BBC Writersroom launches new digital innovation prize for theatres
BBC Director-General, Tony Hall, has announced today a new BBC Writersroom award for digital innovation to be given to the theatre that produces the most original idea. This will showcase on digital arts service The Space, the BBC’s online partnership with Arts Council England, which is to be re-launched subject to BBC Trust approval.
Published: 21 October 2013
We’ll be looking for authentic, diverse voices from all over Britain, and new ways to explore original digital theatre for The Space, which we will launch by next summer.”
BBC Director-General, Tony Hall, has announced today a new BBC Writersroom award for digital innovation to be given to the theatre that produces the most original idea. This will showcase on digital arts service The Space, the BBC’s online partnership with Arts Council England, which is to be re-launched subject to BBC Trust approval.
Launching the award at an event in the Radio Theatre at BBC Broadcasting House for more than 150 theatre managers from around the UK, he said: “And there’s a new award – The Space Prize, recognising daring and innovation in theatre. We’ll be looking for authentic, diverse voices from all over Britain, and new ways to explore original digital theatre for The Space, which we will launch by next summer.”
Tony Hall also launched the next BBC Writersroom 10 scheme, a partnership programme which offers 10 new writers, nominated by theatres, the opportunity to receive a £1000 seed commission each, plus a year of development working on a new full-length theatre script with a BBC mentor.
He added: “Storytelling matters to all of us. It’s what links everyone here today, whether we’re making documentaries, comedy, drama, or amazing pieces of theatre.
“And, without our theatre companies, great television drama simply couldn’t happen. It’s the work you do – finding, nurturing and producing talent – that has helped create this extraordinary moment for television drama across the world.”
BBC Writersroom, with its mission to inspire and develop, is always on the lookout, not only for new voices, but for new ways of supporting these voices with industry collaborations. Speaking at the same event, designed to start a cultural conversation between the broadcaster and theatres, Kate Rowland, BBC Creative Director of New Writing, said: “Writers are at the heart of what we do and our partnerships with theatres are vital to the way we reach writers and champion talent across the UK. This is a unique opportunity which cements the BBC’s commitment to talent development in the Arts and continues to strengthen our relationship with theatres across the UK. “
The Director-General also shared plans for the first ever theatre awards from the BBC’s Performing Arts Fund, with money raised from programmes like The Voice. The charity will award £200,000 to the brightest theatre talents and £250,000 to the very best community theatres.
Note to Editors
Earlier this month, Tony Hall unveiled his plans to place Arts programming back at the heart of the Corporation with new investment, a new BBC wide arts brand and more landmark commissions and partnerships. BBC Writersroom is one of several co-commissioning partners ready to work with The Space once it is re-launched next year.
BBC Writersroom
BBC Writersroom champions new writing talent in film, television, radio, and theatre. Recent successes include Dominic Mitchell’s In The Flesh which came from a Writersroom Northern Voices Scheme, and Debbie Moon’s Wolfblood one of the winners of an open CBBC competition for original new drama. Both of whom are now in their second series. Shazad Mohammed’s series Homegrown is now in development with BBC Comedy.
BBC Writersroom run schemes targeting talent from a range of sources and work in partnerships with theatres, writer's organisations, screen agencies, and the wider cultural industries. It helps new writers develop their craft through professional training, the website and in open sessions around the country with the UK's best writing talent.
The Parade, four short pieces of filmed theatre shot on location in Leeds and which explore the human stories behind Britain's troubled high streets, was the first collaboration between The Space and BBC Writersroom, in partnership with Slung Low theatre company, a new work theatre company that specialises in making new work in unusual spaces.
The Space
The Space, the experimental digital arts service developed by Arts Council England and the BBC, is applying to the BBC Trust for approval to be re-launched in summer 2014 as a dynamic new space for artists and audiences to invent and explore brilliant digital art.
BBC Press Office
