Commissions
What is Fresh Ink?
Fresh Ink: Hull Playwriting Festival is an annual theatre festival designed to support the creation and development of new plays in Hull. Its focus is on performing early versions of new ideas to audiences and gathering their feedback to support the next stage of their development.
What do we look for?
Each year, Middle Child look to commission writers with a variety of experiences, who have a meaningful connection to the city of Hull and can demonstrate why their work makes sense appearing in a festival that develops grassroots work in the city.
There are a range of different-sized commissions available, from five-minute monologues, all the way up to a complete 70-minute play.
What you write about is up to you, but we’re looking for stories that speak to contemporary Hull. They don’t need to be set here, or about here, but they do need to say something to the people that live here.
They also do not need to be in the “gig theatre” style that is often associated with Middle Child. Anything goes, except for musicals – see our FAQ – and the application stage does not require you to send the script with which you would like to apply.
What is a commission?
Put simply, a commission is when a writer is paid to write something.
As part of the 2025 festival, we offered seven commissions of varying sizes to writers with a meaningful relationship to Hull. The selected writers have developed their work with the support of our team, ready to be performed script-in-hand at Fresh Ink 2025.
Our intention with Fresh Ink is that whatever your level of writing experience, each year there will be an option that is right for you. Below is a breakdown of the different commissions and how many were available of each type for 2025.
Key Dates
Application period
July-September 2024
Commissions offered
November 2024
Writers announced
January 2025
Fresh Ink 2025
19-20 July 2025
Dates for 2026 applications will be published soon.
What do you do?
Write a 70-minute script, which is approximately 50-70 pages, with a maximum cast of four people.
What do you get paid?
£4,582.
This figure represents 75% of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC) rate for a new 70-minute commission, taking you up to the point of a formal decision to produce the work. This will be paid in two instalments: £3,055 upon contract signing and another £1,572 on delivery of rewrites.
Who is it for?
This commission is for more experienced playwrights, so you will need to have had a play professionally produced before.
We’re aware that “professionally produced” can mean a variety of things. In this case, we mean a complete play of at least 30-minutes in length, that has been rehearsed and performed for a live audience, and for which everyone involved was paid. If you’re not sure if you qualify, please get in touch with literary manager, Matt.
What’s the process?
You will work with the Middle Child team to develop a new script, ready for an early-stage sharing at the festival in July 2025. This process will be designed with you as the writer but will involve writing a draft of the script with rewrites, following support and feedback from the Middle Child team.
What happens after the festival?
We will meet with you to help you plan the next steps for your play and, ideally, find a way to bring it to life in a full production – either with Middle Child or another partner. If Middle Child choose to commit to producing your script, you will receive the additional 25% of the commission (£1,527) in line with a new 70-minute commission according to ITC guidelines.
70 Minutes (x2)
What do you do?
Write a 30-minute script, which is approximately 25-35 pages. This can be a full piece or the start of a bigger idea, with a maximum cast of four people.
What do you get paid?
£2,292.
This figure represents 75% of the Independent Theatre Council (ITC) rate for a new 30-minute commission, taking you up to the point of a formal decision to produce the work. This will be paid in two instalments: £1,528 upon signing a contract and £764 upon delivery of first rewrites.
Who is it for?
This commission is for people who are just starting to write, or maybe haven’t even started yet, but would like to try out an idea. Applicants for this commission should not have had a play professionally produced at the time of applying or currently be under commission.
We’re aware that “professionally produced” can mean a variety of things. In this case, we mean you should not have had a complete play of over 30-minutes in length produced, that has been rehearsed and performed for a live audience, and for which everyone involved was paid. If you’re not sure if you qualify, please get in touch with literary manager, Matt.
What’s the process?
You will work with the Middle Child team to develop a new script ready for an early-stage sharing in July 2025. This process will be designed with you as the writer, but will involve writing a draft of the script with support and feedback from the Middle Child team.
What happens after the festival?
We will meet with you to help you plan the next steps for your play and, ideally, find a way to bring it to life in a full production – either with Middle Child or another partner. If Middle Child were to commit to a decision to produce, you’d receive the additional 25% of the commission (£764) in line with a new 30-minute commission according to ITC guidelines. Should we wish to commission the piece and expand its length, we would look to upgrade the commission and fee in-line with ITC guidance.
30 Minutes (x2)
What do you do?
Write a five-minute monologue, which is approximately 3-5 pages and can be performed by one actor. This can be a standalone piece or the beginning of a bigger story.
What do you get paid?
£500.
Who is it for?
This commission is for people who are just starting to write, or maybe haven’t even started yet, but would like to try out an idea. Applicants for this commission should not have had a play professionally produced at the time of applying or currently be under commission.
We’re aware that “professionally produced” can mean a variety of things. In this case, we mean you should not have had a complete play of over 30-minutes in length produced, that has been rehearsed and performed for a live audience, and for which everyone involved was paid. If you’re not sure if you qualify, please get in touch with literary manager, Matt.
What’s the process?
You will work with the Middle Child team to develop a new script ready for an early-stage sharing in July 2025. This process will be designed with you as the writer, but will involve writing a draft of the script with support and feedback from the Middle Child team.
Monologues (x3)
Who can apply?
These opportunities are only open to applicants aged 18 and above, with a demonstrable connection to Hull. We recognise that some people might have strong links to Hull, but no longer live here. Therefore we do not limit applications by postcode.
However it is important to Middle Child that this is a Hull festival and we encourage anyone who is applying, who doesn’t live in this area, to make clear in their application why they still qualify.
Each commission does have its own criteria with regards to experience, so make sure you read these before applying.
How are writers chosen?
Eligible applications are read by Middle Child’s literary team, who will create a shortlist.
Shortlisted applications are then presented to our steering panel, which consists of a mix of writers, artists and funding partners. They then make a final decision on which applications have been chosen.
Read more in a blog post by Grace Waga Glevey, who was commissioned in 2024 and on the selection panel for 2025, about the process for this year’s festival.
More questions?
Check out our extensive Writer FAQ or contact literary manager Matthew.