An Introduction to Screenwriting - Free online course
A free online course for new and experienced writers built by the University of East Anglia’s School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing on the FutureLearn platform.
BBC Contains Strong Language Festival - BBC Writersroom Workshop & Alfred Bradley Bursary Award
2 Events: 28th September 2019 in Hull. Ever wondered how to get noticed by the BBC? How to send your script and what happens when you do? How do we assess your work? What grabs us and what puts us off? If you’re after some tips, this is a session not to miss. Plus find out more about the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award for Radio Drama. This award for new writers from the north of England offers a £5000 prize and the opportunity of a BBC Radio 4 commission.
Blackshaw Theatre - Scare Slam
Deadline: midday on Sunday 22nd September 2019. Lovers of scary stories, unite. Prepare yourself for a night of chilling tales from both sides of the line of veracity. Submissions are open for Blackshaw Theatre’s fifth annual Scare Slam on 11th October in London.
Chronic Insanity - Theatre Writing Opportunity
Deadline: 30th September 2019. Chronic Insanity is a newly formed theatre company based in Nottingham. They are aiming to produce and present 12 shows in 12 months and are accepting submissions from playwrights, authors and poets and anyone who wants to write, from 3 act plays to experimental explorations. They will provide a space, cast and creative team, workshop and develop your work. All abilities and subject matter welcome.
Down Stage Write - 'I Think I'd Explode'
Deadline: Friday 4th October 2019. ‘I Think I’d Explode’ is an evening of four short plays written in response to the poetry of acclaimed Launceston poet Charles Causley. They are accepting submissions of complete plays from writers based in Cornwall or Devon written in response to ONE poem by Charles Causley, 10-20 minutes in length, for 1 or 2 actors. Successful plays will be performed in Cornwall and recorded as audio drama shorts.
Eastern Angles Young Writers' Group
Deadline: 25th September 2019. Are you aged 16-30 and living in or around Peterborough? Are you interested in telling stories? Are you interested in screenplays, writing poetry or plays? The Eastern Angles Young Writers' Group is back for a second year with the upper age limit increased to 30.
Idle Discourse - 'Ascending Ages' Writing Competition
Deadline: 27th September 2019 at 11.45pm. Idle Discourse are seeking 4 writers to each create an 8 minute scene for a residency at St Augustine's Tower in Hackney London this autumn. Each scene represents a different time period spanning 700 years. This is a paid opportunity.
Ink Festival 2020
Deadline: 5th October 2019. INK is a theatre company and registered charity, that sources, develops, and produces the best new short plays for stage and radio, from writers predominately with an East Anglian connection and each year showcases the new work at The INK Festival and on Tour. For 2020 entries are open to writers resident in the UK in the categories Short Play, Radio Play, Themed Play, Radio Game Show and Young Writer (under 18).
Lancaster Playwriting Prize
Deadline: Opens 19th August and closes 27th September 2019 at noon. The Lancaster Playwriting Prize aims to discover new voices from a diverse range of backgrounds; each year, it has different entry criteria in order to reach underserved playwrights. For 2019 they are looking for theatre scripts from writers over the age of 55 who live or work in North West England.
Little Pieces of Gold - Showcase for new writing
Deadline: 28th October 2019. ALL WOMXN will be a night of plays written by women for all-women casts. If you identify as a woman and are an aspiring playwright with a 10-15 minute play then get sending. Successful submissions will be produced at Southwark Playhouse in November as part of an evening marking 10 years of Little Pieces of Gold.
Newsjack
Deadline: Mondays & Tuesdays at noon weekly from 9th and 10th September and for 5 more weeks until 15th October. BBC Radio 4 Extra are again looking for submissions of sketches and one-liners for the topical sketch show series. A great chance to get your material on the radio!
Podium.me - Free audio drama workshops
Workshops: 5th/6th October 2019 in Belfast plus later dates in London, Derby, Edinburgh and Oxford. Want to try something new? Podium.me are looking for writers (or would be writers) to take part in a free audio drama workshop. Turn your ideas into a binge-worthy podcast - no prior writing experience required!
Tamasha Playwrights
Deadline: Friday 27th September at midday. Tamasha is open for applications for the sixth year of its Tamasha Playwrights group. This is a writer-led collective formed of 10 emerging playwrights from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The Comedy Crowd - Chorts
Deadline: 20th September 2019. Comedy writers and performers - can you make a 2 minute comedy video? Chorts are 2 minute comedies that show potential to be developed into a series of superb episodes or sketches.
The Delta Collective - Festive New Writing Night
Deadline: 31st October 2019. Submissions are open for The Delta Collective's festive new writing night which will take place in early December in London. The night is in aid of charity and food bank collections. They are looking for under 10 minute pieces with a maximum of 4 characters on the theme 'December'. Also open to songs, poetry, stand-up, spoken-word and for actors.
The John Byrne Award
Deadline: Monthly on the last day of each month for £250 prize, 31st January 2020 for annual £7500 prize. The John Byrne Award is an online exhibition and competition exploring personal and societal values. A single piece of creative work (any kind is accepted - Audio, Video, Imagery, Writing) can be entered. You must be living or studying in Scotland.
The Kay Mellor Fellowship - Leeds Playhouse and Rollem Productions
Deadline: 21st October 2019. Leeds Playhouse and Rollem Productions invite applications from writers to The Kay Mellor Fellowship, an exciting, year long dual development opportunity for stage and screen.
The Questors Theatre - Powerplay
Deadline: 31st October 2019. Powerplay is the theme for the next evening of short plays at The Questors Theatre, Ealing, London. They are looking for 15 minute plays that explore the theme and can be easily staged.
The University of Southampton - Green Stories
Deadline: Various deadlines. Green Stories Writing Competitions are a free set of competitions with prizes, open to all, looking for radio plays (deadline 12/7/2019), film screenplay (deadline Sept 2019) and TV series/drama (deadline Nov 2019). Writers are asked to write stories that present positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like, or integrate green characters, policies, solutions etc. in the backdrop of an otherwise mainstream story.
Zodiak Kids Writers Award
Deadline: 23rd September 2019 at midday. Submissions are now open for the Zodiak Kids Writing Award which offers writers with a strong connection to Northern Ireland the opportunity to develop an original Children’s comedy television series, with a particular focus on CBBC.
Latest opportunities
The University of Southampton - Green Stories
Deadline: Various deadlines. Green Stories Writing Competitions are a free set of competitions with prizes, open to all, looking for radio plays (deadline 12/7/2019), film screenplay (deadline Sept 2019) and TV series/drama (deadline Nov 2019). Writers are asked to write stories that present positive visions of what a sustainable society might look like, or integrate green characters, policies, solutions etc. in the backdrop of an otherwise mainstream story.
The Questors Theatre - Powerplay
Deadline: 31st October 2019. Powerplay is the theme for the next evening of short plays at The Questors Theatre, Ealing, London. They are looking for 15 minute plays that explore the theme and can be easily staged.
The Delta Collective - Festive New Writing Night
Deadline: 31st October 2019. Submissions are open for The Delta Collective's festive new writing night which will take place in early December in London. The night is in aid of charity and food bank collections. They are looking for under 10 minute pieces with a maximum of 4 characters on the theme 'December'. Also open to songs, poetry, stand-up, spoken-word and for actors.
Latest scripts
Keeping Faith / Un Bore Mercher (English & Welsh versions)
Read these scripts from the BBC TV Drama archive.
Gentleman Jack
Read these scripts from the BBC TV Drama archive.