“EVERY YEAR THE PAPATANGO PRIZE COMES UP WITH A BIT OF A CRACKER.” THE GUARDIAN
Launched in 2009, the Papatango New Writing Prize is the biggest playwriting award in the UK. The first - and still only annual - playwriting award to guarantee its winner a full production, publication, fee and royalties, it has changed the landscape for new writing. It attracts more annual entries than any other award. Despite this, it is also unique in offering personal feedback, supporting new writers and generating new work nationwide.
We’re taking a few months to remodel the Prize, to make it more sustainable in an increasingly challenging landscape (please remember: we have no core funding, Arts Council England haven’t funded the Prize since 2021, and it costs approximately £200,000 to read each entry, give feedback for all, and produce/publish the winner). If we are to continue serving playwrights with this industry-leading opportunity, we need a little breathing space to secure its future.
While we do this, we’re running Papatango Playwrights’ Studio, to help you perfect your script before the Prize returns. Completely free, the Studio offers digital workshops, one-to-one advice, thousands of pounds in open-access funding, interviews with Prize winners and representation on our website. Learn more HERE.
