Deadline: January 31, 2016
The 25th International Playwriting Competition is brought to you by the BBC World Service & British Council, in partnership with Commonwealth Writers and co-produced by The Open University. The competition is looking for new and established writers who are ready to send a script for a 53 minute radio play with up to 6 central characters.
There are two categories for entry. One is for entrants who speak English as a first language and the other is for entrants with English as a second language. Plays entered must not have been professionally produced in any medium.
Prizes
There are three prizes:
- English as a First Language Winner: £2200 sterling will be given for the overall winning playwright of the best play written with English as a first language and a trip to London to see the play being recorded for broadcast on the BBC World Service and to attend a prize-giving evening.
- English as a Second Language Winner: £2200 sterling will be given for the overall winning playwright of the best play written with English as a second language and a trip to London to see the play being recorded for broadcast on the BBC World Service and to attend a prize-giving evening.
- The Georgi Makarov prize: This prize includes a standard return flight to London, with 2 weeks accommodation – a week of which will be spent with the BBC’s London Radio Drama department and a week with BBC World Service. These 2 weeks will coincide with the making of the winning plays from the International Radio Playwriting Competition and the winner of the Georgi Markov prize will attend the prize-giving ceremony and receive recognition at the same time.
Eligibility
- This competition is open to anyone over 18, living outside the UK – whether you’re a new or established writer.
- Entrants must not be BBC or British Council or The Open University or Commonwealth Foundation employees, their close relatives or any person connected to the competition.
- Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.
- Plays entered must not have been professionally produced in any medium (an informal play-reading is acceptable; a play-reading with a professional director and in front of a non-paying audience is acceptable, but a performance involving payment to actors and/or a paying audience is not).
- See more on Eligbility.
Application Process
To enter, send the following:
- A script for a 53 minute radio play with up to 6 central characters – it will not be returned, so make sure you keep a copy;
- A synopsis which outlines your play is no longer than 400 words;
- A completed form, attached to your play and synopsis;
To International Playwriting Competition 2016
BBC Radio Drama, Room 6015 BBC Broadcasting House
Portland Place, London W1A 1AA
United Kingdom
or to your local British Council office, or by email to [email protected].
For more information, visit International Playwriting Competition.
