The British Council, in partnership with the BBC World Service, launched the 12th International Radio Playwriting Competition on 16 October 2010.

Applicants are invited to write a radio play of approximately 60 minutes in length, on a subject of their choice.

The play must be original, unpublished work of the person or persons submitting it.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.

The complete set of rules are given on the application form that you can dowload form the links below. Please read these rules carefully before entering the competition.

Prizes

There are two main prizes given: For 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 £2,500 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.

The closing date for applications will be Thursday 31 March 2011.  

Application forms will be available to download from www.bbcworldservice.com/radioplay or www.britishcouncil.org/arts-international-radio-playwriting

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