Writers enter the opening 20 minutes of a new play. The pieces selected are performed on our stage, the audience has its say, and a winning play can go on to a full production.
The 2027 festival
Eight pieces go through to the semi-finals in the week beginning 11 January 2027.
From each semi-final, one piece chosen by the audience and one chosen by the judges reach the final.
The audience’s favourite at the final wins a cash prize. The judges’ winner is developed towards a full professional run at Hope Street in October 2027, subject to the festival’s development deadlines and terms.
Keep an eye on what’s on for the semi-finals and final.
See what’s on →The deadline was 25 October 2026.
Festival information from Off the Ground ↗From competition to stage
We launched What Happens Next? in 2023, developed with Tip Tray Theatre.
Its first winner, Sean McLoughlin’s I Am Steven Gerrard, became a full Hope Street production before transferring to the Royal Court Studio and the Epstein Theatre.
FOUR and Unsinkable have also gone from the competition to full productions.