Canadian Playwriting Competition

SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED YEAR-ROUND

ENTRY DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPETITION RESULTS!

https://theatrebc.org/playwriting-competition/#:~:text=The%20competition%20is%20open%20to,Theatre%20BC%20by%20December%2031.

Theatre BC has been a parent organization for community theatre across the province since 1932. It annually hosts Mainstage—a competition amongst community theatre companies each July. Mainstage is the largest provincial theatre festival of its kind in Canada.

The Canadian Playwriting Competition is open to original scripts of drama or comedy, either full-length or one-act. Deadline for entry is December 31 annually. Independent jurors will decide upon winners in each category with a prize of $1,000 awarded for the chosen full-length, $750 for the one-act, and $500 for a script of special merit. In addition, one of the three winning plays may be chosen to be workshopped at Theatre BC’s Mainstage festival in July. This choice will be made at the discretion of the judges.

There are three rounds of judging and writers will be notified of the results of each round. All scripts successfully passing to the next round will receive brief notes from the judges. Finalists will be notified when the jury process is complete in May. Winners will be notified and will also be celebrated at our Annual Provincial Theatre Festival “Mainstage” Awards Ceremony (July).

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

Failure to meet rules and regulations will disqualify entries.

• The competition is open to full-length and one-act drama or comedy plays written by permanent residents of Canada.
• Authors may enter more than one script but each script must be accompanied by a separate entry fee and web form.
• Entry deadline is December 31. Entries must be received by Theatre BC by December 31.
• The script must be written in English.
• The script must be original. Adaptations of other works will not be accepted except for adaptations of works that are in the public domain (for instance a contemporary adaption of a classic Greek tragedy) or adaptations of works to which the author holds sole copyright (for instance a short story that the author wrote and holds copyright).

SCRIPT SUBMISSION:

1. One electronic copy of the script is to accompany the web entry form. Entries must be either a PDF or a Word document. All others document forms will be rejected.
2. The script entry form must be accompanied by entry fee payment via PAYPAL, VISA or MASTERCARD for all fees unless another arrangement has been made with the Theatre BC administration office.
3. The script must be received by deadline of December 31.
4. Scripts should be formatted properly. There are a number of acceptable formats and writing programs available. An improperly formatted script is difficult to read and may be rejected. If you are unfamiliar with proper formatting, please keep in mind the following guidelines:

• Text should be double-spaced between speaking parts.
• Speakers names should be isolated from their dialogue in some manner.
• Stage directions need to be clearly distinguishable from dialogue by the use of italics or other similar manner.
• No Images should appear anywhere in the script.
• Text should be in 12 pt. font.
• See below for a sample of acceptable format in Word.