Theatre503’s Playwriting Award is an unprecedented opportunity for playwrights at all levels to be recognised for writing an outstanding, original piece of work for the stage. It will build upon the foundation of the venue’s reputation for engaging with the next generation of playwrights, whilst broadening its opportunities to include more experienced, produced writers.
This biennial award has been made possible by the generous support of The Richard Carne Trust, Curtis Brown Creative, Arts Council England and our publishing partners Nick Hern Books.
The winner of the award will receive a £6000 prize, a guaranteed production of their play at Theatre503, and their script published by Nick Hern Books.
To be considered for the 503Five you should have no full-length professional production credits.This is defined as a run of 3 weeks or more in an established venue for which you have received coverage from the national press.
- You can submit to the award from 1 to 29 February 2016.
- The play must not have been professional produced. We define professionally produced as a run of 5 performances or longer to a paying audience.
- Plays must be submitted in the English language.
- Plays must not currently be under professional option or attached to another theatre/company.
- Plays must not have been professionally published.
- All scripts will be read anonymously – you will be asked for your personal details when submitting but these are kept separate from your script while being read.
- There should be no personal details contained within the script, including cover pages, headers and footers and body of the text.
- Writers may only submit one script per submission window however this can include scripts that have been previously considered by Theatre503 or other theatres.
- Once submitted you may not submit a later draft before the submission window closes.
- The play must be at least 60 minutes in stage time.
- There is no entry fee for this competition.
- Co-written plays are accepted for the award. If the writers in question are then considered for the 503Five they will be asked to submit individual work.
By submitting a script for consideration you agree that:
- The text itself does not contain any detail of your identity.
- You are the writer of the play and exclusively own and control all copyright and all other related rights to the play.
- The play is at least 60 minutes in stage time.
- The play is an original, unperformed, unpublished work for the stage and has not been produced anywhere in the world.
- The play is available for production and unattached to any other theatre or company.
- If you are the winner, or are selected to join the 503Five, your play will be automatically under option to Theatre503 for a period of eighteen months after the announcement of the award winner or the 503Five members, whichever is applicable.
- If you are the winner of the award then Nick Hern Books will have the first refusal over acquiring publication and amateur performing rights, pending further contractual agreement and payment of an advance against royalties.
- You will not be entitled to any production related fees other than Theatre503’s standard percentage of gross box office receipts.
- Upon the occurrence of any event of force majeure or incapacity, Theatre503 shall not be obliged to produce any work.
- The information that you provide can be used for analysis purposes
Final judging panel for the 2016 Theatre503 Playwriting award will include: Timberlake Wertenbaker (Our Country’s Good), Mel Kenyon (Casarotto And Ramsey) Henry Hitchings(Evening Standard), and Lily Williams (Curtis Brown).