UK and Ireland playwrights can enter unperformed plays or a chance to win cash prizes.
The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is an opportunity for writers of any background and experience to enter unperformed plays for chance to win a financial prize.
All plays are submitted anonymously and will be read by an expert panel of readers appointed by the Royal Exchange Theatre. The final panel of readers, including key artistic staff from the Royal Exchange Theatre, will compile a shortlist of plays for the Judges to consider. Plays must be original, unperformed and unproduced pieces of work. They must be an hour-long or more in playing time.
The 2022 prize fund totals £40,000. The following prizes will be awarded:
- The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting - a first prize of £16,000.
- A Judges’ Award of £8,000.
- An International Award of £8,000.
- The North West Original New Voice Award and Residency. This year the winner must be based in the North West of England and must not have had a full-length play professionally produced for 12 performances or more in a professional venue. In addition to winning £8,000, winners will also access an additional £10,000 fund dedicated to their professional development at the Royal Exchange Theatre during a bespoke one year residency.
The programme is open to writers in the UK and Ireland who are aged 16 and over.
The deadline for applications is 6 June 2022 (18:00 GMT).
How To Apply
This programme operates on a biennial basis.
The current round opened to submissions on 24 January 2022 (18:00 GMT). The deadline is 6 June 2022 (18:00 GMT).
Established writers and those who may never have written a play will be encouraged to submit through an anonymous judging process, meaning each entry is judged on its own merit.
Those wishing to get in touch or ask any questions should email [email protected]
Addresses and contacts
For further information on how to obtain this grant locally, please contact the following:
- Enquiries
Royal Exchange Theatre
Email: [email protected]