Cranked Anvil Playwriting Competition

The Cranked Anvil Quarterly Play Writing Competition is a new international competition seeking original radio and audio drama scripts for professional broadcast. Run by Cranked Anvil in partnership with Radio Northumberland, the competition runs four times a year, with deadlines at the end of March, June, September, and December.

Scripts should be written for radio or audio broadcast and run approximately 10–20 minutes in length. Any theme, genre, or setting is welcome, and there is no limit on the number of characters. Theatre or film scripts that can be adapted for audio are also eligible. Entries are judged by a panel headed by Cranked Anvil Editor-in-Chief Paul Dunn, who has written and performed for BBC Radio and whose theatre plays have been professionally produced throughout the UK. Entrants may submit up to three plays per quarter.

Beyond the cash prizes of £50 and £35, an unlimited number of Special Mentions are awarded each quarter. All placed and commended scripts, including Special Mentions, are professionally produced as audio recordings, broadcast on Radio Northumberland, made available on demand online worldwide, and guaranteed inclusion in a future playscripts digital anthology published by Cranked Anvil. A selection of short-listed entries may also be considered for recording and anthology inclusion.

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.