The calls for this inaugural award, created to celebrate and showcase talented writers, will close on the 4th April 2025.
Ambassador Cruise Line and the PEELEntertainment Group have now started 2025 by announcing that submissions are now open for their Ambassador PEEL Playwriting Challenge 2025.
Having opened on the 15th January, the submissions for the award offers a new route for both experienced writers and un-produced playwrights to submit their work. he winning play will be produced as part of theTheatre@Sea programme which is performed on Ambassador’s ships Ambience and Ambition and staged onboard Ambition in 2025, with the winner receiving a cash prize of £6,000 and a free cruise for two in 2026.
Being the first award of its kind to take place on a cruise ship, the panel of judges and readers has also been announced, to bring a wealth of experience and expertise from across the theatre and entertainment industries to assist in selecting the winner.
The judging panel include Dr. Jessica Lazar, an award-winning director known for her work with theatre company Atticist. With a national reputation in the new writing space, Lazar has directed productions such as Sap at the Paines Plough Roundabout and The Gift at Oxford Playhouse, demonstrating her mastery in creating innovative new work.
Alongside her is Dr.Alison Norrington, a highly accomplished writer, producer and founder ofStory Central. With over 25 years in the industry, Norrington’s career includes collaborations with major brands like Walt Disney Imagineering, CBS Interactive, and AMC Networks. She is passionate about discovering fresh new talent and is keen to unearth the voices of tomorrow’s playwrights.
Nathan Queely Dennis, an acclaimed playwright and winner of the 2022 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting also joins the panel. His debut work,Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Meanwhile, Bob McGowan, a veteran of the hospitality and travel industry with over 18 years of experience and a great deal of that in supporting cruise entertainment, who brings a unique perspective. Having worked his way up to theExecutive Team of AmbassadorCruise Line as Chief Experience Officer,McGowan’s knowledge of the cruise industry is invaluable in promoting the future of Theatre@Sea.
The judging line up is completed by Susannah Daley, the founder of PEEL Entertainment and a BBC award winning playwright herself, she will lend her visionary leadership in supporting and elevating theatre for contemporary cruise audiences. Talking about the competition she said: ““We are keen to show the many talented professionals working in theatre and the creative arts that ships are a major exciting outlet for their skills and creative work. With over thirty five million cruise guests expected worldwide in 2025, we want to promote excellence of writing and production to be on par with the best of the best, and theAmbassador PEEL PlaywritingChallenge 2025will go some way towards achieving these aims.”
Once finalised, the shortlisted playwrights will be invited to join Ambition for the day and get the chance to see their work performed by the team of onboard actors. All plays must be under an hour in duration and suitable for performance onboard Ambassador ships with no subject off limits. The award is open to all UK &ROI entrants over the age of 18, with full guidelines and entry requirements found in the terms and conditions as featured on www.theatreatsea.com.