SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR THE TONY DOYLE BURSARY

BBC NORTHERN Ireland Drama are inviting submissions from writers with an Irish background to take part in the Tony Doyle Bursary.
Launched at The Verbal Arts Centre in Derry, the aim of the bursary is to encourage Irish writers to write for television, inform writers of the opportunities that television affords, and to nurture long-term creative links between all broadcasters, not just the BBC, and writers in Ireland.
Submissions, accepted until the end of January, should be an outline of an original idea for television, together with a 10-page sample of work, such as part of a novel, play, screenplay or story. The writer must not have had their work previously produced for mainstream television.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £2000, and along with five finalists will be invited to a residential seminar run by the BBC Northern Ireland Drama Department. The aim of the seminar is to introduce the writers to the world of television drama through a series of sessions run by experienced practitioners, producers, directors, actors and fellow writers.
The submissions will be judged by a panel comprising of Liam Cunningham, Alan Moloney, Peter Norris, Lorcan Cranitch and Tina Kellegher, all of who have known and worked with Doyle for a number of years. The panel will also include Sally Doyle, Robert Cooper and representatives from BBC NI Drama.
In choosing the writer, the panel will be considering the originality of the television outline and the writer’s ability.
All submissions should be received by January 31 2001.
Contact: BBC NI Drama, Room 3.07 Blackstaff House, Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7BB or Tel: (028) 9033 8498.
(CD)