2025 Commissions

What is Fresh Ink?

Fresh Ink is an annual theatre festival designed to support the creation and development of new plays in Hull. Its focus is on performing early versions of new ideas to audiences and gathering their feedback to support the next stage of its development.

What are we looking for?

Middle Child is looking to commission writers with a variety of experiences, who have a meaningful connection to the city of Hull and can demonstrate why their work makes sense appearing in a festival that develops grassroots work in the city.

There are a range of different-sized commissions available, from five-minute monologues, all the way up to a complete 70-minute play.

What you write about is up to you, but we’re looking for stories that speak to contemporary Hull. They don’t need to be set here, or about here, but they do need to say something to the people that live here.

They also do not need to be in the typical Middle Child “gig theatre” style. Anything goes, except for musicals – see our FAQ – and at this stage we also do not need to see the script you would like to apply with.

What is a commission?

Put simply, commissions are when a writer is paid to write something.

As part of this festival, we are offering seven commissions of varying sizes to writers with a meaningful relationship to Hull. The selected writers will develop their work with the support of our team, before having them performed in a scratch-style sharing at Fresh Ink 2025.

The hope is that whatever your level of experience, there will be an option that is right for you. Below is a breakdown of the different commissions and how many are available of each type.

Available commissions

70-Minute Commission – x2

What do you do?

Write a 70-minute script, which is approximately 50-70 pages, with a maximum cast of four people.

What do you get paid?

£4,582. This figure represents 75% of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC) rate for a new 70-minute commission, taking you up to the point of a formal decision to produce the work. This will be paid in two instalments: £3,055 upon contract signing and another £1,572 on delivery of rewrites.

Who is it for?

This commission is for more experienced playwrights, so you will need to have had a play professionally produced before.

We’re aware that “professionally produced” can mean a variety of things. In this case, we mean a complete play of at least 30-minutes in length, that has been rehearsed and performed for a live audience, and for which everyone involved was paid. If you’re not sure if you qualify, please get in touch with literary manager, Matt.

What’s the process?

You will work with the Middle Child team to develop a new script, ready for an early-stage sharing at the festival in July 2025. This process will be designed with you as the writer but will involve writing a draft of the script with rewrites, following support and feedback from the Middle Child team.

What happens after the festival?

We will meet with you to help you plan the next steps for your play and, ideally, find a way to bring it to life in a full production – either with Middle Child or another partner. If Middle Child choose to commit to producing your script, you will receive the additional 25% of the commission (£1,527) in line with a new 70-minute commission according to ITC guidelines.

30-Minute Commission – x2

What do you do?

Write a 30-minute script, which is approximately 25-35 pages. This can be a full piece or the start of a bigger idea, with a maximum cast of four people.

What do you get paid?

£2,292, paid in two instalments. £1,528 upon signing a contract and £764 upon delivery of first rewrites. This figure represents 75% of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC) rate for a new 30-minute commission, taking you up to the point of a formal decision to produce the work.

Who is it for?

This commission is for people who are just starting to write, or maybe haven’t even started yet, but would like to try out an idea. Applicants for this commission should not have had a play professionally produced at the time of applying or currently be under commission.

We’re aware that “professionally produced” can mean a variety of things. In this case, we mean you should not have had a complete play of over 30-minutes in length produced, that has been rehearsed and performed for a live audience, and for which everyone involved was paid. If you’re not sure if you qualify, please get in touch with literary manager, Matt.

What’s the process?

You will work with the Middle Child team to develop a new script ready for an early-stage sharing in July 2025. This process will be designed with you as the writer, but will involve writing a draft of the script with support and feedback from the Middle Child team.

What happens after the festival?

We will meet with you to help you plan the next steps for your play and, ideally, find a way to bring it to life in a full production – either with Middle Child or another partner. If Middle Child were to commit to a decision to produce, you’d receive the additional 25% of the commission (£764) in line with a new 30-minute commission according to ITC guidelines. Should we wish to commission the piece and expand its length, we would look to upgrade the commission and fee in-line with ITC guidance.

Monologues Commission – x3

What do you do?

Write a five-minute monologue, which is approximately 3-5 pages and can be performed by one actor. This can be a standalone piece or the beginning of a bigger story.  

What do you get paid?

£500

Who is it for?

This commission is for people who are just starting to write, or maybe haven’t even started yet, but would like to try out an idea. Applicants for this commission should not have had a play professionally produced at the time of applying or currently be under commission.

We’re aware that “professionally produced” can mean a variety of things. In this case, we mean you should not have had a complete play of over 30-minutes in length produced, that has been rehearsed and performed for a live audience, and for which everyone involved was paid. If you’re not sure if you qualify, please get in touch with literary manager, Matt.

What’s the process?

You will work with the Middle Child team to develop a new script ready for an early-stage sharing in July 2025. This process will be designed with you as the writer, but will involve writing a draft of the script with support and feedback from the Middle Child team.

If you’re unsure which of these is right for you, please do get in touch with our literary manager, Matt.

Who can apply?

These opportunities are only open to applicants aged 18 and above, with a demonstrable connection to Hull.

We recognise that some people might have strong links to Hull but no longer live here and therefore we are not limiting applications by postcode. However it is important to Middle Child that this is a Hull festival, and we’d encourage anyone who is applying who doesn’t live in this area to make clear in their application why they still qualify.

Each commission does have its own criteria with regards to experience, so make sure you read these before applying. 

How to apply

There are two ways to apply: a written application using an online form, or a video/audio application. Both are outlined below.

If neither of the application methods are accessible for you, please do get in touch with literary manager, Matt, to discuss other ways of applying.

In writing

Use this online form to tell us who you are, which commission you are applying for and more about the play you’d like to make.

You may not know all the answers yet and that’s fine – we can work it out together. At this stage, we’d just like to get a sense of what excites you about your idea. The main questions are:

1. Please demonstrate your connection to Hull, and why it makes sense for your work to be featured in a grassroots new writing festival in Hull (no more than 500 words)
2. Describe your idea in a couple of sentences (no more than 50 words)
3. What is the story you want to tell, what happens, who are the characters, what is it about? (No more than 500 words)
4. Why does this story matter to you, and why are you best placed to tell it? (no more than 500 words)

At the end of the form, if you are applying for the 70-minute commission, you will be asked to send a 10-page example of your work by email. If you are applying for the 30-minute commission, you will be asked to send a creative writing sample of between two and five pages in length. If you are applying for the monologue commission, you will be asked to send us a one-page sample of creative writing.

These should be sent as a PDF or Word document to scripts@middlechildtheatre.co.uk.

Extracts can be from a pre-existing script, a piece you are currently working on, or something you have written just for the application. Emails should be titled Fresh Ink + Your Name.

The application form includes a section containing equal opportunities monitoring questions, however if filling in this form is a problem let us know and we can arrange an alternative method. The equal opportunities monitoring form will not affect your application.

By video or audio

Applications should be sent to scripts@middlechildtheatre.co.uk with the subject line Fresh Ink + Your Name.

In the body of the email please include which commission you are applying for and attach a video or audio file, no longer than two-minutes, which includes an introductory outline of who you are, and your writing experience. We would like to hear how you match the specific criteria of the commission you are applying for.

You should also include an additional video or audio file, no longer than five-minutes, which includes an outline of the show want to make. It should aim to answer the same questions as in the online form, outlined below:

1. Please demonstrate your connection to Hull, and why it makes sense for your work to be featured in a grassroots new writing festival in Hull (no more than 500 words)
2. Describe your idea in a couple of sentences (no more than 50 words)
3. What is the story you want to tell, what happens, who are the characters, what is it about? (No more than 500 words)
4. Why does this story matter to you, and why are you best placed to tell it? (no more than 500 words)

You may not know all the answers yet and that’s fine – we can work it out together. At this stage, we’d just like to get a sense of what excites you about your idea.

You should also include, as an attached PDF or Word document, an example of your work. If you are applying for the 70-minute commission, please attach a 10-page example of your work. If you are applying for the 30-minute commission, please attach a creative writing sample of between two and five pages in length. If you are applying for the monologue commission, please attach a one-page sample of creative writing.

Extracts can be from a pre-existing script, a piece you are currently working on, or something you have written just for the application.

After sending your application you will be sent a link to an equal opportunities monitoring form, however if filling in this form is a problem let us know and we can arrange an alternative method. The equal opportunities monitoring form will not affect your application.

Deadlines

When is the deadline?

The deadline to apply for all three commissions is 12pm on Tuesday 10 September. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

What is the process for selection?

Eligible applications will be read by Middle Child’s literary team, who will create a shortlist. Shortlisted applications will then be presented to our steering panel, which will consist of a mix of writers, artists and funding partners. They will then make a final decision on which applications have been chosen.

When will I find out?

All applicants will find out if they have been commissioned or not by Friday 8 November 2024.

Middle Child Writers’ Group

Another way to get involved with Fresh Ink 2025 is by taking part in our annual Introduction to Playwriting Group, led by Tom Wells.

This group has proven to be a brilliant pathway into writing professionally, with many who have taken part going on to be paid to write, including two of the commissioned writers for Fresh Ink 2024.

This year’s group will open for applications in November. This group is free to access and is the perfect first-step into playwriting for anyone with an interest in creative writing. Plays created through the 2025 Writers’ Group will be shared as part of Fresh Ink 2025. 

The dates for the 2025 Writers’ Group are as follows: 
 
Wednesday 22 January 
Wednesday 29 January 
Wednesday 5 February  
Wednesday 12 February  
Wednesday 19 February 

Subscribe to our artist development newsletter to be the first to know when our application window opens.