Welcome to our 2025 International One-Act Playwriting Competition homepage. In addition to the final three shortlisted scripts, there will again be a separate category and a monetary prize for the 'Best Irish Play'. Full details about the competition's guidelines, entry process, form and fee can be found below.

The competition is open to all writers over 18 years old, both members and non-members, local and international. The play submitted must be in English and be an original work of the entrant that has not yet been published, nor performed on stage previously, nor received any awards previously.

• An entry fee of €20 is required via PayPal (see payment buttons in footer).
• The script length / duration of the play should be between 20 and 40 minutes. 

Scripts are to be sent electronically to Carlow Little Theatre Society, by emailing them to carlowlittletheatre@gmail.com with the subject header of ‘2025 Playwriting Competition’, along with a fully completed entry form attached to the email. Note that the entrant’s name should appear only on the entry form and not on the scripts. Only scripts accompanied by the €20 entry fee will be accepted. PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL DETAILS ON THE ENTRY FORM ARE CORRECT AND THAT THE ENTRANTS NAME IS NOT ON THE SCRIPT AS THE ENTRY FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE. 

SPONSORED BY:

Local marketing and call centre company

WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT: The winners will be announced at 9pm (GMT) on Friday, 28th February 2025 

There is also a category for Best Irish Play. Only authors who were either born in Ireland or, as of 2024, resident in Ireland can qualify for the Best Irish Play category. Irish plays are also considered for the main Playwriting Competition. Three independent adjudicators will judge the final scripts with 100% of the vote split evenly between them. 

There will be a monetary prize of €500 for 1st place, €300 for 2nd place, €200 for 3rd place and €300 for Best Irish Play. The winning play will potentially be performed to an audience later in 2025, depending on circumstance. Carlow Little Theatre Society One-Act Playwriting Competition is kindly sponsored by local marketing and call centre company, Maven TM. 

Playwrights are asked to read the guidelines below before submitting their play for consideration: 

• Each play should have a running time no shorter than 20 minutes and no longer than 40 minutes. As a guide, use the format: 1 page equals approximately 1 minute of performance time.
• Script formats are not strict and can take a variety of forms. However, it must be clearly formatted and the recommended format is 12pt, double-spaced, Times New Roman.
• Plays should be sent as doc (Word) or PDF, via email only. We do not accept hard copies.
• Each script should be numbered, with the title of the play at the top of each page.
• The playwright’s name should not appear on the script.
• All entrants must be 18 years of age or older.
• The script should not have been published, performed previously or be scheduled for performance or have received any awards previously.
• The play should not be an excerpt from a longer work.
• We do not accept adaptations.
• Closing date for entries is 5pm (GMT), Friday 31st January 2025.
• Entries are to be sent by email to carlowlittletheatre@gmail.com with the Subject Header of ‘2025 Playwriting Competition’.
• Each submission must be accompanied by the fully completed entry form. The entry form can be downloaded directly from HERE. 
• An entry fee of €20 is required, payable via PayPal. Only submissions that have paid the entry fee will be considered (see payment buttons in footer below). The entry fee is non-refundable.
• Only authors who were either born in Ireland or, as of 2025, resident in Ireland can qualify for the Best Irish Play category.
• Three independent adjudicators will judge the final scripts with 100% of the vote split evenly between them.  
• Winners will be announced at 9pm (GMT) on Friday, 28th February 2025. 

Please follow us on social media (links in page footer) for further updates and the results. 

DEADLINE: The deadline for entry is 5pm GMT Friday 31st January 2025.