Announcing the call for this year’s BBC World Service International Radio Playwriting Competition in partnership with the British Council. Now in its 24th year, the competition has some exciting additions!

There are two first prizes - the best radio play by a writer with English as their first language and the best by a writer with English as their second language. The overall winners will each receive £2000 sterling and a trip to London to see their play being recorded for broadcast on BBC World Service.

We are very happy to run this year’s competition in partnership with Commonwealth Writers again and to welcome our co-producers - The Open University. This has allowed us to introduce another prize – the Georgi Markov prize for the most promising script.

The playwriting competition welcomes scripts from anyone living OUTSIDE the UK, whether established or new, and encourages writers to use the immense power and accessibility of the medium of radio drama – to tell your story, use your imagination and have your “voice” heard. Reading your plays – and hearing the winning plays on air – is a unique way of hearing what’s happening around the world.

Do take the time to read the rules and tips below before you send off your script.

Deadline: 31 January 2014