BigVillage Fringe Show Competition

BigVillage, an amateur theatrical group, is proud to announce an exciting new competition for aspiring playwrights. Following the success of their writing competitions in 2005 and 2007, the Edinburgh-based group is now offering writers the chance to win a full-scale production of their play at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2010.

The winning script will be performed in a six- or seven-night run at an established central Edinburgh venue in August 2010. The winning playwright will be welcome to attend rehearsals and will receive two complimentary tickets to each performance.

BigVillage founder Jacqui McIntosh says, "Bringing a new show to the Fringe can be a big risk, but BigVillage's base in Edinburgh all year round means we're really well-placed to deliver a good audience for new writing at the heart of the biggest arts festival on the planet. It's a fantastic opportunity that we hope will excite and inspire lots of writers to enter."

The basic rules for entering the competition are as follows:

• Plays must run between 40 and 60 minutes.
• Plays must feature roles for a minimum of six actors of any gender mix.
• Plays must not have been previously performed, even as rehearsed readings.
• Plays must be presented and formatted ready for the stage (ie not radio or screenplays).
• Fringe-show conditions will favour scripts which feature a low budget, minimal set etc.
• Playwrights must hold copyright or permissions for everything in their script, including any music.
• Plays will be judged anonymously by three professional writers: Lorraine McCann, Jim McSharry and Alistair Rutherford.
• Entries must be in the form of a Word document with a title page giving the entrant's name and contact details. Entrants' names must not appear anywhere else on the script.
• Please note: PDF files are not acceptable.
• Maximum two entries per writer.

The winner will be announced within two months of the closing date. BigVillage reserve the right not to award the prize if a suitable play has not been received.

Deadline: 27 November 2009

To find out more and apply, visit the BigVillage website.