[Reader-list] INTERNATIONAL RADIO PLAYWRITING COMPETITION 2011 : The BBC wants your drama

[rohitrellan at aol.in]

The BBC World Service launches the 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. 
 
Search for new plays 
 
On Saturday 16 October, BBC World Service, in partnership with the 
British Council, launches the 12th International Radio Playwriting 
Competition. 
 
Writers around the world are invited to write a one-hour radio play on 
any subject. You have five months to write your play and the winning 
entries will be broadcast on BBC World Service in autumn 2011. 
 
There are two first prizes: one for writers for whom English is a first 
language, the other for those with English as a second language. 
 
Last year, for the first time, English as a second language entries 
overtook the first language entries. The competition is unique in that 
it is only open to writers outside the UK. The winners – last year's 
were from Ghana and USA – also receive a trip to London to see their 
play recorded. 
 
This competition never fails to elicit an truly impressive response. 
Last year, more than 1100 entries were received. 
 
Entries are welcome from published authors as well as from writers who 
are totally inexperienced. Former winners have gone on to write again 
for BBC World Service Drama, making the competition a potential 
launch-pad to a future career. 
 
Marion Nancarrow, Executive Producer of BBC World Drama says, "It's a 
privilege to be involved in running this competition. It's unique in 
all the world in not just in actively seeking new work from outside the 
UK, but also for recognising the huge skill required to write a 60' 
play in a second language. The last competition saw second language 
scripts outnumber those we received in the English as a first language 
category. We'd love to see even more scripts - in both categories - to 
enable even more stories, from more parts of the world, to be heard." 
 
And the winners get... 
 
Once again, we have 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. 
 
 
What it's all about 
 
The biennial click International Radio Playwriting Competition is run 
by the BBC World Service and the British Council and is now in its 
twenty second 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 will come 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, we want to hear from you. 
 
Just check the Rules and How to Enter sections to find out more about 
sending us your play. 
 
Script Format : 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/10/100802_playcomp_script.shtml 
 
Competition rules : 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/09/100928_playcomp_rules.shtml 
 
Writing for Radio : 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/10/100728_playcomp_writingtips.shtml 
 
2009 Winners : 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2010/10/100728_playcomp_last_year_winners.shtml 
 
World Drama : 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/2009/03/000000_world_drama.shtml