The Stage

Bruntwood Playwrighting judge calls for more female entrants

Published Thursday 15 May 2008 at 12:45 by Lalayn Baluch

Richard Wilson, chair of the judging panel for the Royal Exchange’s Bruntwood Playwrighting Competition, has bemoaned the lack of female writers who entered the 2007 contest and is urging more to participate this year.

Last year’s competition attracted nearly 2,000 entries. However, only one play by a woman made it into the final shortlist of ten, and according to actor and director Wilson, this balance reflected the overall number of submissions.

He said: “Theatre should be telling the stories of the whole range of people, from all walks of life. We want to encourage female writers, writers from black and minority ethnic communities, people who have never written for the theatre before the competition and share their ideas for the stage.”

The writing contest is open to everyone aged 18 and over from the UK and Ireland. Entrants submit work under a pseudonym, allowing playwrights, regardless of gender or experience, to compete on equal footing.

Jo Combes, associate director of the Royal Exchange, added: “We feel that these figures just don’t reflect the talent out there. I would say to women - look at Polly Stenham and Chloe Moss as inspiration, they can do it, so can you.”

The closing date for entries is June 13. Last year’s three winners - Pretend You Have Big Buildings by Ben Musgrave, Monster by Duncan Macmillan and The Cracks in My Skin by Phil Porter - all received full productions at the Royal Exchange as well as cash prizes from a pot of £40,000.