Scratch Season 2025

Venue: Rex Doyle Studio Theatre, Ivy Arts Centre

What is Scratch
Scratch is an opportunity for third year BA acting graduation students to form companies and make their own work. This season presents their work at an early stage of development, consisting of short films, staged readings of new scripts, short performances, one-performance shows and stand-up comedy. These "work in progress" presentations allow students to take risks, try out bold innovation ideas in collaboration with their peers and even take on new roles outside their actor training, such as writer, director and movement director within their creative processes.

Full schedule and timings below:

Saturday 17th May - Film Showings
14:30: The Cerys Project by no grace productions & Tanya's Dream

The Cerys Project - Cerys is a washed-up actress forced to attend drama school to revive her career, once a notable figure in the entertainment industry, she constantly overestimates her talent and fame, believing she is above the training despite being largely irrelevant in the industry. We made this documentary to show you her journey.

Tanya's Dream - A modern young woman sits at the kitchen table at night and sees a doll. Tchaikovsky's opera "Onegin" plays on the radio. Inspired by the music, she recreates Tatyana's dream changing the world around her.

15:45: Same Difference & Isolation

Same Difference - As Amber's final year in sixth form abruptly comes to an end, we follow her experiencing the ups and downs of having nothing to do.

Isolation - Jack is a writer struggling for inspiration who comes to find that his life is actually a perfect subject matter when he begins to bleed fantasy into his reality...

17:00: Left Field by It Exists & We'll Be Fine by Carroll and Heap

Left Field - TV sketch comedy for a new generation. Left Field is a wild ride through the mundanities of life, led by a host of eccentric characters. The ensemble cast welcome you to a new world each minute, where every sketch truly comes out of left field.

We Will Be Fine - Hannah and Will are housemates in their final year of uni. After being inspired by a video online to improve her life, Hannah persuades Will to do it with her. It only takes three missions to become the best human being… What could possibly go wrong?

19:15: The Box by MMBL Productions & Silent Key by Barn Dance Films & The BBQ by Bashment Productions

The Box - Emily has been bequeathed a small box upon her friend’s death. She can’t bring herself to open it. The piece explores the themes of grief, friendship and mental health.

Silent Key - Based on Frank Turner’s song ‘Silent Key’. An isolated, neurotic amateur radio operator forges a relationship with a new voice and experiences a pivotal encounter with the past. Through Peter and Lucy, we discover the weight of words, the vitality of questions and curiosity, and the dangers of retreat into oneself.

The BBQ - At the heart of every culture is a gathering—a place where stories are told, laughter echoes, and truths unfold. The Barbecue is a vibrant, pertinent, and truthful short film that captures the essence of a Black family gathering, offering an intimate glimpse into the joy, tension, and connection that define these moments.

20:30: the measured approach by line for line productions & Inamorato by Rowson Grace Productions

the measured approach - A verbatim-theatre inspired film in the style of docufiction. We follow the narrative of a young woman’s pregnancy, and accompany her through the journey of her momentous decision. The visuals depicted are supported by first-hand retellings - and our reenacted interviews offer authentic insight towards some of life's most exposing experiences: sex, childhood, pregnancy, and termination.

Inamorato- A love story told through movement. An exploration of how emotions are shown through physicality. How do we react to something we don't understand? How do we break the monotony of life? And how quickly can love break?


Monday 19th May - Performances
18:00: The Sweep by Meet the Door Productions - In the heart of the country is a town called Death. It's a town like any other, or so it seems. A mayor and his daughter; A holy man and his son. Grief, loss, love, life. Death. Fancy a visit?

20:15: A Part to Play by Silhouette Productions - The play explores a young woman's life altering experience of sexual assault. How do the mysoginistic beliefs from society bleed into and create a flawed justice system? Alongside the destruction, we explore the beauty of female love and connection.


Tuesday 20th May - Performances
18:00: One by Power of One - Our identity is defined by a myriad of moments with people, but what happens when we meet the one?

20:15: Pickle Juice by Johnny Is Being Prosciutto, You're Being Fusilli and I'm Making Gelato Nonsense Productions - In a world where people are busy being offended by comedians, a washed-up artist finds himself asking for help. What seems like a simple task, turns out to be a blend of questions and loneliness, accompanied by a tangy hint of pickle juice.

Third by Hinterland - Dear Alice... Harry is writing a letter. Alice has turned his world upside down. Follow along on their whirlwind romance through the streets of London, in a story of love, light and losing control.

Wednesday 21st May - Performances
18:00: A Part to Play by Silhouette Productions

20:15: One by Power of One

Thursday 22nd May - Performances
18:00: All Fired Up by GozLok - Two boys. Two family takeaways. One Friday night shift. What could possibly go wrong? “All Fired Up” is a semi-autobiographical piece which explores family run Chinese Takeaway and Turkish Takeaway shops. Tossing back and forth between the two boys, the audience are immersed into their working personas and the melting of this mask as the heat reveals how they really feel about this family pressure cooker environment.

20:15: The Sweep by Meet the Door Productions

Friday 23rd May - Performances
18:00: Pickle Juice by Johnny Is Being Prosciutto, You're Being Fusilli and I'm Making Gelato Nonsense Productions
Third by Hinterland

20:15: All Fired Up by GozLok

Saturday 24th May - Film Screenings
14:30: The Box by MMBL Productions & Silent Key by Barn Dance Films & The BBQ by Bashment Productions

15:45: the measured approach by line for line productions & Inamorato by Rowson Grace Productions

17:00: The Cerys Project by no grace productions & Tanya's Dream

19:15: Same Difference & Isolation

20:15: Left Field by It Exists & We'll Be Fine by Carroll and Heap