A Ten Minute Playwriting Competition 2026

Download the entry form from here

To enter your submission online click here

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

November Opening Date for competition – November 1st

  • January Closing date for applications to be received by 5pm 31st January
  • March Finalists determined by 15th March
    CRITERIA:
  • The playwright must be a resident within MPDC district
    or a financial member of the Matamata Dramatic Society
  • Entries must be entirely anonymous and submitted with a pseudonym
  • Entries must be submitted via email in pdf format to competition@mds.org.nz
  • Plays must be between 8-10 minutes when read aloud.
  • Easy staging / set with minimum props which can be set up quickly
  • Cast of between 2 and 6 characters
  • Up to 2 plays may be submitted
  • Play must be own work (no use of AI),
  • Play has not won other competitions and has not been presented or workshopped previously
  • MDS are looking to present 6 distinctly different plays to produce.
    FORMATTING OF SCRIPT:
  • Typed in 12pt standard font. E.g. Apteos, Arial, Times New Roman or Calibri.
  • Setting out of script:
    o Normal use of capitals as part of script.
    o Characters Name on left.
    o Speech indented after Character’s name
    o Directions in italics – separated from text.
    o Check punctuation, spelling and grammar as this helps with the reading and meaning of
    the script.
    JUDGING:
  • An independent adjudicator has been appointed by Matamata Dramatic Society to judge the
    competition.
  • The adjudicator will provide written feedback on the plays related to style, plot, format,
    dialogue, characterisation, creativity and overall impact
  • The adjudicator / judge is changed / alternated for each competition.
    RESULTS:
  • Finalists will be determined by 15th March.
  • The adjudicator / judge notifies the Co-ordinator of the winning entries.
  • Adjudicator / judge forwards feedback forms for each play to the Co-ordinator
    PRIZES:
    a) The top six plays will be performed at the Little Theatre in mid-2027.
    b) Winning Play – $200
    c) B) Five runner-up plays – $100 each