Are you aged 15–18? Do you love creative writing? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see something you’ve written performed on stage? Or do you know a young person who would love this opportunity?
Graffiti Theatre Company is looking for 8 young people in Cork to take part in New Narratives, an exciting new all-island playwriting programme developed in partnership by Graffiti Theatre Company, Fighting Words, and Fighting Words Northern Ireland.
Running from December 2026 to May 2027, this completely FREE programme offers a fantastic opportunity to work with experienced playwrights and theatre facilitators, develop your creative skills, and bring your own original play to life alongside young people from Cork, Dublin, and Belfast!
You don’t need to have written a play before. All you need is curiosity, imagination and a story you want to tell.
What’s involved?
As part of New Narratives, you’ll have the opportunity to:
- Take part in 8 creative writing workshops with experienced playwrights and theatre facilitators.
- Meet and collaborate with other young people who love stories and theatre.
- Take part in an overnight residential with participants from Cork, Dublin, and Belfast to write, share ideas and develop your work together.
- Attend a trip to the theatre in Dublin.
- See your own original play brought to life by professional actors and a director in a rehearsed reading, and visit Dublin or Belfast to see other participants’ work performed too!
Whether you’re already writing stories or have never put pen to paper, New Narratives is a chance to explore your ideas, find your voice and discover what happens when your words move from page to stage.
Who can apply?
We’re looking for 8 young people aged 15–18 based in Cork who are interested in writing, storytelling, and theatre.
Key Dates and Commitment
Applications open: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Applications close: Sunday, 8 November 2026 at 9pm
Programme runs: December 2026 – May 2027
New Narratives includes writing workshops in Cork, an overnight residential with young people from Dublin and Belfast, and opportunities to see the plays brought to life on stage.
Participants must be available to attend all the following dates:
- Saturday 19 December 2026 – Playwriting workshop, Cork
- Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 January 2027 – Overnight residential
- Saturday 30 January 2027 – Playwriting workshop, Cork
- Saturday 13 February 2027 – Playwriting workshop, Cork
- Saturday 6 March 2027 – Theatre trip to Dublin
- Saturday 13 March 2027 – Playwriting workshop, Cork
- Saturday 10 April 2027 – Playwriting workshop, Cork
- Saturday 17 April 2027 – Playwriting workshop, Cork
- May 2027 (date TBC) – Final sharing/performance of your work in Cork (Saturday or Sunday)
- May 2027 (date TBC) – Visit to Dublin or Belfast to see your fellow young playwrights’ work performed
Full timings and locations will be confirmed with participants.
Please check that you can commit to all the dates before applying.
Ready to apply? Fill out the Application Form
About New Narratives
New Narratives is a new all-island creative writing and theatre initiative bringing young people together across communities in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Developed in partnership by Fighting Words, Fighting Words NI and Graffiti Theatre Company, the programme celebrates the power of young people’s voices, the stories they want to tell and the connections that can be made through creativity.
This first phase brings together young playwrights from Cork, Dublin and Belfast, with further opportunities for young people across the island as the wider project develops.
New Narratives is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Creative Ireland Programme as part of the Shared Island initiative and the Creative Youth Nurture Fund.
Questions? Contact ideas@graffiti.ie
