Worcester Theatres Launch ITCH! The Worcester Scratch
19 February 2026
Worcester Theatres are delighted to announce ITCH! The Worcester Scratch, a series of scratch nights where creatives at any stage of their career can share work with a live audience and receive real, supportive feedback. Scratch nights provide a platform for writers and performers to showcase projects in development to an encouraging audience. ITCH! The Worcester Scratch is all about trying new ideas, taking creative risks, and championing emerging work.
Led by Worcester-born singer and performer Lewis Mandall, ITCH! The Worcester Scratch is creating a space where artists can evolve their work through regular scratch nights at the Swan Studio in Worcester. The scratch nights will offer artists an accessible and affordable opportunity to develop their skills, test new material, and connect with creatives in the West Midlands.
Lewis Mandall, Community Producer at Worcester Theatres said, “I am delighted to present ITCH! The Worcester Scratch. A scratch night is an exciting opportunity for current and emerging artists to test new ideas in front of a live audience. It’s a space where performers can share new material, whether fully formed or still evolving and, if they choose, receive thoughtful feedback from the audience (only of course, if you’re brave enough to hear it!)
Scratch nights are designed to be refreshing, surprising and wonderfully unpredictable. They capture the raw energy of theatre in its earliest stages. I openly encourage performers of all genres to apply, and audiences to come along with open minds and a sense of curiosity. Whether your passion is theatre-making, dance, comedy, poetry or something completely unexpected, ITCH! is your invitation to experiment, surprise us! Theatre is for everyone and ITCH! The Worcester Scratch at Worcester Theatres is the perfect place to scratch that creative itch.”
The first ITCH! The Worcester Scratch night is Friday 27 February at 7.45pm at the Swan Studio, tickets are priced between £6.00 and £8.00. All applicants must be aged 18 or over, and this will be a paid opportunity for those who take part.
To book tickets for ITCH! The Worcester Scratch, or to take part visit the Worcester Theatres website.