WRITE | IGNITE 2026
with Spark Plug Theatre Collective
The Spark Plug Theatre Collective WRITE | IGNITE workshop program provides artists with the space, support, and time to incubate new work, build artistic relationships, and work in a collaborative environment to bring their story to life.
WRITE | IGNITE is a 4-month generative playwriting process for Portland-area playwrights, culminating in an elevated workshop production of the piece in January 2027.
The selected playwright is provided an opportunity to develop their work with SPTC Producing Artistic Director and a community of artists and collaborators through conversations, feedback sessions, and rehearsals with the goal of taking an existing work to the next level. Core collaborators will be chosen in consultation with the selected playwright and SPTC.
Playwrights will meet in-person with the team between October 2026 to January 2027 to workshop their piece. The process will be tailored to the needs of the script.
Please Note: All participants in this project are volunteers and are donating their time, talent, and energy to this project. No one is being financially compensated.
“I had such a positive experience working with Spark Plug Theatre Collective for their inaugural Write | Ignite production! It is hard to come by fruitful play development opportunities, so I found that the intimate nature of Spark Plug's space, the kindness of my collaborators, and the earnest attitude in bringing the production to life made my full-length play In Memory Of what it was always meant to be. These revisions were only possible with the community built with Spark Plug.”
— Alyssa Cokinis, Playwright
How do I know if my work is in the right stage of development for this experience?
It’s ideal that the play you pitch already has a first draft and has an anticipated run-time of 1-hour or longer. At this time, we are not considering musicals. The collective goal of the WRITE | IGNITE is to create an experience where playwrights can grow their script in a collaborative environment. Whether you are a Portland-area local or not and you have a completed script that is ready for full production, please consider submitting it for consideration for our 2027/2028 Season here!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
OCTOBER: Get To Know the Piece
Meet with SPTC Artistic Director to discuss the play, goals for the workshopping experience, and identify key collaborators. The playwright may begin work on the script based on these conversations.
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER: Develop the Script
Each month, the playwright will have work sessions facilitated by SPTC Artistic Director with collaborators to workshop the script and move it toward its goal form for the workshop. In between sessions, the playwright will continue to do work on the script. Goals for each meeting will be decided in conjunction with the playwright and the needs of the work. Feedback sessions with actors or audience members may take place during this time.
JANUARY: Workshop “Intensive” & Presentation
Work continues on the script with the end goal in mind. The playwright may continue to refine the script and feedback sessions with actors or audience members may take place during this time. Multiple sessions will take place to refine the piece with actors and a director for presentation as either a staged reading or elevated staged reading (lightly blocked with minimal props/costumes/set suggested), depending on the goal of the workshop.
The form will ask for you to include the following as part of your submission:
Your script (in pdf format). Please include a cover page with the title, playwright name, contact information (email and/or phone number), and a copyright date.
A short play synopsis.
A brief statement detailing what inspires you about this work and what you are hoping an audience walks away with after seeing it.
A brief statement about your goal for the WRITE | IGNITE program
A brief biography.
Your website/social media (if applicable).
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: September 30, 2026
Questions can be directed to info@sparkplugtheatrecollective.org