Heard about INK and the INK Festival? Tell me more…

INK began with a writer’s desperate cry that there were almost no platforms for new scripts to see the light of day. So we made one. In 2015 we staged 15 short plays at our first festival in Halesworth, Suffolk. Fast forward ten years. We are now producing at least 70 original short plays from over 1,000 annual script submissions. The INK Festival is a unique celebration of new and diverse writing, held annually. Every year, it begins with a free… Find out more

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Accommodation call-out
During the INK Festival we need accommodation for actors and directors… So, if you have a spare room in or around Halesworth from 12–20 April 2026, or even one or two of those dates, and would like to host an actor or director, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact: kitty@inkfestival.org 

INK is a registered charity. We need your support to raise funds every year and, as we will celebrate our 10th Festival in April 2026, we’d like to make an even bigger impact. Please consider how you could support us by making a one-off donation, a regular donation, becoming a Member or Corporate Sponsor or by buying advertising space in the festival programme (details here). And, at no cost to you, you can use easyfundraising to donate every time you shop online. It costs you nothing and every penny counts. CLICK below for more details.

INK is the UK’s leading producer of new short plays for stage and radio.

INK inspires, educates and entertains through an annual 5-day festival, schools’ programmes, workshops, online classes and tours.

INK launches the careers of many of the UK’s future creatives and brings the experience of live theatre to audiences in rural Suffolk and beyond.

Why not be part of INK?

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INK Festival 2026: Submit Your Script Now

INK Festival is a unique celebration of new and diverse writing, held annually. Every year, it begins with a free script submission opportunity which is open to everyone – whether professional or non-professional

From over 1,000 short play and radio play submissions, 70 exceptional scripts are selected to be brought to life by professional theatre directors, actors and technicians at the festival in April.

Spanning five days, the festival showcases these works across multiple venues, attracting thousands of theatre enthusiasts, while the radio plays reach tens of thousands more.

A standout feature of the festival is our Youth Festival Day an entirely free experience for secondary schools and colleges in the region. Hundreds of students have the opportunity to watch live performances, engage with the creatives behind the plays and explore the magic of theatre behind the scenes.

INK Festival 2026 – SAVE THE DATE
at The Cut, 8 New Cut, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 8BY
Thursday 16 April 2026 09:30 to Sunday 19 April 2026 18:00

Whatever your age or experience, you are invited to submit a short script 
Deadline 26 September 2025.

Click HERE for all the details.