BBC World Service

International Radio Playwriting Competition

 

The 2013 BBC World Service International Radio Playwriting Competition is open for entries.

In partnership with the British Council and Commonwealth Writers , the competition offers a unique opportunity for writers from all around the globe to use the immense power of radio drama to tell the stories that matter to a world audience. Now in its 24th year, it is expanding to include an additional prize, the Georgi Markov Prize in collaboration with The Open University, which will honour the script from the shortlist that shows most promise.

Prizes

The competition has two first prizes – one for writers with English as a first language, and one for writers with English as a second language. The winners of both awards will have their plays broadcast on BBC World Service. Their prize includes a trip to London to watch their plays being recorded, attendance at an award ceremony and £2,000. The winner of the new Georgi Markov prize will also come to London to be at this award ceremony and spend two weeks with BBC Radio Drama and BBC World Service.

The competition has helped launch the writing careers of many of its winners. Last year’s competition winner,Angella Emurwon, who won the English as a second language category, says: “Winning the 2012 competition was a much-needed boost to my confidence to continue to find and develop my voice as a writer and director.” Since winning in February, she has co-directed Macbeth at the Ugandan National Theatre, and has begun to develop a new play. The competition has also taken Janet Morrison, winner of the English as a first language prize, in a whole new direction. She has now written her first stage play, and is working on a screenplay of her winning script, The Fisherman, which will be broadcast again on 19 October on BBC World Service.

Eligibility

The playwriting competition welcomes scripts from anyone outside the UK, whether established or new writers. The dramas need to be 53 minutes long, but can be on any subject.

To submit a script is free.

The closing date for entries is midnight GMT 31 January 2014.

Further details on the competition, including how to enter, are online at bbcworldservice.com/radioplay.

Social media users can join the conversation on Twitter at #bbcplay.

 

Hamid Ismailov shares his tips for writing radio drama

 

 

>via: http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/bbc-radio-competition/