Polka Theatre has announced a new award to champion playwriting and the creation of work for young audiences.
The award is open to plays written for any range between the ages of 7 and 13 - ages identified by Polka as currently underserved by the wider theatre sector.
Scripts will be read anonymously; eligible scripts must not have been performed before, with the only exception being as part of a workshop or research and development process. The text must also be an original work that is not an adaptation of pre-existing material.
Writers at any stage of their career are encouraged to apply. Alongside the award, online masterclasses around writing for this age group will also be delivered.
To ensure young peoples voices shine through in the winners, an inicial wave of feedback will be given to those shortlisted by a panel of young advisors - the Polka Grads.
A judging panel of artistic director and writer, Chinonyerem Odimba, current Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, Polka Patron and former artistic director, Vicky Ireland and Polka’s artistic director Helen Matravers, will select the winning script from the shortlist.
Chinonyerem Odimba said, ‘Throughout my career, I have taken so much joy from writing and directing for young audiences. It feels important that we keep finding the opportunities to celebrate the writers and theatremakers that put young audiences at the heart of what they do, and we keep challenging the snobbery towards that work.’
‘Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) goes beyond mere entertainment,’ said award judge Joseph Coelho. ‘Through theatre young audiences learn how to navigate the world and broaden their horizons. They get to become explorers of ideas and themes and emotions.’
Polka artistic director Helen Matravers said, 'Polka has an incredible reputation for staging work by some of the world’s most famous playwrights, who have written with amazing rigour and joy specifically for young audiences.
‘This is a unique opportunity to apply to an award, which promises publication, full commission and a staged production – in amongst famous playwriting awards which don’t allow children's work to be considered.