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.

Watch the video below for some of the best hints and tips on how to write a radio drama.

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-minute 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."

click Back to main competition page