Peter Shaffer Postgraduate Award for Playwriting
Deadline: 16 January 2026
Trinity College Cambridge invites applications for this award to support a playwright at the beginning of their career. Funded by a generous donation from the Sir Peter Shaffer Charitable Foundation, it will enable the recipient to take up post for twelve months as ‘The Peter Shaffer Playwright in Residence’ at Trinity College in October 2026. Applicants must be graduates of a university in the United Kingdom who have completed their undergraduate degree no more than five years prior to taking up the award. Students will be eligible to apply to take up the award in the academic year immediately following graduation.
Applicants should submit a CV, a covering letter which summarises their interest and experience in playwriting, and an outline of their proposed drama in less than 1000 words through the competition’s online application system (https://app.casc.cam.ac.uk/fas_live/shaffer/) by 12.00 noon on Friday 16 January 2026. Applicants must also supply details for referees who are theatre or appropriate academic professionals through the online application system. Longlisted applicants will be asked to send an example of their work, not more than 5000 words, by 27 February 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interview in late April, and an offer of appointment made shortly thereafter.
*External Opportunity. For more information follow the links. If you have success in applying do let us know! For any enquiries please contact shaffer@trin.cam.ac.uk