Commonwealth Writers announces partnership with BBC World Service & British Council

1st May 2012. It’s time to get writing, with the launch of the International Playwriting Competition

today. For the 13th year, BBC World Service and the British Council, in partnership with
Commonwealth Writers, invites writers around the world to send in their radio plays. The dramas
need to be 53 minutes long, but can be on any subject. It’s the only competition of its kind in the
world.

There are two first prizes – one for writers with English as a first language and one for writers with
English as a second language. Their prize includes a trip to London to watch the play being recorded,
attendance at an award ceremony and £2,000.

Previous judges have included Dame Eileen Atkins, Doris Lessing, Kwame Kwei Armah and Ayesha
Dharker.

The competition has helped launch the writing careers of many of its winners. Lasha Bugadze from
Georgia, one of the 2011 winners, currently has a play as part of the PEN festival in New York. He’s
finishing a play for London’s Royal Court Theatre and his adaptation of “As You Like It” will be part of
the Shakespeare Festival at the Globe Theatre, London.

His winning play, The Navigator, was broadcast again on 28 April on BBC World Service to launch this
year’s competition. It was described by the judges as “”enchanting and authentic… cleverly turning
the subject of loneliness into joyous listening.”

Commenting on his win, Lasha Bugadze, said: “This competition is very important for different
reasons. On one hand, it looks for interesting ideas and plays and, on the other, it connects us with
worlds and cultures that we may not have previously been familiar with. I have always been afraid
that matters which were important to Georgian society would only be understood by those whose
native language is Georgian, but the competition has transcended this barrier to allow for a detailed
understanding by everyone.”

Fernanda Jaber, who won the second language prize, commented: “Winning has had a major
effect on my life. I’ve always been pretty stubborn and now I feel like I have an infinite amount of
perseverance. No matter how many rejection letters I get, I just keep stacking them up next to my
award.”

Marion Nancarrow, Executive Producer, BBC Radio Drama, said: “I never cease to be impressed
by the talent of the hundreds of writers who enter this competition – some having written their
very first play, others with more experience. But all take us into their worlds in an intimate
and immediate way that radio does so well. And with our partners at the British Council and
Commonwealth Writers, we hope to hear even more voices this year.”

Andrew Jones, Acting Director of Drama and Dance for the British Council, added: “The British
Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations,
is delighted to be working again in partnership with BBC World Service on the Competition. The
challenge and opportunities for both experienced and aspiring writers from different cultures and
backgrounds to develop, test and ultimately broadcast their skills through the universal medium of
radio are truly unique. The competition wonderfully complements the other New Writing activities
that the Council supports around the globe.

Lucy Hannah, Culture Programme Manager, Commonwealth Foundation, said: “Commonwealth
Writers is proud to be associated with such an important competition which celebrates original work
from both established and new writers from around the world. We hope we can help to promote
and develop the careers of these talented individuals across the Commonwealth.”

http://www.commonwealthwriters.org/international-radio-playwriting-competition-2012-call-for-entries/