Papatango open submission for 10th anniversary New Writing Prize

The Papatango New Writing Prize, now in its tenth year, opens for submissions today, 1 December 2017, until midnight on 28 February 2018.

An unprecedented commitment to new talent, the Papatango New Writing Prize is the UK’s only annual opportunity guaranteeing a new writer a full production, publication by Nick Hern Books, a royalty of 10% of the gross box office, and a £6000 commission and full developmental support for a follow-up play. In addition, every entrant receives feedback on their script.

The winner will be announced in summer 2018, with the production running at Southwark Playhouse in the autumn. This marks the fourth year the prize-winning play will be showcased at this venue following the world premières of the 2017, 2016 and 2015 Papatango New Writing Prize winners: Trestle by Stewart Pringle, Orca by Matt Grinter and Tomcat by James Rushbrooke. These productions have received 8 nominations for Off West End Awards including Best New Play and Most Promising Playwright.

2017 winner Stewart Pringle describes his experience: ‘Winning the 2017 Papatango Prize has already transformed my career. It has provided me with a real launching pad as a writer, led to an award nomination, meetings with major TV production companies, and even a Danish translation of the play! The entire process from the moment Chris, Papatango’s Producer, phoned to tell me the news, through to raising a glass or two after the final performance, has been an absolute joy, and also a real demonstration of a highly professional theatre company firing on all cylinders. From dramaturgy through marketing to production and the sheer care and attention paid to their writers, Papatango have been spectacular. I can’t thank them enough, and I’d urge every playwright to consider sending something in to the 2018 Prize. It’s the smartest decision I think I’ve ever made’.

Artistic Director of Papatango, George Turvey, said today ‘When Papatango was launched a decade ago, we had no money, no connections, and the Prize was our only project, run on a wing and a prayer. Now, we deliver several commissioning schemes; run free playwriting programmes, performances and publications for over 4000 people a year in schools, community centres and venues nationwide; offer £5000 in travel bursaries to any aspiring writer in need; and produce two or three shows a year – but the Prize remains at the heart of all this. Its ethos that all you need is a story, that anyone can make new plays, inspires all of our work. It’s a flagship opportunity, the first in the UK to guarantee production and publication and still the only one to support its winner with a second commission. Over the past nine years we have read over 7000 plays and our excitement at the prospect of discovering and launching more brilliant playwrights is just as strong as it was when we started. Any award for new plays is only as strong as the playwrights who enter, and we are amazed by and grateful for the quality we receive each year. We can’t wait to start reading and feeding back to all of this year’s submissions, and to find out what our next show will be.’

All entries must be anonymous, have a running time of at least 60 minutes, be original and previously unproduced, and be sent in Microsoft Word or PDF formats with a contact telephone number on the front page. Scripts should be sent to scripts@papatango.co.uk by midnight, 28 February 2018. Full details are available at www.papatango.co.uk