Original Theatre Company have today launched a new prize – the Originals Playwriting Award, aimed at emerging and early career playwrights.

Submissions are open now, accepting new works from writers across the UK, open to anyone above the age of 18.

Judged by a panel of acclaimed industry experts (to be announced), the winner of the Award will receive a cash prize of £7,000, with three further runners up receiving £2,000 each. Launched in collaboration with Riverside Studios, each of the four plays will receive a script-in-hand performance at the venue, which will additionally be filmed and streamed live by North South. 

Digital Producer for Original Theatre and former co-founder of HighTide, Steven Atkinson, said: “As theatre rebuilds post pandemic, it’s vital to continue to keep innovating with production opportunities for diverse new voices, to support their development and showcase their talent. Following our recent Critic’s Circle Award for Exceptional Theatre Making During Lockdown, this award deepens Original Theatre’s commitment to making exceptional theatre available to audiences everywhere.”

The submissions window will remain open until 10am on 9 May, and plays can be submitted via the Original Theatre Company website here.