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 - celebrating its 20th anniversary - is the largest playwriting competition in Europe and searches for scripts that are original and unperformed, by writers of any experience over the age of 16. Every play is read anonymously and judged purely on the work alone.

The 2025 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is split across four categories. They are:

• The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting – £20,000
• The Judges Award – £10,000
• The Bruntwood Prize International Award – £10,000

Introduced in 2019, this award is open to international playwrights who can apply through our partner theatres:

Australia Plays Transform – Sydney, Australia

Melbourne Theatre Company – Melbourne, Australia

Playwrights Horizons – New York, United States of America

Stratford Festival – Ontario, Canada

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company – Washington DC, United States of America

• The North West Original New Voice Award and Residency

In recognition of the Prize’s home in Manchester, and to enable us to work closely with the winning playwright, the winner must be based in the North West of England and have not had a full-length play professionally produced for 12 performances or more in a venue.

In addition to winning £10,000, they will also access an additional £10,000 fund dedicated to their professional development at the Royal Exchange Theatre during a bespoke one-year residency.

If you still have questions about the process, contact the Bruntwood & Literary Co-ordinator on bruntwood.prize@royalexchange.co.uk