Writers from around the world are invited to enter the 27th International Radio Playwriting Competition. Two winners will each receive fully paid trips to London and a cash prize of £2500 (US$3250).
The International Radio Playwriting Competition is presented by the BBC World Service and the British Council, in partnership with Commonwealth Writers. To be eligible to enter the competition, writers must be over the age of 18 and be living outside the United Kingdom. Entries are encouraged from both new and established writers – one of last year’s winners had never written a play before and another had never written for radio.
The competition is free to enter and welcomes entries is two categories: one category is for writers with English as a First Language and the second is for writers with English as a Second Language. Two winners, which may come from either category, will each receive £2500 and be flown to London to attend an award ceremony and to see their plays recorded for broadcast on the BBC World Service.
To enter the competition writers need to provide:
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- A script for a 53 minute radio play with up to six central characters (approximately 9000 to 10,000 words). The play can be on any subject; novel adaptations are not eligible and there must be no central roles for children
- A play synopsis of up to 400 words
- A completed entry form
Plays entered in the competition must not have been previously professionally produced and must not, at the time they are submitted, have been offered for publication, performance or broadcast in any other form or medium.
Before submitting your entry be sure to read the BBC’s Ten Tips for Writing for Radio. The BBC Writers Room also offers a script library which includes examples of dozens of radio scripts.
Entries for the 27th International Radio Playwriting Competition close on Friday 31 January 2020.
For further details and to enter visit the BBC website.
Below: The BBC Radio Drama North team share advice on writing a successful radio drama script.