Papatango New Writing Prize is Now Open to Submissions

Guaranteeing its winner a full production on the professional London stage at one of London's most acclaimed new writing venues as well as publication by one of the UK's leading theatre publishers, the fifth Papatango New Writing Prize is now open to submissions from UK applicants, regardless of age.

Submissions are invited from 11 March 2013 until the closing date of midnight on 31 May 2013. The longlist will be announced on 1 July 2013 and the final winner declared on 1 August 2013.

The winner will receive a full four-week run at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre in November 2013, and the script of the play will be published by Nick Hern Books.

This year's judges will be the four members of Papatango - Matt Roberts, George Turvey, Sam Donovan and Chris Foxon, together with Neil McPherson - Artistic Director of the Finborough Theatre, Francis Grin - Literary Manager of the Finborough Theatre and Reen Polonsky - Senior Reader of the Finborough Theatre. In a development from previous years, all entries will be judged entirely anonymously.

Last year's competition received over 700 entries, and previous winners of the Papatango New Writing Prize include Dawn King's Foxfinder which was one of The Independent's Top Five Plays of the Year, won playwright Dawn King a prestigious Pearson Award bursary through the Finborough Theatre, won the Critics' Circle Most Promising Newcomer Award for director Blanche McIntyre, and was nominated for OffWestEnd Awards for Best New Play and Best Male Performance, and Pack by Louise Monaghan, which Michael Billington of The Guardian said "knocks spots off much of the new writing I have seen". The first winner of the Prize, Dominic Mitchell, is currently receiving huge acclaim for his BBC series In The Flesh, having been discovered and championed by Papatango who produced Potentials, his debut show.

Papatango New Writing Prize 2013 - Submission Guidelines

The competition is open to anyone resident in the United Kingdom only.

There is no age limit.

The play must have a playing time of at least ninety minutes.

We can only accept one entry per person.

All entries should include page numbers on every page.

The deadline for entry is midnight on Friday, 31 May 2013. Any entries received after this time will not be read, and no extension is possible.

We are only able to accept entries submitted by email in Word or PDF format. Entries must be entirely complete and in one document only.

All entries should be emailed to scripts@papatango.co.uk. Any entry made to the Finborough Theatre will be disqualified.

Papatango was founded by co-Artistic Directors Matt Roberts, George Turvey and Sam Donovan in 2007, who were joined by producer Chris Foxon in 2012. The company's mission is to find the best and brightest new talent in the UK with an absolute commitment to bringing their work to the stage. Since then, Papatango have produced sixteen pieces
of new writing in venues including the Tristan Bates Theatre, the Old Red Lion Theatre and the Pleasance London. 2009 saw the launch of their first Papatango New Writing Prize, which each year has gone from strength to strength. Since 2011, Papatango have been in partnership with and resident at the Finborough Theatre. www.papatango.co.uk