The Beeta Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF), led by Bikiya Graham-Douglas, is inviting playwrights from across the country to apply for its third Beeta Playwright Competition by sending in their unpublished plays. The contest, which aims to find new voices in the literary genre of drama in Nigerian literature, has so far produced Our Son the Minister, written by Paul Ugbede and Jagagba by Abdul Qudus for the first and second editions, respectively.
Both plays, which won N1 million each and publishing deal have gone on to experience enormous success in terms of live performances across the country.
Open to indigenous playwrights between the ages of 18-40, the deadline for all entries is September 30, 2019, after which 10 finalists will be selected for a writer’s workshop with a winner emerging at the grand finale.
The winner stands to win prizes worth N1 million, a publishing deal with PaperWorth Books Limited and the winning play produced by BUAF at Muson Centre, Lagos. It will also be part of a nationwide university campus performance outreach.
An esteemed jury panel made up of award-winning playwright and professor of Theatre, Ahmed Yerima, culture/film journalist and arts Administrator, Shaibu Husseini, veteran Actress and producer, Ego Boyo, theatre producer and writer, Ayo Jaiyesimi, director and actor, Kenneth Uphopho and publisher/bookseller, Ibiso Graham-Douglas will curate the playwright workshop and decide the eventual winner of the prize.
For the third edition, BUAF enjoys the partnership once again of Union Bank Plc, with its high-ranking representatives not only recognising how invaluable the arts is to preserving and showcasing culture and history but also committed to developing talent in the creative industry. Other supporters of the contest include NIMASA, British Council, Olajide & Oyewole LLP, with media support from The Guardian Nigeria and YNaija.com.
Entries should be submitted to www.beetauniversal.org. Follow the conversation on social media @beeta4theatre