The 25th International Radio Playwriting Competition

Deadline: 31 January 2016
Open to: anyone over the age of 18 who is not a resident of the UK
Prizes: £2200 sterling for the best plays 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

Description

The International Playwriting Competition – from the BBC World Service & British Council in partnership with Commonwealth Writers and co-produced by The Open University 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. Plays entered must not have been professionally produced in any medium. 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.

Eligibility

Entry is only open to anyone who is over the age of 18 as at 31 January 2016 who is not normally a resident of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (“UK”).

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 – 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.

How to apply?

The deadline for applications is 31 January 2016. In order to enter you need to send:

  • 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.

Entries must be submitted either by by post to the following address:

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 the following email address: radioplay@bbc.co.uk.

For more information please visit the official website.

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