Playwright Submissions - Scotopia 2027

Mouths of Babes Theatre Company (MoB) is now accepting submissions for the Scotopia Festival 2027

About Scotopia Festival: Scotopia is an annual new works festival produced by MoB Theatre that welcomes both fresh voices and seasoned artists, providing a platform for bold, risk-taking theatre-making and fostering creative exchange across all levels of experience. The festival is a platform for original works that engage with the community and seek to grapple with the social issues of today. MoB Theatre is a process-driven theatre company, and they are interested in providing opportunities for artists to experiment and collaborate with the ensemble.

The Scotopia Festival gets its name from the word describing “the ability to see in dim light or darkness.” The festival illuminates stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

While they are open to submissions from artists from everywhere and anywhere, they strongly encourage theatre-makers based in North Carolina and the Southeast to submit scripts and proposals. They encourage BIPOC artists and communities underrepresented in theatre to submit work to our festival.

They are primarily drawn to plays that are compatible with MoB’s mission and values, and feature roles suitable for the associates. However, they also welcome the opportunity to be challenged to cast roles outside of the acting pool and hire actors that are historically underrepresented in theatre.

Applicants should only submit one submission per category.

About Mouths of Babes Theatre (MoB): MoB Theatre is a grassroots, ensemble-driven company based in Wilmington, NC. Known locally for productions such as Wilmington Reconstructed; Out, NC; and A Remarkable Fraternity, MoB specializes in documentary theatre and new work development, with a focus on collaborative theatre-making that centers community voices and lived experiences. They are committed to devising theatre projects that address the social, and Scotopia is one of the key events that drives the mission forward.

Submission Categories:

Short Play Fest: A central feature of Scotopia, the Short Play Festival, offers playwrights the chance to workshop material and see their work fully produced by MoB Theatre. They welcome short (10 minute or less) play submissions that explore themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. While all plays with these themes will be considered, they are particularly excited by bold, genre-blending works with unique inspirations. They encourage material inspired by diverse theatre traditions and non-traditional forms such as commedia dell'arte, folk tales, kitchen sink realism, verse, ghost stories, magical realism, anime/manga, absurdism, and more!

Full-Length Plays (For Staged Reading): Scotopia is dedicated to developing new works through workshops and staged readings. They are seeking unproduced, full-length plays that engage with themes of social justice, equity, community, and activism. Stories that illuminate real-life experiences and amplify overlooked or untold truths are especially encouraged. The chosen submissions will receive dramaturgical support, workshops and the culmination of this work will be a staged reading at the festival.

Self-Produced Performance Proposals: They welcome proposals for experimental or devised works that move beyond traditional script formats. While they will consider any play that addresses social issues, they are particularly interested in innovative forms such as solo performances, performance art, devised pieces, immersive theatre, and more. Projects suited for non-traditional spaces are encouraged but not required. Proposals are ideal for emerging artists looking to expand their audience base or explore opportunities for developing and touring their work. Selected artists should be “show ready” for the festival. Venues will be provided (with limited rehearsal time), but production support from MoB Theatre will be limited.

Producing Priorities: While plays of any subject and theme will be considered, MoB is looking for pieces which speak to the political climate and topical issues of the moment, as the purpose of the Scotopia Festival is to illuminate stories that challenge perceptions, sheds light on social issues, and are as engaging to perform as they are to watch.

They also encourage submissions which would be challenging to produce or are experimental, as they are focused on the process of developing plays, rather than fully recognizing every complicated aspect of production.

Submission Requirements: In the submission form (attached here and above), you will be asked to submit a blind copy of your play (without identifying information), along with a current resume/CV. Submissions will be evaluated anonymously by a panel. Additional submission elements will only be taken into consideration in the final round of evaluation.

Confirmation: Selected works will be announced in mid-December, around or before December 18th

Self Produced Logistics: They offer to cover all venue costs. Tickets will be divided between MoB Theatre and the partnering artist, but the ticket split percentage will vary depending on the venue rental cost.

Festival Dates: Scotopia runs March 12th - 21st

Festival Location: Various venues in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Requirements

Please see submission form for application details.

Application Instructions

APPLY HERE: https://forms.gle/s65cZGF6KoLTMYdv9

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wed Oct 1st at 11:59 PM EST

For any questions about the submission process, please contact the team at literary@mobtheatre.com with the subject line “Literary.” Contact name: Karina Patel, Literary Associate, & Megan Parlett, Artistic Producing Associate

They recognize and affirm each artist’s right to their own work. Submissions will be shared with a small internal panel, and files from submissions not accepted to the festival will be deleted.