Primary Playwrights

Over two terms, Year 6 classes across Waltham Forest are invited to take part in Primary Playwrights, Soho Theatre’s annual playwriting project for 10- and 11-year-olds.

This is a unique opportunity for pupils to see their ideas transformed into short plays performed by professional actors on a professional stage. We believe in the power of young voices and are passionate about celebrating children’s creativity from the very beginning. Don’t miss out on this exciting chance to watch your students’ stories come to life in our new theatre in Walthamstow.

The Programme

• Unlocks imagination: Pupils are encouraged to express and organise their ideas into dramatic narratives, helping them build confidence in their storytelling abilities.
• Strengthens language skills: Workshops motivate students to broaden their vocabulary, experiment with language, and articulate meaning in new ways.
• Builds writing technique: Pupils learn to lay out scenes clearly so their scripts can be spoken aloud and brought to life by actors.

The Process

• Creative workshops: Each class takes part in five 90-minute workshops led by a professional playwright and supported by professional actors. These sessions run from October to November, scheduled to suit each school.
• Scriptwriting: Students write their own short play (around 5 minutes) on any topic they choose, and teachers submit all scripts to us by December.
• Selection & performance: We read every script and select plays from each school to produce as part of a professional showcase at Soho Theatre Walthamstow in summer 2026.

This project is open to primary schools based in Waltham Forest.

We can’t wait to welcome your school to Primary Playwrights 2025/26 and help your students discover the joy of writing for the stage.

Primary Playwrights 2025 photography by Daniaal Khalid