September 24 2025

Cornwall Scratch Nights – A Call to Creativity

In Cornwall, the arts don’t just entertain us, they connect and challenge us. For generations, theatre, poetry and storytelling have been at the heart of rural communities, shared from person to person, village to village. Every show, story or performance starts somewhere and so Made in Cornwall Scratch Nightswere created for those first sparks to catch fire.

Scratch Nights grew out of ongoing conversations about the challenge artists face when testing new work. How can this be done in a careful and considered way? These events create a supportive space where artists can share ideas-in-progress and discover whether there’s an appetite for their work.

Trying out new work can feel risky. That’s why Cornwall Scratch Nights are built on support, encouragement and community. These nights are not about polished performances — they’re about experimentation, bravery, and the collective act of cheering each other on. In that way, Scratch Nights are as much about the audience as they are about the performer.

At the end of each performance, the audience is invited to spend five minutes completing a feedback form (designed by the performer/s). This process often provides a valuable stepping stone, helping artists shape and evolve their ideas. In fact, several full-length shows have grown directly from the work first shared at Scratch Nights.

By coming along as a performer or as part of the audience, you’re not just watching theatre, you’re actively investing in the future of Cornwall’s creative culture. You’re helping artists take their next step, and shaping what comes next on our stages, in our village halls, and in our shared cultural life.

If you’re an artist: bring your idea, however rough around the edges. Scratch Nights are your chance to test it out, learn from it, and take it further.

If you’re an audience member: come ready to listen, encourage, and be surprised. Your presence is an act of support. Your laughter, your silence, your applause — it all matters.

Cornwall Scratch Nights are made possible by a group of organisations who believe in the power of new work and fair access to creativity:

• Miracle Theatre – Cornwall’s touring theatre company since 1979
• AMATA – Falmouth University’s arts centre, bringing comedy, theatre, music and dance to the region
• Carn to Cove – Cornwall’s rural touring scheme for performing arts
• Hall for Cornwall – presenting great shows, producing work, and supporting artists
• imPOSSIBLE Producing – developing people and creative projects
• intoBodmin – ensuring fair access to creative opportunities at the heart of Bodmin

Together, we’re creating a platform where ideas can grow and communities can connect.

Be Part of Cornwall’s Creative Future – to express an interest in performing at Miracle Theatre’s Scratch Night in 2026 FILL IN THIS FORM