In 2010, the selection procedure will be held at Bush House, London in Studio S6 from Monday 8th to Thursday 11th (am only) March.

The Bursary Awards are conferred on the basis of individual talent and ability in the art of acting for radio. Candidates should be graduating students over the age of 16.

1. Each drama school should enter no more than four final year students (preferably two of each sex). The drama schools must have included regular tuition in radio acting technique as part of their curriculum. If candidates included are from overseas, they must have in place the necessary permissions to work in this country. The BBC will need to see evidence of these permissions.
2. Up to four candidates (2 actors and 2 actresses) will each be offered a binding five-month contract as members of the Radio Drama Company. These contracts do not allow for any period of notice during their course. Clauses within the Bursary Award contracts will make this clear - and in nominating their chosen candidates, drama schools must have ensured that the candidates are all fully aware of this condition of entry.
3. The title Carleton Hobbs Winner will only be formally bestowed when each candidate offered a Bursary Award has signed their contract to join the RDC.
4. The contracts are for a start date of no later than Saturday 24th July 2010 to allow for a preliminary week of familiarisation and related training.
5. Up to four runners-up (actors and actresses) will each be given a commitment to be engaged as freelance artists in one of Radio Drama's projects scheduled for winter 2010.
6. Drama schools intending to take part must register with BBC Radio Drama by no later than January 29th 2010. Please contact Cynthia Fagan, RDC Administrator, Room G04, East Wing, Bush House, The Strand, London WC2B 4PH.
7. Drama schools must supply candidates' names, and fulfil the other entry requirements listed below, by Friday February 12th 2010.
8. Candidates may not be BBC staff members.

The Selection Process will consist of:-

1.Two prepared duologues
The full team will enter the studio to meet the technicians and judges’ panel, and the team audition sight-reading scene will be distributed. The team will then perform two prepared duologues of their own choice, with a maximum combined duration of no more than 6 minutes. This should enable participants to demonstrate their ability to interact with others. After each duologue is performed, one of the producers on the judging panel will have the opportunity to give notes and discuss the piece before recording the final take. The material ought not to be beyond the range and experience of those taking part, and should be conducted on one stereo microphone and not depend on studio or play-in sound effects. We advise selection of material for this slot to focus on modern pieces as most of the work Radio Drama undertakes is new writing with a chiefly contemporary setting.

2aTwo solo contrasting pieces and one speech from a Classical/Period piece.
After the Duologue section, individual actors will perform their 3 chosen solo extracts. Together your three items should not last more than four minutes and should demonstrate range and versatility. It is preferable to choose pieces which don’t involve more than one character. The pieces should be as different as possible, within the vocal age and accent range of the student concerned. Please edit your pieces carefully: it works best if the chosen speeches are not cut in the middle. None of these excerpts should be the same as the prepared duologues offered by the College candidates (see 1 above). As this is an acting award, it isn't advisable to include straight readings or poems in this Section.

2b And a short piece of prose
We will provide a short piece of prose to each team member when they first arrive at Bush House. We will hear this directly after each candidate has completed their own selection of three dramatic pieces (2a above).

3. Candidates' Sightreading/Warm-up
The text will be chosen by us and given to the students at the start of their team audition. The group will be taken through the piece by one of the Radio Drama producers, given some notes and the piece will then be recorded.

Special commendations will be made to those performances that the judges consider to be outstanding in each of the above sections .

Entry Requirements

By 29th January 2010 we will require:

1. Cheque for One Hundred and Ten Pounds plus VAT (at 17.5%) made payable to the BBC by way of a registration fee per College entered (cheque to be sent direct to the RDC Administrator, Room G04 EW Bush House, The Strand, London WC2B 4PH)

By 12th February 2010 we will require:

1. The names, addresses, telephone numbers of the nominated students, together with 10" x 8" b/w photos and CVs of each.

2. Details (play, author and character) of candidates' individual choice of material.

3. One copy of the scripts of candidates' individual choice of material.

4. One copy of the script of the duologues, which should include the cast list.

(Please provide for the judges, a short context for the chosen scenes)

NB: Failure to supply all of the above by the due dates may result in disqualification from the event.