14th Annual Scratch Night: Why We’re Proud, and Why You Should Be Too!
As the 14th Annual Louth Riverhead Theatre Scratch Night approaches, we wanted to take a moment to share what makes this project so special. It’s a night we look forward to every single year, not just because of the fantastic talent on display, but because of the doors it opens for local writers and the way it connects our community.
What Is A Scratch Night?
If you’ve never been to one before, a “Scratch Night” might sound a little mysterious. Thankfully, Google’s ever-handy AI defines it perfectly:
“A scratch night, in the context of arts and performance, is an event where artists showcase work-in-progress pieces to an audience for feedback and development.”
In other words, it’s a testing ground, a chance for creatives to share a snippet of a bigger idea, to see how it lands with an audience, and to get valuable feedback.
What Is Louth’s Scratch Night?
Here in Louth, our Scratch Night follows this tradition, but with a twist. It’s the culmination of a creative writing workshop run by Hambledon Productions, open to six aspiring playwrights. Over the years, we’ve welcomed a wonderfully diverse mix, seasoned writers, journalists, actors, and even complete first-timers who had never written a play before.
Each participant crafts around a ten-minute excerpt of a script during the workshop. These scripts are then brought to life in a rehearsal-style reading by local actors, raw, immediate, and full of energy. The audience watches all six pieces, then votes for their favourite.
Here’s where we stand out: the winning writer gets the opportunity to have their play staged as a full production by Louth Playgoers. For an aspiring playwright, this is huge, the leap from script to stage is one of the hardest hurdles to clear, and this event provides that springboard.
A Short History of Louth’s Scratch Night
Scratch Night has been running for 14 years, and in that time, it’s produced an incredible range of new works. Many winning plays have gone on to have second lives, touring Lincolnshire or even being adapted for radio.
It’s not just about competition; it’s about fostering new voices and giving our audiences something fresh, surprising, and proudly homegrown.
The Man Behind It All
The workshop and Scratch Night are run by John Hewer of Hambledon Productions. John studied Drama and Scriptwriting at Northumbria University and, in 2007, co-founded Hambledon Productions, writing their debut play STOP!... You’re Killing Me.
Since then, John has written numerous plays, pantomimes, and pilot scripts for BBC and Channel 4. He was awarded places on the Royal Court Young Writers’ Programme and the Soho Theatre’s Writers’ Lab, and in 2014, he earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of Tommy Cooper in Just Like That!, which continues to tour the UK. His experience, passion, and skill make him the perfect mentor for emerging writers in our community.
Why You Should Support Scratch Night
New writing is the beating heart of theatre’s future. It’s about taking risks, telling untold stories, and giving space to voices that might otherwise go unheard.
For audiences, it means seeing something brand new, something no one else has seen before, and often being pleasantly surprised by where the stories take them. For the community, it means investing directly in local talent and theatre instead of sending ticket money to already well-established productions elsewhere.
Every time you attend, you’re helping a writer take their first steps toward a professional career, you’re encouraging actors to try new material, and you’re keeping Louth’s creative spirit thriving.
Previous Scratch Night Winners
2014 – Miscreation – Dan Christmas (2013 Winner)
2015 – Shakespeare in Debt – Ted Stanley (2014 Winner)
2016 – Murder on the Oriental Princess – Holly Mapletoft (2015 Winner)
2017 – Live In Five – Beth Raithby (2016 Winner)
2018 – Him – Gemma Owen-Kendall (2017 Winner)
2019 – Welcome To Our School Play – Emily Clegg (2018 Winner)
2022 – At The Wake – Elaine Howell (2019 winner)
2022 – I Spy Brian – Rebekah Hardy (2020 winner)
2022 – Art And Allotments – Cheryl Vallely (2021 winner)
2023 – Bev’s Baps – Laura Thompson-Gray (2022 Winner)
2024 – Piccadilly Circus – Kate McLennan (2023 Winner)
2025 – Dressing Rooms – Jed Spittle (2024 Winner)
If you’ve never been, this is the year to come along. Not only will you see six brand new plays performed in front of your eyes, but you’ll also be part of deciding which one makes it all the way to a full-scale production.
And don’t forget, you will be able to say “I saw it first”.
