Scratch Night – Thundering Productions

Our “New Voices” Scratch Night is a showcase of local and Australia-wide writing talent!

Writers submit an idea for a stage play, along with a 10-minute opening excerpt of their script. Each of these excerpts will be performed as live readings at the Scratch Night.

At the end of the evening, the audience will be invited to anonymously vote on which play they’d like to see developed into a full show, and Thundering Productions will collaborate with the winning writer to stage their play in 2026!

How Does It Work?

1. Reach out to us

Complete the registration form at the bottom of this page to express your interest in competing in the Scratch Night.

2. Pick your idea

Choose which idea you’d like to submit to develop into a full play.

3. Secure your place

Secure your place by providing a synopsis of your play idea and paying the $20 entry fee.

4. Write!

Write the first ten minutes of your script, along with a 1-4 page treatment for the full play. The Thundering Productions team are here to help and support you through this process, and can offer feedback if you wish.

5. Submit your script

Send us your script excerpt and treatment by Friday 8th August to be included in the Scratch Night. We will assemble a cast to present a live, rehearsed reading of your script on the night.

6. The audience picks a winner

All participants’ scripts will be performed in front of a live audience at the Scratch Night. At the end, the audience will vote on which script they’d like to see developed into a full production.

7. After the Scratch Night

The winning writer will go on to develop their idea into a full-length script, with our support. The script will be produced as a full play by Thundering Productions – in collaboration with the writer. The exact dates and venue for this production are TBC. All other writers are encouraged to continue developing their ideas, and can always come to us for support and feedback!

What Are The Rules?

Entries to the Scratch Night will be open to any genre, story, or theme. There are only a couple of rules:

Participants must be at least 15 years of age and based in Australia to enter.
Entries are limited to only one script per writer.
Scripts that are overly inappropriate, obscene, or in any way discriminatory will be disqualified, and will not be presented.
Previous “New Voices” Scratch Night participants may enter, however you may not submit the same idea you entered previously.
The winner of the most recent “New Voices” Scratch Night may not enter.

Register Your Interest Now!

Let us know you’re interested, so we can help you make sure you have everything you need to secure your place in time!

(Please note that submission of this form does not guarantee you a place in the Scratch Night. Your place will be secured once your synopsis is provided and the entry fee is paid.)