Established in 2019 by Popcorn Group, the Popcorn Writing Award celebrates fearless work which playfully and artistically questions and addresses current affairs, societal trends and contributes positively to public debate.
The award champions brave and imaginative writing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It is the only award of its kind, awarding a prize fund of £6,000 and a guaranteed slot at one of the partnering venues.
Alongside Traverse Theatre, Popcorn partners with Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance, Summerhall and Underbelly.
Each year Popcorn puts together a committee that select the winners from our shortlist to award the prizes.
Playwright Jennifer Lunn (pictured above) was awarded the Popcorn Writing Prize for 2020. Her play Es & Flo, which was meant to be with us for #TravFest20, follows a lesbian couple that has secretly been in love and living together for over 30 years.
Due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding this year’s Edinburgh Festival, the award will work slightly differently for 2021. Find out more, including about this year's panel, by visiting www.popcorngroup.co.uk.
HOW IT WORKS
Submissions open: 26th April 2021
Submissions close: Mon 28 June 2021, 10am
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
All plays submitted will be considered provided they are:
- A new piece of writing (only been performed once before) of at least approx 50 mins playing time.
- Written by a writer, or presented by a company, who have been programmed by one of the partner venues at the Fringe after and including Edinburgh Fringe 2015.
- Please note that only Traverse Theatre affiliated artists/writers/companies can submit to us. If you have a previous affiliation with any of the other supporting venues, please apply directly to them.
TO SUBMIT
Please send your piece of new writing, and a 50 word summary of your play to info@traverse.co.uk with “Popcorn Writing Award 2021 // Title of Play // Writer’s Name” in the subject heading.
Please also list your previous Traverse-affiliated show and year in the body of your email so we can confirm your eligibility.