Cross Channel Theatre supports the creation, touring and promotion of innovative and high-quality theatre projects by French-speaking writers across all genres, and encourages engagement with audiences across the United Kingdom. The programme aims to enhance artistic dialogue and collaboration between French and British theatre professionals, to promote diversity and innovation in contemporary French creation, and to stimulate engagement with audiences across the United Kingdom.
Call for proposals
This call for proposals supports:
- Translation of French plays into English
- Programming, production, promotion and/or touring of French theatre in the UK
- Professional meetings and networking trips
Our call for proposals will be open from 11 December 2025 to 8 February 2026.
Translation of French plays
Since 2014, Cross Channel Theatre has supported and coordinated the translation of over 30 plays into English.
For more information on the texts translated between 2014 and 2025, please see our brochure, An Anthology of Translated Plays – Cross Channel Theatre.
Eligibility
- Support is available for francophone plays that demonstrate confirmed relevance in the UK or for the UK theatre scene.
- The translation must be carried out during the calendar year in which the project is selected by Cross Channel Theatre.
The Institut français du Royaume-Uni may act as an intermediary between the company or rights holder and a specialised translator.
Please apply before 8 February 2026.
Production, Co-Production & Tours
The Institut français du Royaume-Uni supports several projects each year involving the production and programming of French plays in British venues.
Eligibility
- Projects must involve a partnership or collaboration between a French or France-based artists or organisation and a British or UK-based artist or structure.
- Eligible projects may include readings, full productions, UK tours, or similar initiatives
- The project must be completed within the calendar year in which it is selected by Cross Channel Theatre.
Download the Application Guide in English
Download the Application Guide in French
Acknowledgements
We sincerely thank our partner institutions who participated in the previous call for texts: SACD, RFI, France Culture, Théâtre Ouvert, La Chartreuse – Centre national des écritures du spectacle (Villeneuve-lez-Avignon), and Les Francophonies – Des écritures à la scène (Limoges).
We also warmly thank all the members of the previous Cross Channel Theatre Reading Committee, including Keziah Serreau (Committee founder), Marianne Badrichani, Chris Campbell, Ronan Chéneau, Felicity Davidson, Clare Finburgh-Delijani, Mona Guichard, Jean-René Lemoine, Mark Maughan, and Simon Scardifield.
The translations were funded in partnership with the Institut français and Artcena/CONTXTO, when the texts were also selected by its network.
Look back at 10 years of Cross Channel Theatre with our brochure: An Anthology of Translated Plays