BBC International Playwriting Competition

By Gbenga Awomodu

Erin Browne of the United States and Efo Kodjo Mawugbe from Ghana were 2010's winners

Have you heard? The BBC wants your drama! The BBC World Service has launched a global search for two of the world’s best new radioplays with the International Playwriting Competition. Two lucky writers will win the opportunity to have their plays broadcast on the World Service. Here’s a fantastic opportunity for you to write a 60 minute play for radio and win cash prize as well as global recognition for your work.

What it’s all about.
The biennial International Radio Playwriting Competition is run by the BBC World Service and the British Council and is now in its twelfth year.

It is a competition for anyone resident outside Britain, to write a 60-minute radio drama for up to six characters.

There are two categories: one for writers with English as their first language and one for writers with English as their second language.

The two winners travel to London and see their play made into a full radio production, which will then be broadcast on the BBC World Service. They will also each receive a £2,500 prize and there are also prizes for the runners-up.

The play must be in English, unpublished and must not have been previously produced in any medium. Whether you’re experienced, new, or somewhere in between, the BBC wants to hear from you.

Just check the Rules and How to Enter sections to find out more about sending your play.

And the winners get….

Once again, there are two first prizes: for the best play by a writer with English as their first language and for the best play by a writer with English as their second language.

These two winners will each receive £2500 and a trip to London to see their play being recorded for broadcast on BBC World Service in the World Drama slot.

•£2500 sterling 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 and to attend a prize-giving evening.

•£2500 sterling 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 and to attend a prizegiving evening.

•A prize of a digital or short wave radio for the best radio play to be written from each of the following geographical areas: The Americas; Europe; Africa and the Middle East; South Asia; Russia and the Caucasus; Asia and Pacific.

•BBC goodie bags for all writers whose plays reach the judges’ final shortlist.

Deadline: 31 March 2011.

Eligibility: Entry is only open to anyone who is over the age of 16 as at 31 March 2011 who is not normally a resident of the UK.

Follow the link below for more tips and details. Get your pen and keyboard and start writing already!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specialreports/radioplay_2008.shtml

Source: BBC World Service

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