Support Emerging Artists: What Happens Next? 2025

Hello!

We are Tip Tray Theatre, a disabled-led theatre company based in Liverpool, dedicated to supporting and nurturing young and emerging artists. Our mission is to break down barriers in the arts, providing accessible and inclusive development opportunities. Through our projects, we create a platform where new voices are centre stage, helping artists at the start of their careers take their work to the next level.

One of our annual initiatives is What Happens Next?, an interactive playwriting competition designed to spotlight emerging talent in Liverpool. This unique event not only showcases new work but also offers a vital opportunity for playwrights to engage with audiences and industry professionals and learn whilst doing so. This competition also offers an opportunity for emerging actors to work with professional directors and gain valuable experience in a professional setting. Over three exciting evenings, eight plays will be performed in front of a live audience and a panel of expert judges, with both groups casting their votes to decide which play leaves everyone wondering, What Happens Next?

In this competition, we provide all of the rehearsal space, theatre space and producing/marketing support. We also offer an exciting range of prizes for all involved. Everyone involved in What Happens Next? receives one full day of R&D to work on their play for free and various opportunities for development after the competition has ended. The winner of What Happens Next will receive a prize package designed to support their artistic practice going forward. This includes:

Check out our trailer here!

Why We’re Raising Funds

Starting out in the arts, especially theatre, is tough. There are so many hurdles—finding funding, securing spaces, and building a team. For a lot of new artists, these challenges make it nearly impossible to get their work seen. This is exactly why we created What Happens Next? When we were trying to break into the industry, we hit so many dead ends and saw how limited the opportunities were. So, we wanted to build a platform where artists could not only develop their work but actually get it in front of the right people.

What Happens Next? is about more than just showcasing new writing; it’s about giving real, meaningful development opportunities for artists starting out.

Here's what our What Happens Next? 2023 winner, Sean McLoughlin has to say about the competition:

"What Happens Next was the catalyst for kickstarting my career as a playwright, with the experience, prize and success helping to enhance my skills as a writer and creative overall. It has been instrumental in meeting other creatives and encouraging me to start new material."

But to make this happen, we need your help.

By contributing to this fundraiser, you are helping to bridge the gap between script and performance, giving emerging writers and performers the support they need to kick start their careers.

We are raising money to pay our professional directors and support the emerging artists involved by covering their expenses. We want to make sure that the opportunities we are offering are the best that they can be by paying industry experts to offer their wealth of knowledge and experience to the emerging artists involved.

We also want to ensure that the people taking part can access these opportunities without having to worry about costs of travel or any other barriers they may face. Our first goal is £4000 to pay our directors and give artists with financial barriers support. Any money raised after that will continue to support emerging artists.

We understand that donating money isn’t a possibility for everyone. That’s why we have slightly increased our ticket prices for this year’s competition, so if you can’t donate, you can still support us by purchasing a ticket to the event. To find out when tickets go on sale, follow us on social media @tiptraytheatre and check out our website: tiptraytheatre.com

We believe that theatre thrives on fresh perspectives and new ideas, and with your help, we can ensure that these emerging artists have a fair opportunity to develop in the arts.

Thank you for your support, and we can’t wait to see What Happens Next!

Tip Tray Theatre

Photography credit: Andrew AB Photography