Unleash your creativity at the TakeTen Chesil Theatre New Writing Festival 2025-26!

TakeTen Chesil Theatre New Writing Festival 2025-26 

Unleash your creativity at our ninth biennial playwriting event!

Aspiring and seasoned writers were invited to participate in the nationwide competition, which ran from 1st March to 1st June 2025, exploring the intriguing theme of ‘Angels.’

From leather-clad motorbike riders to classical and fallen angels, nurses, investment backers, and even an angel fish or angel cake - the possibilities were endless.

We are delighted to announce the top ten winners of TakeTen, the ninth biennial festival of new writing.

The TakeTen event has been running since 2008, attracting 1000s of entries from across the UK. The popular format remains unchanged: aspiring writers are invited to submit an unperformed, unpublished ten-minute play based on a specified theme. This year’s intriguing choice was ‘Angels’.
 
An independent panel of judges, drawn from the world of professional theatre and drama, had the challenging task of selecting the best ten entries from over 300 received. Each script was judged anonymously and given multiple readings to ensure a level playing field.
 
Writers were inspired by the theme with a wide range of interpretations, including guardian angels, theatrical angels, nursing angels and fallen angels.

The winning ten plays will receive their premiere performances at the Chesil Theatre from Friday 27th February to Sunday 1st March 2026. The festival provides a platform for writers, directors, judges and performers to meet and exchange ideas.

The winning plays are...

If I Fall by Katherine Kowalski (Downderry, Cornwall)
Charlene’s AIngels by Chloe Banks (Lustleigh, Devon)
The Unblocking of a Bladder by Richard Moon (Bedford)
We Move On by Kim Wiltshire (Sale)
Fallen by Conor Montague (Marsworth, Herts)
Talking to an Angel by HJS (Sturry, near Canterbury)
A Break In the Journey by Stephen Mollett (Midhurst)
All Fall Down by Euan Mumford (Shoreham-by-sea)
Stuck In the Middle by Kathryn West (Cannalidgey, Cornwall)
… Bearing Gifts by Nicky Denovan (Reading)

Some plays have adult language and themes including irreverence, coercive control and suicide.

LTG Patrons on previous festivals...

“I thought the whole enterprise was startlingly good and an example of what a company like the Chesil can do better than a professional one.”
Sir Ian McKellen

“Three cheers for Winchester’s Chesil Theatre. At a time of challenge for all, they have bravely looked to creativity and imagination.”
Sir Kenneth Branagh

A message from playwright and LTG Patron, Jessica Swale...

"Ah... writing. Sometimes writing can be utterly joyful. On those days where ideas seem to flow with all the energy and gusto of a kid whizzing down a waterslide, throwing their arm up as the spray cascades, what could be more rewarding!"