Key Nights is a scratch-style performance opportunity for creatives based in
Peterborough and the East of England who are making work in any artform.
Perfect for those looking to test ideas in front of a supportive audience and take original work to the next level.
Watch the trailer
What is a scratch night?
Scratch nights act as a sharing platform for artists to test their work with a supportive live audience and the work presented is often at the early stages of development.
Selected artists will have 20 minutes in which to present their work, which is followed by a feedback session with the audience. After collecting the audience’s thoughts,
artists are then able to evolve the piece accordingly.
For audiences, scratch nights are a great way to see new work, contribute to the development of a piece and support local artists.
We are looking for
- Artists from any art form
- Performances no longer than 20 minutes
- Artists who want to test out their work in February 2026, 7pm at the Key Theatre
- Artists based in and around Peterborough
- Those aged 18+
What we offer
- A commission of £175 for successful applicants
- Free rehearsal space at the Key Theatre
- In house dramaturgical support
- Mentoring
Timeline
- November 2025 – Applications open
- December 2025 – Application deadline
- January 2026 – Introduction Meeting
- January 2026 – two in house dramaturgical support sessions
- Key Nights performance Saturday 21st February 2026
- Debrief/Evaluation February or March