Writers from around the world are invited to submit their scripts as the 25th International Radio Playwriting Competition opens.
About the Competition
The global competition, hosted by BBC World Service and the British Council, in partnership with Commonwealth Writers and co-producers The Open University, offers the unique opportunity for playwrights to use the medium of radio drama to reach an international audience.
The competition has two first prizes – one for writers with English as a First Language and another for writers with English as a Second Language. Both winners will attend an awards ceremony in London and see their plays recorded for broadcast on the BBC World Service.
A third award – the Georgi Markov prize – celebrates the most promising script from the competition’s shortlist in honour of the BBC World Service journalist and writer Georgi Markov (1929-1978). The winner of this prize will also travel to London for the award ceremony and spend two weeks working with the BBC Radio Drama and the BBC World Service.
The previous competition attracted entries from a record 86 countries. To mark the 25th competition, The Ravens by Alana Valentine – the winner of last year’s English as a First Language prize – will broadcast again on Saturday 3 October on the BBC World Service.
The International Playwriting Competition welcomes scripts from anyone outside the UK, whether established or new writers. The dramas need to be 53 minutes long and can be on any subject. The closing date for entries is midnight (GMT) on 31 January 2016.
Further details on the competition, including T&C’s and how to enter, are online on the BBC World Service website.