We are seeking 12 playwrights who have a strong idea for a new work to be part of the next cycle (July 2025 – March 2026) of Associate Playwrights within The Market Theatre’s Play Development Programme. The Associate Playwrights initiative is designed for entry to mid-career playwrights to practice their craft, meet regularly as a collective, and receive input from mentors. As an Associate Playwright, you will work on your play idea with The Market Theatre’s Artistic Director in a supportive environment created to enable the completion of a new play that will then be considered for production.

We encourage applications from anywhere in South Africa and of all backgrounds, ages (18+), and South African language groups.