Saturday 3rd May. Doors Open 7pm.

This popular event returns to the Arden for 2025 on 3rd May in the form of staged, rehearsed readings of seven exciting new plays.

This year, our playwrights were given a series of first-line prompts. Where they took the story was up to them, but it was obligatory to use the first line (as the first line), and it must be relevant. (i.e. playwrights were warned not to crowbar it in!)

Prompts are:

• “There’s a body in the bathtub.”
• “The package arrived with no return address, only a single word: ‘Remember’.”
• “Did you bring the emergency can opener?” (said with high drama)
• “I never thought I’d see you again.”

Scripts must be no longer than 10 minutes, with minimal staging. The black box is preferable. You can choose one or more of the prompts to enter and define them in any way you choose.

After many hours of reading and discussion, we are pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Maurice Patterson Festival:

Jude And The Fluffy Kittens – Libby Bernard
Hot Water – Pippa Gladhill
Special Delivery – Paul McNally
Last Christmas – Stephen Condor
In the Hall of the Viking Longhouse – Noah Russell
Released on License – Paul McNally
Holiday Crisis – Philip Glascoe
Safe Space – Stephen Condor

These seven, 10-minute plays will be presented for the first time on the evening of 3rd May 2025.