The Process

In October 2005, the top 30 novice playwrights, as chosen by a group of professional play readers, were invited to London’s West End to meet with the panel of experts, who then selected the final 10. The panel consists of West End producer Sonia Friedman, Literary Agent Mel Kenyon and Actor Neil Pearson.

The chosen 10 took part in a residential playwriting master-class with playwright Stephen Jeffreys. Following this, they were asked to write the first draft of their play. Sonia Friedman and the panel then reduced the list to three, from which the winning play will be finally selected.

Aside from writing ability – imagination, characterisation, dialogue, structure – the judges are looking for the appeal and originality of subject matter as well as the writer’s ability to “visualise” their play for the stage.

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