Bird Theatre Company Announces 2026 'Playwriting Contest for Everyone' with New Professional Category

The Tottori-based non-profit organization Bird Theatre Company will hold the 'Playwriting Contest for Everyone: Turning the Lives, Thoughts, and Imaginations of People with Disabilities into Theatrical Scripts' in 2026. It is a short play contest themed around 'disability' that anyone can participate in.

This year, a new professional category has been established, implementing a two-category system alongside the regular category. Continuing from last year, candidates who pass the first round of selection will receive hands-on support from professional playwrights, providing an environment where even first-timers can create works. In addition, past winning works will be performed as readings at five locations nationwide. The contest will accept submissions from August 1 to September 30. Winning works will become candidates for reading performances at the Queens Theatre in the United States in 2027, and reading performances are also scheduled for the awards ceremony in February 2027.

As the contest enters its fourth year, the organizers are pleased to announce the 2026 edition. The contest received 244 works in its first year, 192 works in 2024, and 191 works in 2025. Many fresh and compelling voices based on the diverse experiences of people with disabilities, their families, and their supporters have been received.

The 'hands-on support' system, where professional playwrights help those who pass the first screening brush up their works, has steadily produced results. Reading performances held across Japan using winning works have been welcomed with fresh joy by theatre people and audiences. Furthermore, reading performances were also held at the Queens Theatre in New York, USA, and were highly acclaimed.

Playwriting is a medium that depicts diverse emotional landscapes through words. The organizers believe that highlighting various human relationships through this contest and spreading them into society holds great significance.

The professional category was newly established this year. This serves two purposes: to obtain works with a stronger impact by inviting experienced writers, and to ensure that the participation of professionals does not take away opportunities from first-time writers. Video support for beginners will also be added.

The contest accepts works that meet one of the following criteria: 1. A work featuring a character with a disability. 2. A work written by a person holding a disability certificate. The contest is looking for unpublished Japanese short plays with a performance time of about 5 to 10 minutes. Submissions are accepted from August 1 to September 30, 2026, with selections in October and an awards ceremony scheduled for February 2027.