Summer/Pride 2026 Submission Form

Submissions close on Monday, 29 September at 11:59pm*

Click the SAVE button at the bottom of this page to save your progress and come back to it later.

Image of 'Chick Habit' cast (2023)
Photigraphy: David St George

Nau mai haere mai ki te rohe ā Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei me te whare tapere o Basement.

Welcome to the sacred waters of Te Wai Horotiu and welcome to Basement Theatre! Before we get into it we take this moment to acknowledge the rightful custodians of these lands, their ancestors and their mana motuhake here in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Strap in e hoa mā - the ushering in of a new year and season will soon be upon us! Summer/Pride 2026 will be one for regeneration, touching some grass, and letting the gentle warmth of Te Rā comfort us as we emerge from the waves that tried to drag us down and out! 

But fear not, baddies! 2026 is the year of the ‘Fire Horse’, think burning passion, a season of vitality, and an unstoppable desire for growth. Whatever your resolutions are for this next cycle, this is THEE season to speak life into them. It’s the collective glow-up, where we all hold the reins a little tighter as we steer ourselves towards a fruitful year. So YEEHAWWW baddies and hold each other close! It’s about to be a fiery one! 

We’re looking for works that have been patiently sitting in your kete, preparing for the right moment to present itself. We want works that provide delicious challenges and exciting moments of introspection. Look inward and hold a mirror up to the world around you, and allow it to guide your ambitions (or your greatest desires). The choice is yours xx

For our 2026 Summer/Pride works, we are looking for:

• Works up to 75 minutes in length, created by anyone. 
• Dance, theatre, poetry, visual art, experimental, comedy, ballroom, club nights, performance art, music, drag, cabaret, and everything in between!

What you’ll get from us…

• Hire For Nothing! There is no venue hire fee for emerging and unfunded artists.
• Wrap-around support from the entire Basement team.
• Marketing guidance and advice on how you can sell those tickets!
• Being a part of the 18-year-strong cohort of Basement artists.
• An ever-evolving space to play, take risks, develop your craft as an artist, and add to your already growing kete of creative knowledge!
• The opportunity to foster meaningful and intentional connections with your new Spring Season whānau!

You think you have something for us? The form is now live. Find your collaborators and get your submission in! Submissions will officially close on September 29th, 11:59 pm. You can also request to make a face-to-face submission by emailing Selu (selu@basementtheatre.co.nz), and we’ll try our best to accommodate your request.

If you have any pātai about how to put on a show at Basement, please refer to our current Artist Handbook, as it will have the answer you are seeking. We also welcome emails, phone calls, and Instagram DMs! 

Email: selu@basementtheatre.co.nz 

Call: 09 309 7433 (9 am-5 pm Mon-Thurs)

Instagram DM: basement_makers

----

We ask at the bottom of this form that you submit the relevant material, if you have them:

• A copy of your script, or
• A detailed story outline for devised works, or
• A vision/moodboard for installation or dance works
• Any videos or audio attachments that may help support your submission (please keep them as concise as possible)

We understand that ideas change and the final show may vary from the script/outline that is presented. Please keep us in the loop of any major changes!

If you are using a published script, please investigate the cost and availability of rights. Some plays - especially newer ones - can be quite expensive and/or unavailable.

As an organisation we seek to serve all people, with a prioritisation on communities that have experienced historical marginalisation from mainstream arts spaces.

We believe that the theatre is a colonial construct with inherent barriers across cultural, economic, physical, political, religious and gender-based contexts. We acknowledge that as an historically pākehā, cis and able-body led organisation, we can only work to remove these barriers by staying continuously critical of our intersections of privilege. 

To keep ourselves accountable, we have important goals in place that help us walk our talk and take care of you in a way that aligns with who you are. We therefore invite you to provide the following info for us, so that our manaaki can be on point!

*We acknowledge that the way that people are referred to is incredibly important, and that language is constantly evolving. Therefore certain words we have used here may need to be updated over time. 

*If your show is reliant on securing Creative New Zealand or Auckland Council funding, you need to apply well in advance. We are unlikely to programme your show if you are completely dependent on unconfirmed funding and you might end up in a position where you will pull your show if you don't secure your funding.

Please submit below:

• A copy of your script, or
• A detailed story outline for devised works, or
• A vision/moodboard for installation or dance works
• Any videos or audio attachments that may help support your submission (please keep them as concise as possible)

We understand that ideas change and the final show may vary from the material that is presented. Please keep us in the loop of any major changes.

If you are using an already published script, we ask that you please investigate the cost and availability of the rights - some plays can be expensive and/or not available - especially if they are newer works. All plays MUST be a max of 70 mins (approx 60-70 pages)