The Alfred Bradley Bursary Award

BBC Radio Drama is looking for talented writers based in the North of England with compelling stories to tell. You could win a bursary of up to £5,000, have your work produced on BBC Radio 4, secure a six month mentorship with a Radio Drama Producer and have the opportunity to develop future commissions - so get your creative juices flowing and get writing!

This biennial award was set up to commemorate the life and work of Alfred Bradley, the distinguished BBC Radio Drama Producer. It’s the most prestigious radio drama prize in the country and encourages new radio writing in the North of England, in collaboration with BBC Radio 4. Previous winners include Lee Hall, Mandy Precious, Peter Straughan, and Mark Shand.

Part of the bursary award is a commission for the Afternoon Play slot on BBC Radio 4 (2:15pm weekdays, or listen again.) If you've never written a radio play before, you might want to try reading our radio drama tips, or reading plays written for radio in our script archive - including the winning script of the 2006 Alfred Bursary Award, Abigail Adams (PDF) by Mark Shand.

We are also running radio drama workshops in the North of England, to help you get your script into shape.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you were born, are currently based, or have previously lived in the North of England for a minimum of five years.

You must also have never had a play produced by BBC Radio Drama.

The Judges

David Nobbs - Writer: The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
Amanda Dalton - Poet, Theatre and Radio Writer: Room of Leaves, Strike, Caligari
Shobna Gulati - Actor: Coronation Street, Dinner Ladies, Magnolia
Jeremy Howe - BBC Commissioning Editor for Drama, Radio 4
Kate Rowland - BBC Creative Director, New Writing
Sue Roberts - BBC Executive Producer, Radio Drama North

How do you enter?

Send a hard copy of an original 45 minute radio drama (7,000 words maximum), along with a covering letter containing your name, address, and contact details to:

Alfred Bradley Bursary Award
BBC writersroom
379 Euston Road
London
NW1 3AU

Your name should ONLY appear on the front page of the script
If you would like receipt of your entry acknowledged please enclose a stamped self-addressed postcard
If you would like your script returned to you please enclose a large SSAE.

Rules

• The closing date for entries is noon on Friday 27th February 2009
• Shortlisted plays will be notified by the end of April 2009
• Winner/s will be notified by the end of May 2009
• Make sure your name appears only on the front page of your script and on your covering letter
• You must submit a hard copy of your script: we cannot accept scripts by fax, email, or on tape
• Scripts should be clearly typed or word processed and printed on A4 paper
• The judges' decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered into

Read the full terms and conditions of entry.