Lowry’s Scratch Nights X Live Comedy
CALL-OUT FOR ARTISTS TO SHARE NEW WORK!
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: THURSDAY 04 DECEMBER 2025, 5PM
We are pleased to announce our next call-out for comedians and comedy performance makers to share new work as part of our next Scratch Nights X Live Comedy night on Thursday 19 March 2026 at Lowry.
This edition of Scratch Nights will be curated in collaboration with artists Aarian Mehrabani (Developed With 2024-26) and Edy Hurst (Developed With 2022-24).
SCRATCH NIGHTS X LIVE COMEDY CALL-OUT
Our Scratch Nights offer an evening dedicated to the development of brand-new work. A chance for artists to put early ideas in front of a live, supportive audience to see what sticks; it’s about now rather than never, it’s about the spit without the polish. Testing early ideas that may one day turn into fully formed pieces.
These informal nights bring new work to audiences and create a supportive platform for artists to experiment, take risks, test ideas on stage, and share new work with peers and wider public.
We’re now inviting stand-ups, sketch performers, character and physical comedians, clowns, musical comedy acts, and theatre-makers working with comedy — as well as collectives or companies developing new ideas — to submit proposals to share work-in-progress pieces in our Aldridge Studio Theatre on Thursday 19 March 2026.
This is an open callout for artists based anywhere in the UK, and we strongly encourage artists based in Greater Manchester and the North to apply.
To celebrate the diversity of styles, genres, and approaches within live comedy, we’re offering three different opportunities to apply for. We have a pot of funds that will be distributed across four to eight selected proposals, supporting artists and collectives to test new ideas and take creative risks.
OPPORTUNITY ONE: 5–10 MINS
For performers who want to test new material or experiment with existing work. This slot is ideal for artists who are trying comedy for the first time, or those with a set they haven’t yet shared widely or professionally recorded. It’s a chance to perform in front of an audience, get feedback, and explore your material in a supportive setting.
Note: Material should be new and not previously recorded or broadcast.
OPPORTUNITY TWO: 5–15 MINS
For performers with a brand-new concept or idea that has never been performed. This is a chance to develop a fresh idea into a live performance, with the support of a theatrical studio space and technical setup. Bring sketches, characters, songs, or any bold comedic experiment you haven’t explored in a live comedy context before.
Note: Material must be new and unperformed. This slot is for artists eager to experiment and test new ideas on stage.
OPPORTUNITY THREE: 15-20 MIN
For comedians and comedy performance makers with a more established practice who want to test new ideas in front of a studio theatre audience. While the work could later form part of a larger show, for this event it should be completely new. Drawing on your existing experience to take risks, experiment, and explore ideas that could develop into future performances.
Note: Your proposal should present a new idea or work-in-progress piece that has not been previously performed for a public audience.
SELECTED ARTISTS WILL RECEIVE:
- A fee of £250 (Opportunity One), £500 (Opportunity Two) or £1000 (Opportunity Three) to develop and present your idea
- Rehearsal space at Lowry where possible
- Producer support from Lowry Staff
- An online mentoring session in advance of the event with Aarian Mehrabani and Edy Hurst
A set of production images and video archive footage taken by a professional photographer and videographer - Anonymous feedback from audiences in response to the questions you want answered about your work
- If required, extra financial support will be made available as a contribution towards access costs. We will discuss what you need if you are selected.
SCRATCH NIGHTS GUIDELINES
Please see the three opportunities for details on the different guidelines. We’re also only able to accommodate basic technical requirements.
Please only submit one application as the Main Performer/Writer/Lead Artist. You can be named as a collaborator on other applications.
The work must be suitable for the Aldridge Studio Theatre space. Please visit our website for more details on the technical specifications of the Studio.
This opportunity is for artists at any stage of their career.
KEY DATES
- Deadline for applications: Thursday 04 December 2025, 5pm
- All artists will be notified by: Thursday 18 December 2025
- Scratch Nights date: Thursday 19 March 2026, Lowry Aldridge Studio
Lowry is committed to encouraging diversity and intersectionality in the arts and we actively encourage proposals from artists from under-represented communities, including people who experience racism, identify as working class, have disabilities, are from the LGBTQ+ community, are care experienced or are discriminated against.
We encourage you to apply for this opportunity no matter what your age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.
If you have any queries, please get in touch with Grace Ng at artistdevelopment@thelowry.com. We can answer queries about the application process and Scratch Nights programme but cannot read draft applications in advance.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply and submit your Proposal online click here.
Click here to download the Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring in a Word document. This can be used to draft answers to the questions before applying online, or for audio or video applications.
Click here to download the contents of this page, Application Form, and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form in Large Print Word format.
Click here to download the contents of this page, Application Form, and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form in Easy Read Word format