Poetry Plays prize 2026

POETRY PLAYS PRIZE 2026

Poetry plays.... with theatre. We're looking for poems for two voices that would lend themselves to live performance by actors. Think short form play, verse drama, eclogue, character poetry.... you can be as out there or traditional as you like, and we'd love to be surprised - the quality of the writing and its suitability for adaptation for the stage are our primary criteria.

First prize £1000, publication in Pomegranate London magazine, and a performance of your work, by Théâtre Volière, at our festival of multidisciplinary arts Poetry Plays 2026.

Two runners-up will also be chosen for performance at the festival.

Short rules:

1. Entries must be no shorter than 200 lines and no longer than 500 lines. Spaces and titles do not count as lines.
2. There are no restrictions on form, but the judges will favour poems in which the two voices are clearly delineated and interact with one another.
3. Entries should not be formatted like a play script. They should not contain any stage directions, setting descriptions, or act/scene designations that fall outside of the poem itself. Character names used to distinguish between voices is acceptable, but please do not include character introductions - we would like the poem to speak for itself.
4. By entering the Poetry Plays Prize 2026, you grant Théâtre Volière the right to produce and perform your work, for two public performances only (after which all rights revert to you).
5. Entries must be written in English.
6. The Poetry Plays Prize 2026 is open to anyone aged 18 or over. We welcome international entries.

7. There is no limit on the number of entries a single entrant can make. All entries will be considered anonymously by the judges.
8. The opening date of the competition is 12th November 2025.
9. The closing date of the competition is 12th February 2026, at 11.59 pm (GMT UK time).
10. Entry fee, £10 per poem.
11. All proceeds go to funding the Poetry Plays Festival. 

12. The judges are Pomegranate editor Zerlina Mastin and Théâtre Volière’s artistic director Mick Wood.

13. Not open to employees or family members of Théâtre Volière or Pomegranate London.  

14. The judges read all the entries.

15. Entries must remain anonymous. Please include your name in the body of your email but do not include your name or any identifying details on the attached Word/PDF.

16. Entries must not have been published, self-published, published on a website or made public on social media, broadcast or featured among the winners in another competition before April 2026.

17. Under no circumstances can alterations be made to poems once entered.

18. Poems must be the entrant’s original work. AI-generated work is prohibited.

19. Prizewinners will be notified by the 15th March 2026 and invited to see their work performed at the Poetry Plays Festival at London’s Cockpit Theatre on 11th April 2026.