The Scottish Society of Playwrights (SSP) and the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) have updated the Standard Play Contract, used to commission plays in Scotland. The new agreement comes into effect on 1 April 2026. This decision was made after several focus groups and meetings with both FST members and the SSP Council.
The updated contract recommendations are not only clearer and easier to use, reflecting current commissioning practice, but also includes new areas where guidance is needed. These encompass access, recording/filming, and use of artificial intelligence. Agreed minimum rates for commissions are set by SSP, sitting separately from the contract, and are updated regularly.
The new Standard Play Agreement is effective from 1 April 2026 and is available to download below, alongside a set of FAQs.
The Standard Play Contract is to be used when companies commission a play based on an idea by either the writer or the company themself. The latest updates are a result of a rigorous evaluation and consultation process by FST and the SSP, as well as consideration of related contracts used by the National Theatre of Scotland, Independent Theatre Council, UK Theatre, and the Writers Guild of Great Britain.
Regarding the new Standard Play Contract, Kris Haddow, Chair of the Scottish Society of Playwrights, said:
“This refreshed agreement marks a new deal for playwrights in Scotland: more relevant to current practice, more protective of writers, and clearer about rights and responsibilities on all sides. It addresses concerns raised by creative union members during the recent Fair Work for Freelancers campaign by improving clarity, consistency, and baseline protections in the relationship between playwrights and producers. Taken together, this stronger guidance ensures the agreement is better equipped to meet the realities of modern theatre-making.
The new A.I. clause in particular is an important first step towards restoring balance at a time when many creatives understandably feel their work is exposed to the rapid growth of the technology. It puts those handling scripts on clear notice by reserving playwrights’ rights against text and data mining, making clear that intellectual and creative rights must be respected while still permitting appropriate use in support of accessibility.”
Kenny McGlashan, CEO of Federation of Scottish Theatre, added:
“This updated agreement represents constructive and practical progress for the sector in Scotland. Developed through joint work between FST and the Scottish Society of Playwrights, and informed by consultation with members, it provides a clearer and more usable framework for commissioning new plays in today’s context.
For FST, it is important that sector guidance is practical, accessible and responsive to how commissioning actually happens. This revised contract will help support more informed and consistent working relationships between writers and producers, including in areas where greater clarity is increasingly needed, such as access, recording and filming, and artificial intelligence. We see this as positive progress within wider ongoing work to support fair practice across the sector, and we look forward to continuing to review how the agreement operates in practice with SSP over the coming year.”
FST and SSP continue to work towards fairer work practices within the Scottish performing arts sector, and plan to review the agreement in April 2027.
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