Ambassador Cruise Line and PEEL Entertainment Group launch AMBASSADOR PEEL PLAYWRITING CHALLENGE 2025

Setting sail for new talent, Ambassador Cruise Line and PEEL Entertainment Group have launched the Ambassador Peel Playwriting Challenge 2025.

The new prize will offer opportunity for both experienced writers and unproduced playwrights to submit their work, with the winning play staged onboard an Ambassador ship, with the winner receiving a cash prize of £6,000 and a free cruise for two in 2026. The award is the first of its kind to take place on a cruise ship, making new waves for the theatre industry!

Through the award, Ambassador and PEEL want to celebrate exciting and unseen work, opening entries to anyone whether they have a stable of work or its their first play and have been daydreaming about getting their story into script form.

Once finalised, the shortlisted playwrights will be invited to join the ship for the day and get the chance to see their work performed by their team of terrific onboard actors. All plays must be under an hour in duration and suitable for performance onboard Ambassador ships, but as no subject is off limits, the award is open to all UK & ROI entrants over the age of 18, with full guidelines and entry requirements found in the terms and conditions.

The winning play will be produced as part of PEEL’s Theatre@Sea programme which is performed on both Ambassador’s ships Ambience and Ambition. The onboard acting troupes are among the few existing repertory companies operating out of the UK. Over the past two years, Theatre@Sea has staged a wide range of productions onboard both ships to a great reception with a whole host of genres ranging from thrillers and dramas, comedies, and modern adaptations of classics.

Head of Operations from Ambassador Cruise Line, Bob McGowan, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with PEEL Entertainment on this first of its kind ship based competition. PEEL have been running the Theatre@Sea programme onboard our ships which has allowed us to offer a platform to writers, directors and actors and, through this, they have offered a huge range of entertainment to our guests. The playwriting competition takes that a step further and allows established or new writers to share their work in an exciting way. We take great pride in our outstanding entertainment offering and this will add another innovative string to our bow.”

The judges for the playwriting award will be announced in January when entries open. The winner will be announced in December 2025.  

For more info on the Ambassador Peel Playwriting Challenge 2025, please click here.