Every spring, Burning Coal Theatre receives play submissions from local 6th-12th graders that are then professionally produced for the public.
The KidsWrite Festival was created in 2004 to encourage young writers in central NC by producing their original one act plays. Finalists are chosen from numerous submissions. Those scripts are produced at the theatre and then published in a book available for purchase.
We are currently accepting submissions for the 2025 Festival! Use the link below to submit your script!
Every spring, Burning Coal Theatre receives play submissions from local 6th-12th graders that are then professionally produced for the public. Burning Coal has assembled a team of skilled theatre artists to bring these young writers’ stories to life.
The KidsWrite Festival was created in 2004 to encourage young writers in central NC by producing their original one act plays. Finalists are chosen from numerous submissions. Those scripts are produced at the theatre and then published in a book available for purchase.
KIDSWRITE! 2025
Every spring we accept original one-act play submissions for our KidsWrite! series to encourage the young writers of North Carolina! This is a terrific opportunity for budding playwrights to challenge their imagination and bring their stories to life on stage. Finalists will have their work professionally produced and performed in front of an audience at Burning Coal Theatre. Finalists will also have their plays published in a physical book with the other finalists.
SUBMIT YOUR PLAY | Grades 6-12
Parents and teachers are welcome to submit on student’s behalf.
Students may submit more than one play.
**Teachers submitting on behalf of multiple students may email us at info@burningcoal.org including the following information for each student: playwright’s name, address, email or phone number, grade and school.
SCRIPT GUIDELINES
Must be original and unique to the playwright
Must be written in Standard Playwrighting Format, with name and contact info on a cover sheet
May be up to 25 pages in length (average length is about 15 pages)
No more than 4 characters
No more than 2 locations
Finalists will be notified by April 4th, 2025. All writers will receive feedback about their plays.
We look forward to reading your submissions!
The KidsWrite Festival was created in 2004 to both encourage and support student writers between the sixth and twelfth grade located in central North Carolina. Every spring, Burning Coal Theatre receives numerous submissions of original one-act plays that are reviewed by a group of readers in order to select the finalists. The chosen scripts are then professionally produced by a team of hand-picked, skilled theatre artists. Burning Coal then holds a festival for the public showcasing the new plays, as well as publishing them in a book available for purchase.
We are currently accepting submissions for the 2025 festival! Submission deadline is March 1, 2025.
Feeling stuck? Piedmont Laureate Tamara Kissane gives her tips on how to start writing a play in this brief Youtube video. Remember, you can write about any topic for KidsWrite!
Sponsor KidsWrite! or other Burning Coal educational events for $100 – 500 (tax deductible). Sponsorships may include program ads, curtain speech recognition, and / or social media shout-outs. Email development@burningcoal.org or call (919) 834-4001 to learn more.
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE
The KidsWrite! Festival will take place on May 23-24, 2025 at the Murphey School Auditorium (Burning Coal’s usual performance space at 224 Polk St. Raleigh, NC 27604). All selected plays will be performed both days.
TICKETS are available HERE
The selected plays will be published in the KidsWrite Collection 2025. The KidsWrite Collection 2024 is still available for purchase here.
For additional information, please call 919.834.4001.
Burning Coal Theatre Company is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. Burning Coal Theatre Company is supported by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.
Copyright © 2021 Burning Coal Theatre Company | All Rights Reserved | Home
Burning Coal Theatre Company is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission. Burning Coal Theatre Company is supported by the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County.
Burning Coal Theatre | (919) 834-4001 | info@burningcoal.org | 224 Polk St., Raleigh NC 27604
Copyright © 2021 Burning Coal Theatre Company | All Rights Reserved | Home