Entries & Awads

Entries for next year will open in Spring 2026, available through an online portal on our website here.

The awards are in two age categories: 13-15 and 16-18 years, and all plays must be written in English and between 1,000 to 5,000 words long (about 10 to 30 minutes). Other than that, there are no rules about your entry – so long as it’s a play, intended for performance on a stage, we want to read it!

You can read full eligibility guidance and applicant information here.

Shortlisting & Winners

The Award is decided by the Royal Court Theatre’s artistic team, with final decisions made by our panel.

Everyone who enters will get personal feedback. All shortlisted writers will be announced on our website and will also receive a certificate of recognition and a free book on playwriting to support your next steps, donated by Nick Hern Books.

Winning plays will be showcased at a festival in July at the Royal Court Theatre, London, presented as a series of staged readings by professional directors and actors – with the plays also published in a special edition by Nick Hern Books. As part of the festival, we’ll also host a special prizegiving, with unique trophies for every winning writer.

For winning plays included in the festival, we will also be able to support with travel and accommodation costs for writers based outside London, ensuring you can attend the performance and ceremony.

Having your play performed is like going on a very high zipwire – you feel nervous before it happens, but when it starts it feels great! I’m really glad I entered, and I would encourage anyone else to, it was an amazing experience! Leon Chin-Kemp, 2025 Winner

The prizes are supported by the Publishing Partner for the Royal Court Young Playwrights Award, Nick Hern Books.