New Scripts Garage, November 2025

The New Scripts Garage is an offer of dramaturgical support for new scripts, with low barriers to entry. On a regular basis, we open our inboxes for script submissions from playwrights seeking dramaturgical support for their work.

The first eight eligible scripts will receive considered dramaturgical support in the form of either a facilitated Script Circle, One-on-One Consults or Written Feedback.

Please note that this is not a presentational platform. This short-form programme is ideal for playwrights who have a script that they want to take forward to the next draft in the development process.

The eight eligible scripts for this cycle and the support they have received are:

1) Beans by Benedict Lim
Selected for Script Circle

2) The Non-Essentials by Lian Sutton
Receive 1-on-1 Consultation 

3) We Are Nothing Without Hantu-Hantu by Suzana Selamat 
Receive 1-on-1 Consultation 

4) Toilet Play by Rachael Ng
Receive 1-on-1 Consultation 

5) We Are Gathered Here Today in Loving Memory of John Paul Parker Smith by Ian Skatu
Receive Written Feedback

6) Kentot by Johnny Jon Jon
Receive Written Feedback

7) He Who Outruns Rainstorms by William Whitehurst
Receive Written Feedback

8) civil (dis)obedience by Shen Tan
Receive Written Feedback

Beans by Benedict Lim received a script cycle for this cycle of the New Scripts Garage. 

The session began with an introduction by facilitator Thomas Lim, who shared about the developmental and staging journey the script has gone through so far, including previous table reads. Benedict is actively seeking out other opportunities to stage and read the play, with the end goal of bringing it to the Edinburgh Fringe, and sought feedback on the believability and relevance of the play to international audiences.

Beans featured two characters - Mace, played by Shane Mardjuki, and Millhouse, played by Shrey Bhavgara. Observers at the table included former Writer-in-Residence Jo Tan, Grace Kalaiselvi, Lucas Ho, and staff from Centre 42.

The full reading of Beans was followed by a feedback session. Facilitator Thomas requested the actors, observers, and playwright himself to write their thoughts and questions on post-its. These were then categorised into three broad areas for discussion - story, plot, and structure; characters, relationships, and dialogue; and any other offers and comments. Feedback was mostly centred around the significance of various objects and symbols in the play, how to deepen the relationship built between the two characters, and clarifying the setting and the diction used in the text.

The script circle closed with everyone at the table writing encouraging affirmations on post-its for Benedict to take with him as he continues refining the script - hopefully to the point of bringing it to the Fringe one day! 

The first eight eligible scripts received during the Open Call Submissions period will be handed over to the team of readers, made up of directors, playwrights, and dramaturgs, who will consider the submissions.

Based on the quality of the script, its stage of development, and the writer's needs as expressed in the application form, they will then recommend either a Script Circle or one-on-one dramaturgy consultation sessions.

The Script Circle will be organised by Centre 42, who will invite actors, writers, directors, and dramaturgs from a pool of artists we have been working closely with on this programme.

The scripts receiving one-on-one dramaturgy sessions will be scheduled directly with our dramaturgs, who will read the scripts and provide detailed feedback in discussion with the writer.

Scripts that are not allocated for the Script Circle or one-on-one dramaturgy sessions will receive written feedback consolidated from the reading team’s discussion. These playwrights and writers are welcome to submit subsequent drafts for future iterations of the New Scripts Garage.

This programme prioritises writer development over polish, and aims to get the writer excited to work on the next draft of their script, with a clearer sense of where to go.

Script Eligibility:

• We accept completed drafts of full length plays (at least ~ 60 minutes) in English, or in other languages with translations provided in English. Future editions of the New Scripts Garage may specifically call for scripts in Malay, Tamil, or Chinese.
• We are not accepting straight adaptations of other work (e.g. novels, films), but will accept adaptations with a clear creative, re-inventive, and/or radical approach. 
• At this time, we are not accepting books for musicals, screenplays, or libretti. 

6 October (12pm) - 13 October 2025 (12pm):

• Submission Box is open!  If you have a script you’d like to receive feedback on, complete this form and submit your script during this period.
• Note that scripts are received on a first-come-first-served basis. The Submission Box will close after receiving the first 8 scripts.
   

16 October - 30 October 2025:

• Selection and shortlisting process by reading team.
   

3 November 2025:

• Applicants will be notified of results and/or feedback on scripts.
• Playwrights whose scripts are selected for the Script Circle and 1-on-1 dramaturgical sessions will be contacted to prepare for their respective sessions.
   

24 November 2025:

• Closed-door Script Circle will be conducted for the selected script in this New Scripts Garage cycle.

• To help us understand how best to create a supportive environment for your work in this New Script Garage structure, we will require you to respond to these questions in an application form:

1. Tell us something about the impulse for writing this play.
2. If this play has undergone an earlier development process, please tell us a little bit about it.
3. How do you feel about this draft as it currently stands?
4. What are some questions about the draft (e.g. aspects of craft, theme, story etc) you would like our reading panel to focus on while reading? 
5. What future work do you plan to do on this draft?

• Complete this online application form between 6 - 13 October 2025. Do note that this will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
• We will only consider and accept one play per writer each cycle. If you had submitted multiple plays in this cycle, only the 1st submission will be considered as eligible.

The reading and selection of scripts will be conducted by a team of dramaturgs, directors and playwrights whom have been intently involved in the development of Centre 42's New Writing Development Programmes and are actively engaged in their practices with new writing development.

Names of the team for the November 2025 cycle comprises: