Ominous Thrill seeks feminist radio plays

Website

Deadline: July 15, 2026

Submit to: ominousthrill@gmail.com

Use the NAME of your story in ALL CAPS in the subject line.
Include the WORD COUNT in the body text.
If the story is written in THIRD PERSON, indicate WHY the story is best told that way.

Attach the story as a Microsoft Word (.doc) file; or other universally editable format. No PDFs.

• Use Calibri 14 or similar consistent font.
• Do not paste the story into the email body.
• Make sure your story is ATTACHED before sending.
• Proofread thoroughly; excessive errors or poorly formatted submissions may be rejected.
• Include the phrase “devious audio delight” in the body of your email.
• Personal notes about why this story matters to you are not necessary - but always welcome.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Preference for Dramatized Audio Plays.

NARRATED STORIES:
First person is best for audio - we want to be as close to her/them and their experience as possible.
Third person can be considered ONLY if it's genuinely the best way to tell that story. If nothing is lost by transitioning a third person story to first person, it should be in first person for our production.
Second person... oh, you wanna go there? Wow us.
Present tense!

FEMINIST & INTERSECTIONAL HORROR AND DARK FICTION

CHARACTER-DRIVEN:
Thrillers·Horror · Suspense
· Feminine Rage & Fury· FemGore · Erotic Horror·Weird Girl·Surrealist & Transgressive·
· Queer / LGBTQAI+·Under-Represented Voices·Good For Her / Them

Stories from authors with lived experience where the horror, thrills and suspense
ride or die with social / political critique.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION:
stories passing the RAE WILDE TEST
(any story where men have no meaningful impact on the plot)

WORD LENGTH:

2,000 – 8,000 OUR SWEET SPOT
Up to 10,000 words will be considered if the story earns its length.

PAY:
.05/wordACCEPTED ORIGINAL WORK

Original, unpublished stories appearing nowhere else in any form.
.02/wordACCEPTED PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

Stories that have appeared elsewhere in any form - print, digital, podcast, or otherwise.

RIGHTS:

YOU RETAIN FULL RIGHTS

YOU KEEP FULL RIGHTS TO YOUR STORY.
WE ASK FOR A 3-MONTH AUDIO EXCLUSIVE PERIOD FOR THE OMINOUS THRILL PODCAST ONLY.

OUR AUDIO PRODUCTION

OMINOUS THRILL RETAINS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO OUR AUDIO PRODUCTION OF THE STORY - NOT THE STORY ITSELF.

AUDIO-FIRST STORIES

PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO STORIES NOT PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED FOR AUDIO, BUT ALL STORIES ARE WELCOME.

YOUR CREDIT

YOU WILL BE CREDITED IN THE AUDIO AND SHOW NOTES AS WRITTEN BY…
IN THE CASE OF HEAVY ADAPTATION BY US, THE CREDIT WILL BE STORY BY…
EITHER WAY, SHOW NOTES WILL INCLUDE A LINK TO WHEREVER YOU'D LIKE LISTENERS TO FIND YOU.

You will be notified as soon as possible if your story is selected.

BRING US YOUR STORIES OF
FEMININE RAGE AND RECLAIMATION.

We want to give them a vivid sonic voice.

Seeking Radio-Drama adaptations of Cosmic/Eldritch Horror for Halloween 2026 anthology

Website

Deadline: June 30, 2026

Scripts must be submitted via email to info@pmrp.org in either PDF, DOC, DOCX, or Google Doc format. 

The Post-Meridian Radio Players, based in Eastern Massachusetts, is seeking original scripts of Eldritch/Cosmic Horror (in the vein of Call of Cthulhu, The Thing or similar stories.) PMRP’s work pays homage to the golden age of radio, and our productions take place as staged readings before a live audience, with sound effects performed live. Since 2005, we have brought original and public domain radio plays to life in our distinctive format, which includes script-in-hand actors and live foley artists. Submissions are free, and playwrights can submit more than one.

If all you have is a paper script, please scan it into PDF. We won’t be accepting submissions via physical mail.

Scripts should be roughly 30-45 minutes in duration. 

Script must be a radio theatre adaptation of a public domain. If you don’t know whether the work you adapted is in the public domain, just ask us. We’ll research that for you. (Works first published in 1928 or earlier are definitely in the public domain in the US.)

Scripts must be in English. No musicals, please.

Scripts should be free of most blocking or other stage direction meant for a fully staged production. Our shows are performed at microphones, with the full cast and foley team visible to the audience at all times. If you’ve never adapted for radio theatre before, please don’t worry about getting the format right the first time. If selected, we’ll work closely with you to turn your script into a radio script (we’ve even adapted silent films for radio!).

Please avoid sending scripts that contain characters or music under copyright from different fictional universes/franchises. As an example, we don’t want to see mash-ups containing characters from Rocky Horror, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc, nor published music under current copyright.

Playwrights whose work is selected for production will be paid a royalty of $15 per performance. We most often have 6 performances per run. Submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world, but you must be able to legally accept your royalty payment in US funds. You will also receive a comp ticket to see a performance, should you wish.

In addition to (non-exclusive!) performance rights, PMRP retains (again, non-exclusive!) rights to record and sell or otherwise distribute (e.g., on our podcast) recordings of the performance, but all other script rights (including ownership) remain with the author(s). Scripts may be revised as needed for the performance and PMRP retains all performance rights including director choice, casting and sound design.

SummerWeen: A Radio Play Festival

Website

Deadline:  March 31, 2026 at 12:59pm
Or until they receive 75 submissions

DO NOT SEND THEY HAVE RECEIVED 75 SUBMISSIONS

The Sidekick Troupe (TST) is currently accepting submissions for SummerWeen: A Radio Play Festival.

Calling all mythical beasts, beach bums, and everyone who considers themselves a writer! Come celebrate the perfect spooky/summer blend with us in SummerWeen, A Radio Play Festival! Have you always dreamed of writing your own Paranormal Activity? Got a parody of Creature From the Black Lagoon where he plays beach volleyball? Now’s your chance!

We want YOU to send us your scary or silly Halloween oriented radio play… as long as it’s spooky!

-Must be at least 10 minutes, and no longer than 15 minutes.

-Must be Halloween-oriented in theme or genre.

-NO AI GENERATED SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

The live readings will take place in Manhattan, New York in the Summer of 2026 through The Sidekick Troupe.

Please note that the show will be performed and recorded in front of an audience in NYC, the recording will be going on our (the Sidekick Troupe's) socials and streaming platforms. 

BBC World Service & British Council International Audio Drama Competition 2026

Website

Deadline: June 4, 2025 11:00 GMT

SUBMISSION FORM

Welcome to the BBC World Service & British Council International Audio Drama Competition 2026. To enter, you’ll need to complete the  online submission form and supply us with:

The script for your 40-50 minute audio drama with up to six central characters. This should be submitted as a PDF file

A written synopsis outlining the complete story of your audio drama. This should be no more than 400 words long and submitted as a PDF file.

The competition closes at 11.00 GMT 4 June 2025, and is only open to writers outside of the UK. 

Entrants must also be over the age of 18 as of 4 June 2025.

We will be unable to enter into any correspondence, except with shortlisted entries, and we are also unable to acknowledge receipt of scripts.

Please do not send us amendments or further drafts once your place has been submitted.

Please do not send cassettes, CDs, DVDs, mp3s, videos or sheet music with your play – it is not necessary at the entry level and they cannot be returned to you.

If you would prefer to enter via email or post, you may download an entry form here.

PMRP SEEKING RADIO THEATRE SCRIPTS

Website

Deadline: December 15, 2024

PMRP SEEKING RADIO THEATRE SCRIPTS FOR SPRING 2025 ADVENTURE ANTHOLOGY
The Post-Meridian Radio Players, based in Eastern Massachusetts, is seeking submissions of one-act, adventure-oriented plays that would pair well with "The Most Dangerous Game" for our Spring 2025 show. PMRP’s work pays homage to the golden age of radio, and our productions take place as staged readings before a live audience, with sound effects performed live. Since 2006, we have brought original and public domain radio plays to life in our distinctive format, which includes script-in-hand actors and live foley artists. We are committed to EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion).

Our 2025 Spring show, with the working Title of "Tales of Adventure," aims to take the audience on an adventurous journey to exciting places. Danger, daring, and harrowing risks are the order of the day. The selected play(s) will be paired with headliner "The Most Dangerous Game." Your play can either be fully original or an adaptation of a public domain work of fiction. Submission is free, and playwrights can submit more than one play.

Guidelines are as follows (please read carefully):

Deadline is December 15, 2024. Scripts must be submitted via email to info@pmrp.org in either PDF, DOC, DOCX, or Google Doc format. If all you have is a paper script, please scan it into PDF. 

We won’t be accepting submissions via physical mail.

Plays should be 20-30 minutes in length.

Scripts must be in English. No musicals, please. Your play can be set in any time period.

Scripts should be free of most blocking or other stage direction meant for a fully staged production. Our shows are performed at microphones, with the full cast and foley team visible to the audience at all times. If you’ve never adapted for radio theatre before, please don’t worry about getting the format right the first time. If selected, we’ll work closely with you to turn your script into a radio script (we’ve even adapted silent films for radio!)

Please avoid sending scripts that contain characters or music under copyright from different fictional universes/franchises. As an example, we don’t want to see mash-ups containing characters from Rocky Horror, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc, nor published music under current copyright.

Playwrights whose work is selected for production will be paid a royalty of $15 per performance. We most often have 5-6 performances per run. Submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world, but you must be able to legally accept your royalty payment in US funds. You will also receive a comp ticket to see a performance, should you wish.

If you're sending multiple submissions, please send each submission in its own email, with your name and the name of the play in the subject line.

Please send submissions to info@pmrp.org.

The 2nd Annual Crashbox! Festival An International Festival for Short Live Radio Plays

Website

Deadline: August 31, 2024

A festival of short plays presented in the style of Old Time Radio. We are opening submissions for short genre scripts written to be heard but not seen, which our creative teams will then turn into a night of reader’s theatre, augmented with spectacular live sound effects and music, guaranteed to thrill your ears and ignite your imagination. This annual festival will spotlight a different genre of radio play every year.

This Years Crashbox!'s genre is Fantasy.​

Six finalists will have their play produced in our festival to be presented at The Edge Off Broadway, 1133 W Catalpa Ave, Chicago, IL 60640 December 6th through December 15th. 

All featured plays will receive at minimum a $50 Award. 

A $250 Award will be presented for best production as adjudicated by a panel of Chicago Theater professionals and genre experts. 

A $250 Audience Award will also be presented to the festival favorite as determined by our audiences.

Submission Requirements:

Deadline for submissions is August 31, 2024.

Scripts should be written for radio theatre, meaning only character dialogue, music, and sound effects should be scripted. No stage directions! All elements will be performed live. 

For proper radio play formatting, please follow the link: https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/radious.pdf

Crashbox! reads all submissions anonymously. Please provide playwright name and contact information on only the cover page of your submitted script.

Scripts cannot contain copyrighted music unless the playwright owns the music’s copyright, or has written permission from the music’s copyright owner.

Script length not to exceed 20 minutes.

Scripts should be written for a maximum of 5 actors, but infinite characters. Please list all double/triple casting in your play’s character descriptions.

Playwrights cannot submit more than 2 scripts per year for Crashbox! If more than 2 scripts are submitted by the same playwright, we’ll pick 2 at random. Only one play per playwright may be featured per Crashbox! Festival per season.

Scripts must be previously unproduced, BUT may include pre-existing characters created by playwright for previously produced pieces.

Submit scripts as pdfs to crashboxefct@gmail.com 

Important note: We at Crashbox! wish to impress upon our playwrights that this year's festival is intended to celebrate the aesthetic of Fantasy without being beholden to the era or outdated attitudes associated with the genre. 

Plays with plot or character elements that perpetuate racism, sexism, xenophobia or anti-LGBTQ sentiments will not be considered. ​​

RADIOPLAYS - Festival 2023-24

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2024

SUBMISSION FORM

July 23 through May 2024
(Productions will air continuously)

Works must feature some aspect of LGBT life.

If you skipped our webpage, please see: https://freshfruitfestival.com/radioplays-2023/for details.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please complete all fields on the following pages, attaching requested information or providing the appropriate links. Note this application should be finished in one sitting. Once completed in its entirety, please click "Submit" at the end, to officially submit to this Festival program.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Please complete the application fully. Incomplete applications can not be considered. (Script revisions are expected, but staying within length limits).
Submit any required work samples for your work: Text attachments must be in .RTF, .PDF, or .DOC file formats. Supporting files: Do not upload video or audio files; give Links to them only. Video/Audio links may be on Vimeo, YouTube, Dropbox, or other services. Please make sure you give us a full link and any password required to audit them.

Submissions: Please attach a complete, current or draft version of the text. SHORTS (of 10-30 min. long) and SHOTS! (4 to 12 min) will both be considered for this season's program. Complete rules on the website.

If this work is NOT yet a radio-script: you will be asked to also submit a 2-page excerpt in Radio-Script format, with detailed ambient, blocking, and sound design notes.

STAGED RADIO THEATRE COMPANY SEEKING H. G. WELLS ADAPTED SCRIPTS FOR HALLOWEEN 2024 ANTHOLOGY

Website

Deadline: June 1, 2024

The Post-Meridian Radio Players, based in Eastern Massachusetts, is seeking one to two original script adaptations of the novels or short stories of H.G. Wells. PMRP’s work pays homage to the golden age of radio, and our productions take place as staged readings before a live audience, with sound effects performed live. Since 2006, we have brought original and public domain radio plays to life in our distinctive format, which includes script-in-hand actors and live foley artists.

Our 2024 Halloween anthology will honor the science fiction works of author H.G.Wells. We are inviting submissions of 50-60 minute adaptations of Wells’ novels or 25-30-minute adaptations of Wells’ shorter works. Submission is free, and playwrights can submit more than one adaptation, so long as all are H. G. Wells’ canon.

Guidelines are as follows (please read carefully):

Deadline is June 1, 2024. Scripts must be submitted via email to info@pmrp.org in either PDF, DOC, DOCX, or Google Doc format. If all you have is a paper script, please scan it into PDF. We won’t be accepting submissions via physical mail.

Script must be a radio theatre adaptation of a public domain novel or short work by science fiction author H.G. Wells. If you don’t know whether the work you adapted is in the public domain, just ask us. We’ll research that for you. (Works first published in 1928 or earlier are definitely in the public domain in the US; for H. G. Wells works published after that it depends whether copyright was renewed.)

Scripts must be in English. No musicals, please.

Scripts should be free of most blocking or other stage direction meant for a fully staged production. Our shows are performed at microphones, with the full cast and foley team visible to the audience at all times. If you’ve never adapted for radio theatre before, please don’t worry about getting the format right the first time. If selected, we’ll work closely with you to turn your script into a radio script (we’ve even adapted silent films for radio!).

We welcome both traditional treatment of Wells’ material and unique treatments, such as placing the story in a different time period or a different part of the world. As a performance entity, we are committed to EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion).

Please avoid sending scripts that contain characters or music under copyright from different fictional universes/franchises. As an example, we don’t want to see mash-ups containing characters from Rocky Horror, Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc, nor published music under current copyright.

Playwrights whose work is selected for production will be paid a royalty of $15 per performance. We most often have 6 performances per run. Submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world, but you must be able to legally accept your royalty payment in US funds. You will also receive a comp ticket to see a performance, should you wish.

In the case of multiple submissions please send each submission in its own email, with your name and the name of the H. G. Wells adaptation in the title.

Please send submissions to info@pmrp.org.

To learn more about PMRP and what we do, please visit us here:

• https://pmrp.org/
• https://www.youtube.com/@PostMeridianRadio
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/390518088203452
• https://podcast.pmrp.org/

No Sleep Podcast seeks scripts

Website

Deadline: none listed

Here at The NoSleep Podcast, we love nothing more than hearing from up-and-coming or seasoned horror writers who’d like to work with us. We want you to frighten us and mess with our heads, so we in turn can terrify our listeners. As such, we’ve prepared a handy list of submissions guidelines to get your relationship with our show started. We welcome and encourage a broad, diverse range of submissions from all across the horror genre, and can’t wait to read the spine-tingling tales you send us.

Submissions are handled by our team of editors, who upon your story being selected will work with you to ensure your story is primed for audio adaptation.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Please email submissions to: submissions@thenosleeppodcast.com

In the body of your email please include the title and exact word count of the story.

Please send submissions as an editable attachment.
Microsoft Word documents are preferable. Please do not submit your story or script as a .PDF file as we cannot edit or annotate it easily. Anything submitted as a .PDF file will be automatically rejected.

Please do not submit your story by pasting the text into the body of your submission email.
This breaks the formatting of your story and makes it exceptionally hard to read, requiring us to reformat your story ourselves just to be able to assess it. Any submissions received in this manner without an attachment will be automatically rejected.

Please double check that your story is actually attached to your email.

If your story submission has been posted online at any point, please provide us with a link so we can share the text version with our listeners.

Due to the high volume of submissions we receive, any submissions that don’t follow our requirements will be automatically rejected.
Please familiarize yourself with the guidelines carefully before submitting in order to receive a response from our team.

SCRIPTS

We’d love to see more script submissions, as these have proven to work very well on the show. Scripts should ideally last between 20 and 40 minutes, and star 2 or more characters, with more being preferable. Please include a word count with your script, and a spoiler-free list of characters with speaking roles. If you’re new to scriptwriting and you’d like an example of how to structure and format an audio-only script, you can download an example.

Please make sure your script is written as an audio drama. We can’t adapt scripts written as a screenplay, or scripts that heavily feature visual cues. Anything not written in an audio drama format will not be accepted.

Sundog Theatre seeking radio dramas or comedies

Website:

Deadline: November 30, 2023

Sundog Theatre's longtime series "The Originals" will take place on MakerPark Radio's internet-based station in NYC. Sundog is seeking plays that actors will read, broadcast live on the web, and hear throughout NYC, the US, and worldwide in January 2024.

Producers: Victoria Colella and Susan Fenley

Guidelines:

-- Original dramas or comedies - no more than 5 characters.

-- Like true radio plays, sound effects should be written into the script to set the scenes.

A Foley operator will create the effects.

-- Plays should not rely on visuals to tell a story and set the mood, only words, music, and

sound.

-- Ideal running time: 45-60 minutes.

-- Exhibit care with any sexual/violent situations. We cater to a broad audience and families.

-- Sundog will pay a remuneration of $150 for each play that is used.

-- No fee to submit.


Mail (easier on the eyes and no potential virus issues) submissions to:

Sundog Theatre
Radio Plays
PO Box 183
Staten Island, NY 10301

Postmark deadline: November 30 - no fee to submit. Deadline - the sooner the better.

Questions: info (at) sundogtheatre.org

Yeppoon Little Theatre submission guidelines

Website

Deadline: rolling submissions

Play scripts performed on radio by YLT.

Yeppoon Australia

Original scripts form round the world broadcast by local radio KeppelFM91.3 on Thur nights at 9pm, repeated Sat night at 11pm (AEST- GMT +10) and accessible live on the web..

Submissions of original scripts welcomed.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES.

Scripts must be in English and original, no more than 20 mins in duration and no more than 5 speaking parts. Any genre and subject matter accepted , however the broadcaster reserves the right to delete or alter some offensive language. Scripts must be suitable or adaptable for radio with the author's name, address and e mail contact. The writer retains copyright and will be sent copies of the recording.

For any inquiries contact Bob Galley at bob-g@bigpond.net.au

2nd annual R5 Playhouse Series open - seeking one-act radio plays

Website

Deadline: July 26, 2023 at 11:59pm EDT

First presented in 2022, the R5 Playhouse Series is R5 Productions’ annual festival of new one act plays — all presented virtually in R5’s signature radio play format. The Series creates space for playwrights to premiere new works and aims to grow the R5 artist community at large. Festival selections are chosen by a committee of readers, which includes R5 leadership. 

About the 2023 Festival:

This year’s Playhouse Series theme is haunted, and R5 is looking for your haunted short plays — whatever that means to you! Thrillers and ghost stories have been favored fodder for stories for centuries, but so few find their way onto the stage. R5 wants to celebrate the macabre and the mysterious, the unseen and the unexplained, the eerie feelings that linger, the ghostly menaces that dance about the edges of the darkness, the places in the mind where the likes of Poe and King reside and revel. Take us to those places. Share with us those stories, between this world and the next.

The 2023 festival will take place virtually on Tuesday evenings in October 2023. Festival selections will be announced in late August or early September 2023, with playwrights and artists rehearsing throughout September. This is an unpaid opportunity.

Submission Guidelines:

Plays should be non-musical one acts at 20-30 pages in length, requiring no more than 5 actors.

Play should engage with the theme “haunted.” (See “About the 2023 Festival” section above.) We are particularly interested in subtle, surprising, and non-obvious interpretations of the theme.

Plays submitted should fit a radio play (audio only) format.

Playwrights may only submit 1 script.

We welcome submissions from all artists and strongly encourage submissions from writers who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, gender-nonconforming, LGBTQIA+, women, and members of other marginalized communities.

Submissions will be capped at 50.

What to Submit:

PDF of your play (other file formats will not be accepted)

Synopsis of your play (100 words or less)

Explanation of why your play fits the “haunted” theme (500 words or less)

Your headshot and bio (150 words or less)

Names of directors and cast members (if known)

Send submissions to rproductions2020@gmail.com with the subject line “Playhouse 2023: [Name of Play] by [Name of Playwright].” Submissions are due no later than 11:59pm EST on July 26, 2023.

Yorick Radio seeks radio play scripts for podcasts

Website

Deadline:  April 30, 2023, Midnight (GMT)

Submit to Yorick

Please visit our Latest Episodes page and listen to some of our work to get an idea of the kinds of writing we enjoy the most. This will stand you in the best stead for being selected for publication on our podcast.

Yorick Radio Productions accepts the following original pieces of written work for publication on their podcast:

• Prose Fiction and Non-Fiction (3000 word limit)
• Flash fiction (1000 word limit)
• Poetry (6 Poems of no more than 6 pages)
• Radio Play Scripts (20 pages)
• Critical Reviews of Books, Films or Plays (2000 words)

Although each of these categories is subject to its own word/length limit, we request that all of them follow the same presentation format. Please ensure that your document is typed in a .doc or .docx file, using a readable font such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Garamond in 12pttype size. The title of your writing should be centred in bold at the top of your document with your byline underneath. Please name your document using the following format: ‘TYPE – Full Author Name’.

Eg, ‘PROSE NON-FICTION – Joe Blogs’. For further information on how to format your submission, please look to https://www.shunn.net/format/story/1/ – Modern Manuscript Format.

We especially encourage work from people from underrepresented groups, such as people with physical or mental illnesses or disabilities; neurodivergent people; people of colour or people from minority ethnic communities; care-experienced people; people from low-income backgrounds; LGBTQIA+ people. Please note, that this is not a comprehensive list of the groups we consider to be underrepresented. If you identify with one of these, or any other underrepresented group, please let us know in your cover letter and your biography (if you’d feel comfortable to do so).

Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please inform us immediately if the story is accepted elsewhere. Occasionally, this may not affect us if the contact you sign with another publisher does not include rights to publish in audio format. If you are accepted elsewhere, we may ask you to send us a copy of your contract so that we can confirm this.

Previously published work is very welcome with us, subject to the rights established by your signed contract with other publishers.

Please only submit one piece of work at a time.

Our aim is to respond within 6 weeks after the closing date to let you know if we’d like to publish your work on our podcast. You can get in touch if you’ve not heard back from us after 10 weeks.

Submissions are free.

Please include a cover letter and a short third-person biography. If you are successful, we’ll read this out on our podcast alongside your work, to make sure you get the publicity you deserve. Make sure to include links to your social media and mention any other works of note that you’ve done.

We will consider any genre or subject, however, we ask authors to be sensitive and include content warnings if necessary. We will not publish erotica, graphic gore, or any material that promotes intolerance, hatred, or violence.

We are currently unable to pay our contributors, but we hope to be in a position to change this in the near future.

MORE INFORMATION

Prose Fiction and Non-Fiction –
We are looking for exciting, engaging stories, both real and imaginary, that piques our interest and sparks our imagination; that can make us think and laugh and wince and feel. We love pieces that are unique and present us with new angles, distinctive literary styles and different points of view. Your work can be in any genre, though we do ask for content warnings to be added where applicable. Have at, and show us what you’ve got!
Length Limit: 3000 words.

Flash fiction –
For our Flash fiction section, we want short stories that really pack a punch. If you’ve got something to say, or a tale to tell and are up to the challenge of doing it in 1000 words or less, then we’d love to hear from you. Your work can be in any genre, though we do ask for content warnings to be added where applicable.
Length Limit: 1000 words

Poetry –
Some writers find poetry a true challenge, while others can really paint their words into the perfect picture. If you’re one of those writers, send us your work. We love work that can make us see the world through different eyes, and change our perspective. It can be on any theme, as long as you provide the appropriate content warnings in your work.
Length Limit: 6 Poems of no more than 6 pages

Radio Play Scripts –
Write us a script and have our amazing cast of actors bring your work to life. This is what true power looks like: making strangers say anything you want! Make your audience laugh or cry (hopefully in a good way), or explore a new, exciting world through sound alone. Let’s see what you’ve got. Break a leg!
Length Limit: 20 pages

Critical Reviews of Books, Films or Plays –
We would say anything goes, but maybe not, according to you! There’s a lot of brilliant (and not so brilliant) work out there, and we have no doubt that you have your own opinions about them. We’d love to hear what you have to say about different media and what effect you think it’s had on its audience. Make it funny or fierce and let us have it!
Length Limit: 2000 words


Submit to Yorick!

WRITING US A COVER LETTER

Below is an example of a really simple cover letter. You can use this one or invent your own. There’s no need to write screeds, but it’s a good way to introduce yourself. Please also let us know if you are a regular listener to Yorick (you don’t have to be and this won’t affect your likelihood of being selected), and if you identify as part of any under-represented group of people.

Dear Mx. Beech,

Please find attached for your consideration my [wordcount]-word [category of writing], “[Story Title]”.

This work is previously published [where]/unpublished. It is/is not a simultaneous submission.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name (pronouns if desired)]



WRITING US A BIO

It’s very much up to you what you’d like to say in your bio, but we know that a lot of people find this part a challenge. Here are some ideas for what to include: Where you’re from – we’ve published writers from across the world. We’d love to know how cosy our little literary world is becoming.
What you like to write – you’ve submitted work to us so clearly you love to write, but do you have one type of work you focus on, or do you dabble?
Any previous publications, prizes or writing merits – we love to let our listeners know how talented you are and publicise what you’re proud of.
A fun fact about yourself – although we like to know if you’ve been published before, we also like to know who you are as a person.
Where listeners can go to read more of your work – we want to make sure you get as much publicity as possible, so if you have a published work that they can buy, a dedicated website, or facebook or instagram, let us know.

The International Radio Playwriting Competition 2023

Website

Deadline: February 12, 2023

Writers from around the world are invited to submit their scripts for the 28th International Radio Playwriting Competition, which is now open for entries.

The global competition, hosted by BBC World Service and the British Council, offers the unique opportunity for writers from outside the UK to use the medium of audio drama to tell stories for an international audience.

We are looking for entries in two categories: English as a First Language and English as a Second Language. The two first prizes can come from either category.

Both winners will attend an award ceremony in London and see their plays being recorded for broadcast and streaming on BBC World Service. A Special Commendation will be made for the runner-up in honour of the BBC World Service journalist and writer Georgi Markov (1929-1978).

Please read the competition rules and our privacy notice before entering.

Submit your entry online - or download an entry form to enter via post or email.

Entries close at midnight GMT on 12 February 2023.

To enter, you’ll need to complete the form below, and supply us with:

· The script for your 53-minute radio play with up to six central characters.

· A written synopsis outlining the complete story of your play. This should be no more than 400 words.

· A completed entry form (see below).

Please note:

· The competition closes for entries at midnight GMT on 12 February 2023 and is only open to writers outside of the UK. Entrants must also be over the age of 18 as of 12 February 2023.

· We will be unable to enter into any correspondence, except with shortlisted entries, and we are also unable to acknowledge receipt of scripts.

· Please do not send us amendments or further drafts once your play has been submitted.

· Please do not send cassettes, CDs, DVDs, mp3s, videos or sheet music with your play – it is not necessary at the entry level and they cannot be returned to you.

· Please read the Terms and Conditions and abide by them. If a play is either too short or excessively long it may be disqualified.

HOW TO ENTER
Complete the entry form and send it along with your play and synopsis either:

· BY POST TO:

International Playwriting Competition 2023
BBC Audio Drama London
Room 6015
Broadcasting House
Portland Place
London W1A 1AA
United Kingdom


· OR EMAIL TO:
radioplay@bbc.co.uk

ThinkingFunny23 is seeking playscripts for broadcast

Website

Deadline: March 17, 2023

Due to the number of submissions they are closing their submission window early - do not send

The script may be in any genre, mystery, horror, adventure, western, etc., but the overall tone must be humorous/comedic and it must be in English.

Script entries must run, reading time, between 10 to 25 minutes. Please include word count. The script should have between two to eight characters, including any narrator. Sound effects should be denoted as a part of the script. 

Material must be suitable for public broadcast, and entries will be considered for performance and broadcast on KKRN’s “Scratched Up Radio Theater.”

There is NO entry fee for this contest. Entrants can submit more than one script and scripts may have multiple playwrights. In the case of multiple authorship, the entry must have permission of ALL playwrights to be entered and, possibly, be used as described herein.

Cash prize of $100 will be awarded to the winning entry and may, at the station’s discretion and availability of air-time, include on-air broadcast and post-broadcast internet streaming. Honorable mentions of $25 may also be awarded at the judges’ discretion.

Submission of your script(s) indicate permission, on behalf of all playwrights that created the work, for KKRN to cast, produce, and reserves the non-exclusive right to broadcast the entry and leave a copy available of this broadcast (not the script itself) available for future download. If selected for performance and broadcast, KKRN will include full recognition of the creators and feature brief bio(s) of all playwrights. This is a non-exclusive grant and does not bar the playwrights from later use of their work.

All entries must be received no later than March 17th, 2023 at midnight Pacific Time.

An excerpt of the winning entry will be shared at the ThinkingFunny23 after-party on April 1, 2023. Free admission to this after-party will be provided to all playwrights who won.

Website: https://thinkingfunny.com/thinkingfunny23-radio-scripts-free-contest/

Sundog Theatre in New York City is seeking Radio Plays for January 2023

Website

Deadline: November 30, 2022

Sundog Theatre's longtime, interrupted-by-the-pandemic series "The Originals" continues this winter on MakerPark Radio's internet-based station in NYC. Sundog is seeking plays that actors will read, broadcast live on the web, and heard/seen throughout NYC, the US, and worldwide in January 2023.

Producers: Ritty Mahoney & Susan Fenley

Guidelines:
-- Original dramas or comedies-no more than 5 characters. Not produced elsewhere except for a reading.
-- Like true radio plays, sound effects should be written into the script to set the scenes.
A Foley operator will create the effects.
-- Plays should not rely on visuals to tell a story and set the mood, only words/music/sound.
-- Ideal running time: 45-60 minutes.
-- Exhibit care with any sexual/violence situations. We cater to a broad audience and families.
-- Sundog will pay a remuneration of $150 for each play that is used.
-- No fee to submit.

Mail (sorry-easier on the eyes and no potential virus issues) submissions to:
Sundog Theatre
Radio Plays
PO Box 183
Staten Island, NY 10301

Postmark deadline: November 30 - no fee to submit. 

Submissions - the sooner the better.

Questions: info (at) sundogtheatre.org

Bloomsbury Festival New Wave Theatre Writing and Production Opportunities 2023

Website

Deadline: September 23, 2022 5PM

In partnership with Bloomsbury Radio & Macready Theatre

https://www.bil.ac.uk/bloomsburyradio/ https://macreadytheatre.co.uk/

Bloomsbury Festival 2023 Opportunities

Bloomsbury Festival is seeking submissions from emerging writers and companies (aged 18+) to produce work as part of our 2023 festival, in response to the theme ‘Grow’. Scripts and theatre productions might explore self-development, ambition, biology, globalisation, or subjects like the exploration of space or the contemporary impact of the industrial revolution - whatever our theme inspires for you as a writer!

We welcome both young emerging writers/companies and more mature entries who are starting their professional careers. You may have recently been part of professional or academic development programmes in theatre or similar disciplines, or have had some prior experience producing your own work.

Bloomsbury Festival is a local festival based in central London and so the production opportunities we offer are focused towards writers with a connection to London through their home base or studies. We are therefore unable to offer travel or accommodation support for successful participants.

Please submit your applications to submissions@bloomsbury.org.uk by 5pm Friday 23rd September 2022. 

In the subject line of your email, please note which opportunity you are applying for: Radio Competition 2023, or Macready Improvisation 2023, or Bloomsbury Theatre 2023. 

Please state if you are applying for more than one opportunity and include in your email the details requested at the end of this document.

Entries close at 5pm on Friday 23rd September, and the selected writers and theatre companies will be announced during Bloomsbury Festival 2022 (14th-23rd October). The opportunities for 2023:

1. Bloomsbury Radio 2023 Radio Play Competition
Winning Writer’s Fee - £1,000
With performer and production costs supported by Bloomsbury Radio


As part of Bloomsbury Festival 2023, the festival’s partner radio station Bloomsbury Radio is seeking submissions of completed new writing/theatre scripts in response to our 2023 festival theme ‘Grow’ to be considered for a radio play production. The winning writer will be awarded a £1000 writer’s fee, with their work programmed to be produced and broadcast by Bloomsbury Radio as part of Bloomsbury Festival 2023.

We are looking for a completed script of approximately 50 minutes in length, which should be suitable for broadcast to a general adult audience. We expect the playwright to take into account that production will happen within a limited recording slot at a radio studio, with 1 day of rehearsal time and 1 day of studio time for the production. We are able to provide 3 actors for this project and advise that cast lists reflect this, though there is an opportunity for actors to multirole.


2. Macready Theatre - Writer for Script Development Through Improvisation

Selected Writer’s Bursary - £1000
With Possibility to Attend Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023

We are seeking an emerging writer to develop a new script that responds to our 2023 festival theme ‘Grow’ through an improvisation process with Macready Theatre Young Actors’ Ensemble. The selected writer will be awarded a £1000 bursary payment to develop a full script, supported by Macready Theatre and its sponsors Cemex and Rugby School Department of Theatre & Performing Arts. Bloomsbury Festival is able to facilitate any costs incurred travelling to workshops outside of London.

We are asking for submissions to contain a previously completed full script which does not have to relate to Bloomsbury Festival 2023’s theme ‘Grow’, but which does show the writer has previously developed a script through an improvisation process, and an outline of the writer’s previous work with young performers.

The winning writer will work with a professional director and student performers aged 16-18 from Macready Theatre Young Actors’ Ensemble. The first workshop day with the director and student performers will take place during this year’s festival, on Monday 17th October 2022 - the writer must be available to attend. Further development will take place across the academic year 2022-23 at the Macready Theatre in Rugby, with the possibility to take the production to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023, and/or return to Bloomsbury Festival 2023.

A further £100 contribution to the writer will be made available to visit the production if it is presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023. Please note that Macready Theatre’s plans to tour the production will be subject to satisfactory development of the script alongside workshops.

3. 3 x Opportunity to Present Work at Bloomsbury Festival 2023
£300 Bursary Towards Production
Offer of venue and rehearsal space, marketing and box office share at Bloomsbury Festival 2023

We are offering opportunities to 3 emerging theatre companies to present productions of new work that responds to the theme of ‘Grow’ at next year’s festival.

The successful applicants will receive £300 bursary towards production, as well as the offer of dramaturgy sessions, venue and rehearsal space, marketing support and a box office share at Bloomsbury Festival 2023.

We are looking for completed scripts or new works for theatre currently in development. The length should be approximately 50 minutes, and we welcome applications from new companies wishing to establish themselves through this process. You should include details of your training, theatre and professional experience as relevant.

Entries will close at 5pm on Friday 23rd September, and the winner will be announced during Bloomsbury Festival 2022 (14th-23rd October).

TO APPLY:
Radio Competition 2023: submit 1 script approximately 50 minutes in length in response to the theme ‘Grow’.

Macready Improvisation 2023: submit 1 script that you have previously developed through an improvisation process (any subject matter) and an outline of your past experience working with young performers.

Bloomsbury Theatre 2023: submit 1 script, or description of devised project and process, of approximately 50 minutes in length in response to the theme ‘Grow’, and an outline of the writer’s/production company’s previous experience including earlier script where available.

Please email a .pdf copy of your application to submissions@bloomsburyfestival.org.uk by 5pm Friday 23rd September.

In the subject line of your email, please note which opportunity you are applying for: Radio Competition 2023, Macready Improvisation 2023 or Bloomsbury Festival Theatre 2023.

In the accompanying email, please submit a 20-50 word synopsis of your script/play with:

Name: 

Age:
Email:
Phone Contact:
Contact Address:
Any recent writing courses (not essential) – course name and institution: Any other relevant information you would like us to be aware of.

Selected writers will be announced during Bloomsbury Festival 2022 (14th-23rd October).

Please Note:

Whilst all entries are welcome, Bloomsbury Festival would like to encourage applications from people who are currently underrepresented in the arts, and are particularly interested in hearing from global majority, lower socio-economic background, d/Deaf and disabled, LGBTQ+ writers. We are a festival based in the London Borough of Camden, and will pay particular attention to the work of writers with connections to the local and surrounding areas.

By applying for this opportunity you guarantee that your script is entirely your own original work, and does not infringe on the copyright of any other writer or artist.

For Radio Competition 2023 applicants you also agree that, if selected, you allow the director and Bloomsbury Radio to have the final say in casting and production decisions.

Bloomsbury Festival is a local festival based in Central London, and so the production opportunities we offer are focused towards writers with a connection to London as a home base or through their studies. We are therefore unable to offer travel or accommodation support for successful participants.

The Whiskey Radio Hour seeks 10-minute plays

Website

Deadline: September 25, 2022

We are currently taking writer and director submissions for Episode 24 of the Whiskey Radio Hour, which will be on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at Chief O'Neill’s Pub and Restaurant. 

All submissions are due by Sunday, September 25, 2022 to whiskeyradiohour@gmail.com.

Submission Guidelines for Writers

NOTE: At present, we are only accepting new radio play submissions from persons of color, LGBT, and female playwrights.

Kindly email whiskeyradiohour@gmail.com with your complete script (in either .doc or .pdf format).

Only complete scripts will be considered.

Your play should be around ten minutes long (so read your play out loud before you submit!)a

Your play can be in any genre you like, but try to engage the radio play format in some way.

Due to space constraints, up to four actors can perform in each radio play. Therefore, actors will play multiple roles if there are more than four characters in your piece.

Each writer can submit up to two radio plays per Radio Hour.

Each episode of the Whiskey Radio Hour is recorded, and then put on the internet for anyone to download free of charge. To check out past episodes, visit our bandcamp page.

If you’re interested in the correct format of a radio play, the BBC has a handy guide here.

Shoestring Radio Theatre accepts submissions from writers.

Website

Deadline: ongoing

We are always looking for good, original radio plays of any genre. We have produced dozens of scripts submitted by writers from all over the world who originally found us on the web.

Format
Your script needs to be a radio play (i.e. no stage directions or visual cues). We do not accept stage plays or screenplays. Radio drama scripts should include only things you can hear—i.e. dialogue, sound effects and music cues (stings, transitions, etc.). Radio drama scripts should also include a synopsis of the story, and a cast list of characters. There is no industry standard for radio drama script layout, so we will leave the exact formatting up to you; just make sure that it's easy to distinguish the dialogue from the sfx and music.

Length
To fit into our weekly 30-minute broadcast, plays can be a maximum of 28 minutes long (most scripts are about one minute per page but it depends on the formatting). Therefore, we accept 25-28 minute plays (which air in one part) and 50-56 minute plays (which air in two parts). We also accept shorts, which can be up to 10 minutes in length.

Fame Not Fortune
As a non-profit organization which really does operate on a shoestring budget, we do not pay for scripts at this point in time. However, if we produce your play, we absorb all production costs and it will air nationally on public radio stations across the country. You will also receive a copy of the finished production.

Agreement
If we accept your script, we will send you a writer's agreement, which:Grants us permission to produce your script
Grants us Public Broadcasting rights to the finished production
Grants you, the writer, all rights to the original script

Feedback Policy
Unfortunately, due to the volume of scripts we receive, we cannot provide feedback on your scripts. Please do not be discouraged if we reject your submission. We reject scripts for any number of reasons, including excessive length, unsuitable content, and sometimes writing quality. Unfortunately, even if we really like the idea, we do not have time to work with writers to improve their scripts. Our advice is to keep writing as much as possible to gain experience, show your scripts to others for feedback, and take writing classes if you feel it would be helpful. Good luck!


Mailing Address and Email Address
We accept both hard copies of scripts and email submissions (Microsoft Word, PDF or Text file).

Please use the contact info below.

Contact Us
We welcome your feedback. Please email or write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions.
ShoestringRadioTheatre@gmail.com
Monica Sullivan, Producer
Shoestring Radio Theatre
P.O. Box 590163
San Francisco, CA 94159-0163

Jakespeare Virtual Theatre Company seeks radio-friendly plays for Season 2

Website

Deadline: April 30, 2022 11:59 PM EDT

Must be radio-friendly (told through the medium of sound and not rely on visuals)

Must be ten minutes or less (approx. 8-10 pages at size 12 font)

A small cast is preferred

Any content matter will be considered

Cannot have been performed as a radio/audio performance before

Only one submission per playwright will be read

Must be submitted by 11:59PM EDT on April 30.

​
Please note:

There is no financial compensation if your play is selected.

Playwrights will be asked to schedule an interview as part of the podcast.

Jakespeare VTC is under no obligation to produce work submitted.