To mark the 10th anniversary of the UK’s biggest playwriting competition; the 2015 Bruntwood Prize was officially launched on 29 January at the National Theatre with a drinks ceremony and panel discussion chaired by Kirsty Lang.

Playwrights Simon Stephens & Duncan Macmillan joined Journalists Miranda Sawyer & Matt Trueman, and Talawa Artistic Director, Michael Buffong to discuss what makes a great play, how the prize has provided important support for playwrights and how it has a huge impact on the new writing ecology in Britain.

Over drinks and canapes, guests were joined by members of the 2015 Judging Panel, writing critics from stage and screen, previous winners and esteemed writers, directors and theatre makers, to celebrate what has become the biggest national competition for playwriting.

View the photos here:

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Since its inception in 2005, the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting – a joint venture between property company Bruntwood and the Royal Exchange Theatre – has received over 7000 scripts, and has awarded £160,000 to 15 prize winning writers, with eight winning productions been staged.

The 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting opened for submissions on Friday 30 January 2015 and closes for submissions at 6pm on 5 June 2015. Enter here.