The BBC World Service International Radio Playwriting Competition opened for entries on Tuesday.
Now in its 24th year, the contest offers writers the chance to use the immense power of radio drama to tell the stories that matter to a global audience.
BBC World Service and the British Council run the competition in partnership with Commonwealth Writers.
This year, the competition has new co-producers, The Open University, and an addition award – the Georgi Markov prize.
The new award will honour the Bulgarian writer, broadcaster and World Service journalist who was assassinated in 1978.
The Bulgarian secret police and the KGB are widely believed to have been behind the 49-year-old’s killing, by way of a ricin-filled pelled shot into his leg from an umbrella.
The incident became known as the “Umbrella Murder”.
The competition has two first prizes – one for writers with English as a first language and one for writers with English as a second language.
The winners of both awards will have their plays broadcast on BBC World Service.
Their prize includes a trip to London to watch their plays being recorded, attendance at an award ceremony and £2,000.
The winner of the new Georgi Markov prize will also come to London to be at this award ceremony and spend two weeks with BBC Radio Drama and BBC World Service.
Steve Titherington, Senior Commissioner for BBC World Service said: “This is the only competition of its kind in the world and entry is free. It’s a fantastic opportunity for writers around the globe to get their voices heard by one of the world’s biggest audiences. Drama that helps tell the story of our audiences around the world is what we seek to place at the heart of the World Service.”
The judging panel will be announced in due course.
Previous judges have included Dame Eileen Atkins, Doris Lessing, Roy Williams and Nina Wadia.
The playwriting competition welcomes scripts from anyone outside the UK, whether established or new writers.
The dramas need to be 53 minutes long, but can be on any subject. The closing date for entries is midnight GMT 31 January 2014.
Further details on the competition, including how to enter, are online at .