The British Council in collaboration with the BBC World service launches the International Radio Playwriting Competition 2009.

About the Competition:
Applicants are invited to write a radio play of approximately 60 minutes in length, on a subject of their choice. The play must be the original, unpublished work of the person or persons submitting it.

The competition is open to any writer who is not normally a resident of the United Kingdom. The play must be written in English but can be translated by a third party (we are not able to offer any assistance with translation costs) Translated work must be identified as such, and the translator must be credited.

Prizes:

There are two main prizes given: to the best play written in English as a first language and to the best play written in English as a second language. The two prize winners will each receive £2500 sterling and a trip to London to see their plays being recorded and to attend a prize-giving evening. There are also additional prizes of digital or short wave radios being given for the best radio play to be written from each of the following geographical areas: The Americas; Europe; Africa and the Middle East; South Asia; Russia and the Caucasus; Asia and Pacific. All writers whose plays reach the judges' final shortlist will receive BBC goodie bags.

Submissions and application forms can be emailed to radioplay@bbc.co.uk.

Last Date for receiving Entries: Tuesday, 31st March 2009.

*The above information is courtesy The British Council, India.