OPAC Call-out
for writers

We're looking for a writer for the OPAC Youth Theatre Festival — Could it be you?

OPAC (Oldham Performing Arts Collective) is a network for people who use participatory performing arts in education.

The OPAC Network is in partnership with Oldham Theatre Workshop and Oldham Coliseum Theatre Ltd.

OPAC will be working with Oldham’s primary schools, secondary schools and colleges to help strengthen their existing creative curriculum and to create new opportunities through participation in the drama and performing arts.

OPAC will continue to build the Network and connect with educators to find out how can we improve Oldham’s drama, theatre and performing arts offer.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Commission fee: £1,890

Submission deadline: Thursday 14 May 2026, 5pm

Interviews: Thursday 21 May 2026 — Applicants must be available this day

We are seeking an experienced writer or playwright (or team) to collaborate with teachers and young people in Oldham to create an original 30-minute theatre piece for the OPAC Youth Theatre Festival (Feb 2027).

This is a chance to co-create a powerful, locally inspired piece of writing that will be performed by students aged 12–14 (KS3) in a professional theatre setting.

The writer(s) will create a script, story, poem collection, or song cycle, informed by consultations with teachers and young people, which will shape the final brief.

For more information or to send an expression of interest (written, video, or audio) contact the team on
otwlearningandengagement@oldham.gov.uk 

 

PERSON SPECIFICATIONS

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

Experience in writing (theatre, scripts, poetry, or prose).

Working with young people or education settings.

Collaborative, culturally aware practice.

Interest in accessible, inclusive theatre.

 

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

A connection with Oldham and Greater Manchester.

A passion for creating high quality drama, theatre.

Experience with ‘Devising’, drama and theatre practice.

Script and playwrighting experience.

KEY DATES

MAY – JUNE

Writers’ meetings with OPAC team end of May.

Consultations with teachers, students and young people.

Draft Summary from consultation.

Final Draft.

Second Draft.

JULY

Rehearsed reading and review (7 or 9 July 2026).

Final Draft submitted – by 20 July 2026.

APPLICATION PROCESS

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

Send and expression of interest (max 2 A4 pages), outlining your suitability for the role to otwlearningandengagement@oldham.gov.uk 

Alternatively, you may submit a video or audio recording (up to 5 minutes) via an accessible link.

You can also include a creative CV, examples of work (e.g. showreels or portfolios), and an excerpt of previous work (up to 10 pages).

Applicants will be notified of the outcome by Monday 25 May 2026.

ACCESSIBILITY, INCLUSIVITY & SAFEGUARDING

The safeguarding of young people is paramount. Experience or training around our safeguarding policies and codes of conduct will be a compulsory. We will keep at the forefront of our decision making, the representation of our locality, accessibility and protected characteristics with regards to; the brief, the recruitment and the public engagement. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and abilities who can fulfil the brief and will take into consideration different needs. If shortlisted, you will be asked if you have any accessibility requirements so we can fully support your interview.

Should you have any questions or need additional support with this application, please direct your questions to otwlearningandengagement@oldham.gov.uk 

ASSETS & DOWNLOADS

CREATIVE WRITING THEATRE COMMISSION

DOWNLOAD

PLAYWRIGHT COMMISSION

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BACKGROUND CONTEXT & CORE VALUES

The OPAC Youth Theatre festival is part of a 2-year programme of education in drama, theatre and performing arts in Oldham.

Oldham Coliseum Theatre and Oldham Theatre Workshop are working together to continue developing partnerships with schools and creating pathways into the local theatre education offer that supports the curriculum and enhances soft-skills development for young people.

The festival is a week of performances of the chosen piece and stimulus, performed or devised by secondary schools, as part of their extra-curricular programme. At the heart of this commission is the importance of children and young people’s creative education and the need to connect with local, Greater Manchester artists, practitioners, students and teachers. On a micro-level we want to ensure every individual child across Oldham has an opportunity to experience the performing arts and participate on or offstage.

We know there is a need to make the pathways and long-term economic benefits of theatre, drama or performing more visible. Celebrated theatre more at school level will support the uptake of creative arts for future of the creative industries. We encourage curiosity or requests for further clarity around the project, so please do not hesitate.

Best of luck!