Monday 21 April 2008

PJ O'Connor RTE Radio Play Competition


I'm really confused, concerned and possibly angry. The deadline for this competition was March 18th 2008 and yet there is an announcement on their website of the shortlist on 15th March 2008. How can that be? Most of the plays are submitted in the last week. Weren't they a little concerned that they only got 150 plays when in 2007 they got 200, in 2006 they got 235 and in 2005 they got 365?

An independent panel of actors and writers read all of the plays and chose a total of 13 for the shortlist. The short listed plays are now being read by a panel of judges, Danish theatre critic and playwright Jesper Bergmann, director and producer Selina Cartmell and chaired by actor and writer Mark O'Halloran (Adam and Paul/Garage)

1) Piano Lessons by Sarah Brennan from Donnybrook, Dublin

2) At the Hop by Wayne Denniston from Newtownforbes, Co. Longford

3) Lust for Money by Philip Doherty from Gortnakesh, Co. Cavan

4) 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10! by Kevin Gildea from Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

5) Get a Life by Ciarán Gray from North Strand in Dublin

6) The Lottery by Shay Linehan from Dun Laoghaire, Dublin

7) Something's Been Lost by Felim MacDermott from Knocknacarragh, Galway

8) Said the Bear to the Woman by Martin Malone from Kildare Town

9) Living Room by Andrea McCartney from Belfast

10) Will You Swap Knees With Me by John McManus from Knocknacarragh, Galway

11) Home Is Where the Heartache Is by Muireann Ní Aoláin from Ashbourne, Co. Meath

12) Deliver Us From Evil by Billy O'Callaghan from Douglas, Cork

13) Thinking Ahead by Jack Olohan from Rathfarnham, Dublin

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the RTÉ Donnybrook studios on Tuesday 6 May at 6:30pm



What about mine? I sent it on March 12th, pleased to be in early. Who do I call?

4 comments:

Ossian said...

Announcement says 15th April as of now.

Writing For My Life said...

The 15th March date is a misprint, and should read April. I am one of the lucky shortlistees and got a call from RTE just the other day to inform me. Looking forward to my May trip to Dublin, and keeping everything crossed, as you can imagine!
Keep up the great blog, I am a daily visitor and really enjoy your postings.
All the best,
Billy

Emerging Writer said...

15th April. That makes more sense. Well congratulations Billy and good luck.

Emerging Writer said...

Thanks podpilot for dropping by. The numbers submitted are going down every year. I'm raging, absolutely raging mine wasn't shortlisted. I KNOW it's good, very good even. But hey. I hope Billy wins.
Tomorrow I'm off to the Hennessy awards so fingers and other bodyparts crossed.