sample script need to be in a particular format?

No. We don’t need the sample scripts to be formatted in a particular way, it’s just important that they are clear and easy to read; so for example, make sure that stage directions are distinct from dialogue.

When will I hear about the success of my submission?

All applicants will receive an acknowledgement of their submission. Everyone will receive a decision either way by December 2024.

Will I get feedback on my script and pitch?

Unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback on writing samples or applications.

Can I submit an adaptation/musical/monologue?

Yes. The writing sample should be something that best exemplifies your voice as a writer.

I’ve submitted a script to Box of Tricks or Centre 42 previously – can I still apply?

Yes! The submissions will be read by readers from Box of Tricks and Centre 42, so previous/current applications for other playwriting opportunities will have no bearing on the outcome of your submission.

I have more questions!

If you still have a burning question, and it's not answered above, feel free to drop us a line at info@centre42.sg or playmakers@boxoftrickstheatre.co.uk and we’ll get back to you ASAP.