CONGRATULATIONS to every single person who has entered a script for the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting! We are delighted to announce that we have received 1938 scripts!!

It an achievement to write and finish a script. To think of the characters, the story, the world of your play. To create scenes where the characters come to life, interact and affect each other, and us. To conjure beautiful theatrical images. To step into our collective imaginations, break down the walls and enable us to see our world anew. To consider the way you tell that story, the form and structure, the journey of the audience. And ultimately to have the determination and tenacity to sit down, over time, and keep writing and keep going until you come to the end.

It is an achievement.

But don’t take our word for it – we asked previous winners and judges what it means to finish a script and hand it over to someone else and here’s what they had to say –

“To finish a play and send it out into the world is a great feeling. It’s also the most important bit of the whole process – a play isn’t a play until it’s finished. No matter what happens next, by finishing a full-length play, you’ve earned yourself the right to call yourself a writer. When I first started writing I would print out several copies and if possible I would deliver it to theatres by hand. These days plays tend to be delivered electronically but I still like to print one copy out, place it neatly on my desk and enjoy that moment of having achieved something good.” Phil Porter, winner of the 2005 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting for THE CRACKS IN MY SKIN

“Sometimes I feel like my mum’s rescue dog, Badger. When he feels vulnerable, Badger grips his lead in his mouth and refuses to let go.  When I finish a play, I want to grip it between my teeth and never let it go. Ever. As you and I know, writing a play is bloody hard work. And giving your play to other eyes to read can be really difficult too. You’ve done both. And it’s a brilliant achievement. You are an ace person and an ace writer. You are most definitely not Badger the rescue dog. Congratulations. Now go and celebrate. You deserve it.” Vivienne Franzmann, winner of the 2008 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting for MOGADISHU and Judge of the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

“I’m never sure quite how I feel about a play after I’ve sent it off. I’m often not sure whether It’s awful or good. I just don’t know. Some writers must know, but I don’t. If I have a good feeling about it, that doesn’t mean much about what I’ve written. If I’ve got a bad feeling, sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised a few weeks later. But it’s a nice feeling to send it off and suddenly have an afternoon with nothing much to do.” Ben Musgrave, winner of the 2005 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting for PRETEND YOU HAVE BIG BUILDINGS

Finally a word from award-winning playwright BRYONY LAVERY, one of the Judges for the 2015 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting –

So, the version I finally let someone see is labelled First Draft…

Lying.

It is usually about draft 435978900000 or something.

Metaphorically, I open the many-locked door to my workroom

to all my collaborators…director, dramaturg, designer, actors, casting, technical people, producers, marketing, publicity, lighting, sound, wardrobe…audience…

From in here to, gulp, out there…

From anything is possible

To what is really possible

Completely scary.

Completely wonderful.

So. Congratulations!

It is not something that we take lightly. Everyone who reads for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is acutely aware of the work that you have all put into your scripts. They will now be working away to read and carefully consider your work. More information about the Reading Process can be found  here

Keep checking back and we will keep everyone posted on our progress through the website. You can also find key dates here

Finally, we want the website to be an on-going resource for playwrights so we will be uploading information about more events and opportunities in the coming weeks so please do keep checking back with us!