Writers
Get InvolvedThe Traverse’s past, present and future centre on showcasing of the brightest and most adventurous playwrights from Scotland, and around the world.
With each new season we present, we invite you to get under the skin of new writing in all of its forms, explore the journey from page to stage with us and experience exciting stories you’ve never seen before.
To keep our stages brimming with new theatre, we work with playwrights at every stage of their career; reading and feeding back on scripts, hosting play development workshops, commissioning new work, and providing one-to-one support are all part our day-to-day work.
Every play was a new play once, every writer a new writer. I think the Traverse, perhaps more than anywhere, understands, nourishes and respects that.
Breakthrough Writers: Launchpad
A digital writers group for those with little or no writing experience, living in Scotland and aged 18+. Led by playwright Stef Smith. Applications are currently closed.
Breakthrough Writers: In Residence
Accepts anonymised, full-length stage scripts from writers at any stage of their career, with 6 receiving 6 month' mentorship from the Traverse Artistic Team.
Creating Space Writers' Group
Offers a safe and supported environment for Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse early- and mid-career writers, based in Scotland, to further develop their creativity and work. Led by playwright Mariem Omari.
First Stages Festival 2022
Our First Stages Festival returns to showcase new plays by artists making their Traverse playwriting debut and offer new development opportunities to writers, artists and audiences around the world on a range of topics and themes.
IASH Creative Fellowship
The Creative Fellowship is a collaboration between IASH and the Traverse Theatre and The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh.
Traverse Young Writers
Designed for young people aged 18-25 who want support to find their own voice.