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THE KENNETH BRANAGH INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR NEW DRAMA WRITING 2024

 

SUBMISSION CRITERIA

 

Amateur playwrights worldwide are invited to submit a one-act play. Three winning scripts will be selected for fully staged performances during the Fringe festival in October. One of the three scripts will be chosen as the overall winner and awarded the £500 prize. The plays will be judged purely on the writing before they are staged. Scripts are evaluated only on the writing and remain completely anonymous throughout.

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In terms of naming your script please name the file with your script’s title followed with your pin number. You will be asked for this pin when you submit your script as well when you upload your file. To create your pin number please create your own 6-digit numerical number followed with your initials from your first and last name, for example 123456JB where JB stands for Joe Bloggs. So, if your script’s title is “The Bridge” you should name your file “The Bridge 123456JB”.

 

Please make sure that your title page ONLY has your play title. We cannot accept scripts with any name, contact details, or other identification. This ensures that all scripts are read anonymously. 

 

 

THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY 15TH MARCH 2024

 

ELIGIBILITY

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Only amateur playwrights are eligible and only one script per author accepted. The script must be an original work and not previously published or performed. Should the script reach the final stages of the competition, this will be verified.

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  • The play should be up to 30 minutes in length.

  • The script should be formatted to scriptwriting standards as outlined in online guides such as The Cary Playwrights' Forum  (caryplaywrightsforum.org.)

  • The play must be suitable for staging in a studio theatre.

  • The play should have a cast of no more than six actors (but more than six characters in the play is permissible if some actors play multiple roles).

  • The play must include a full character list and props list.

  • Some (essential) stage directions can be included in the script section, but they do not have to be in extensive detail.

  • Scripts that are not considered to conform to this requirement will not be accepted.

 

 

AMATEUR STATUS

 

Scripts entered in the competition must not have been written by someone who generates most of their income from writing fiction, be that in the form of plays, short stories, novels etc. Many entrants regularly write as a hobby and enter many competitions, but they typically have regular jobs and are perfectly eligible. People who write for a living, such as reporters, reviewers or similar are also eligible. There are 'grey' areas ... for example, people who are professionally involved In the theatre in a full-time job which might be considered to give them a big advantage over amateurs, may or may not be eligible. In these instances, we request that we have an open dialogue with them in order to make a final decision.

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