IASH/Traverse Creative Fellowship

Do you have the beginnings of a brilliant story to tell?

An inspiring idea to unpack?

Or a new form of theatre to explore?

Then the IASH/Traverse Creative Fellowship 2027 is for you.

Applications for 2027 are now open for playwrights and theatre makers for the IASH/Traverse Creative Fellowship. The Fellowship is a collaboration between IASH (the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at the University of Edinburgh, supporting innovative research and public engagement activities across the arts, humanities and social sciences) and the Traverse Theatre, Scotland’s leading New Writing Theatre.

IASH has supported playwrights for more than twenty years. Notable writers-in-residence have included Douglas Maxwell, Femi Fatoba, Rona Munro and David Harrower, whose multi-award-winning play Blackbird was commissioned by IASH and the Edinburgh International Festival.

In 2027, we are providing one Creative Fellowship that commissions, develops and supports an exceptional and innovative playwright in the creation of a new piece of work that speaks to our lives now and into the future.  

You can find out more about IASH via the About page.

You can find more about the Traverse here: www.traverse.co.uk

ABOUT THE 2027 FELLOWSHIP

A writing Fellowship of up to 10 months to take place from January 2027 onwards.  

• This Fellowship is open to writers with an idea or story for an audience-focused, ambitious and entertaining new play that speaks to the urgent issues impacting on our lives now and into the future, contributing to the cultural voice.
• This Fellowship will be spread across a 10-month period, giving the writer the time, space and support needed to research and write the play whilst working around other commitments.
• Each Fellowship will be tailored to the writer's needs and availability but it is expected that the writer can work at the University on a regular basis – such as two to three days a week, or two weeks per month for example. Applicants do not need to be based in Edinburgh, but should be able to travel to IASH regularly. Non-UK-based applicants are unlikely to be successful.
• The recipient will enjoy a private office at the University, as well as full access to the university library and the Institute’s many other resources, including joining the community of other Fellows working at IASH during this time.
• The recipient will receive dramaturgical support from the Traverse Literary Department, with the expectation that up to two drafts be completed during their residency, with another draft due at some point after the residency finishes (exact timelines to be tailored to needs of the project and Traverse Theatre). There may also be the opportunity for practical development periods working in collaboration with the Traverse artistic team and other creatives as required.
• The Fellow will be expected to contribute to IASH and Traverse Theatre events as mutually beneficial, giving at least one work-in-progress seminar and/or reading of the work to an invited audience.
• The stipend for this Fellowship is £12,000.