We are excited to announce the launch of The Painkiller Prize: a new (and hopefully annual) playwriting prize, but with a twist.

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Unlike many other prizes, we will not be asking for completed scripts. Instead, playwrights will be invited to submit a pitch form for a new idea alongside a sample of their writing.

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Particularly, we want to celebrate an audacious and thought-provoking playwright who places humour at the heart of their work.

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After the submission window and alongside award-winning playwright and director Jon Brittain, (Rotterdam, The Crown), we will then meet with a small group of shortlisted writers before selecting the winner, who will receive a commission of £7,500 to write a new play.

 

We will then work with the selected playwright to develop their play ahead of a rehearsed reading at a theatre in central London.

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They will also have the opportunity to consult with a range of leading industry figures throughout the drafting process.

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All UK-based playwrights will be eligible to submit a treatment/pitch for a play with a maximum cast size of 4.

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Playwrights will be able to submit their applications/pitch from Monday 25 September until Monday 13 November 2023 and they should be sent to info@bitterpilltheatre.com

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In order to apply you will need to provide the following:

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• A completed pitch form that be found here. We encourage playwrights not to hold back in their responses!

• A copy of their CV. We are keen to receive applications from UK-based writers of any and all backgrounds. Each pitch will have a significant bearing on which playwrights progress to the next stage, however, we'd also like to know about your career and any previous work. This CV does not have to be a "Theatre" CV. If you have written for a different medium or if this is your first full-length play, we still want to hear from you. 

• A sample of your writing (no longer than 1,500 words). This sample should be written for the stage but can take the form of a monologue or dialogue.

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For more information and before you make your application, we strongly suggest that you read more about the prize and what we're looking for.

 

This can be found here.

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We look forward to hearing from you. 

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Bitter Pill.