the 2025 windsor-essex playwriting contest
All entries must be submitted in PDF format by email to: [email protected] no later than 11:59 pm 20 April 2025.
See below for submission deadlines and requirements.
To learn more about what the judges are looking for and improve your chances of success, check out our blog post:
The Secrets to Succeeding in The Windsor-Essex Playwriting Contest
See below for submission deadlines and requirements.
To learn more about what the judges are looking for and improve your chances of success, check out our blog post:
The Secrets to Succeeding in The Windsor-Essex Playwriting Contest
THIS YEAR’S ENTRIES DUE: 20 April 2025
Post Productions is pleased to announce the 2025 Windsor-Essex Playwriting Contest. This is an opportunity for playwrights and aspiring playwrights from Windsor and Essex County to receive feedback on their scripts from a panel of dedicated and experienced judges – and potentially see their work produced onstage at The Shadowbox Theatre as part of Post Productions’ 2026 season. Winning playwrights also receive 10% of gross ticket revenue from the production of their work and may participate in the casting and rehearsal processes if they wish.
All playwrights who submit will receive detailed constructive feedback from a panel of experienced judges who have read and discussed their work. Finalists will receive additional feedback in the second round of the contest.
Please read the eligibility and submission requirements below – and attend to them carefully so you can maximize your odds of winning!
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
This contest is intended to provide an opportunity for Windsor-Essex writers to showcase their talent and professionalism through the Post Productions brand of theatre. Any submission that fails to meet the following eligibility requirements will be neither read nor adjudicated:
1. Submitting playwright must be at least 18 years old and be either a Windsor-Essex native or currently reside in Windsor-Essex;
2. Entries must be properly formatted (any widely accepted playscript format is fine) PDF manuscripts in a readable 12-point font (Courier, Times New Roman, Calibri, etc.), carefully proofread before submission, with numbered pages and a title page (which must include the script’s title, playwright’s name, intended genre, intended themes, and a 50-150 word synopsis of the script);
3. Entries should be 75-120 minutes long when produced (one page equals roughly one minute);
4. Cast of characters should be small (2-6) and number of settings kept to a minimum (1-4);
5. Entries must be plays – no musicals, monologues, variety shows, or other forms of theatre will be accepted. There's nothing wrong with these other forms of theatre. They are just not what the contest is intended to adjudicate;
6. The script must be unproduced as of the date of its submission;
7. Entries must be submitted by email to [email protected]
DEADLINES AND PROCESS
Post Productions is committed to using this contest as a developmental experience that benefits all involved parties. Our goal is to help all submitting playwrights prepare for eventual success. To these ends, our process involves constructive feedback with an opportunity for finalists to revise and resubmit their scripts. Scripts submitted in previous years of the contest are welcome, as long as they have been revised using the constructive feedback provided.
1. Entries to the first round must be received by 20 April 2025 via email to [email protected];
2. Once received, entries will be anonymized, read, discussed, and scored by our panel of judges, who will prepare feedback for each submitted script that has met the eligibility requirements, and collectively decide which entries will become finalists;
3. Decisions and feedback will be sent to all submitting playwrights by 27 May 2025;
4. Finalists will be invited to proceed to the second round of the contest, where they will have the opportunity to refine their scripts using the judges’ feedback, and resubmit their revised entries no later than 27 June 2025;
5. Winners will be chosen and notified by 31 July 2025.
A NOTE ON CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK:
Constructive feedback is feedback that is intended to not only identify what is good or bad, right or wrong, exemplary or insufficient about a script; it's intended to help the playwright understand the reasoning behind the judges' reactions to the script and offer suggestions regarding how to address problematic features of the script, build on exemplary features of the script, and otherwise contribute to the playwright's ongoing development. The judges endeavour to provide constructive feedback in as neutral a tone as possible.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Check out previous winners of the Windsor-Essex Playwriting Contest at the links below!
2018 (two winners): A HAUNTING IN E FLAT by Joey Ouellette and AUTOPSY by Alex Monk – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/autopsy--haunting.html
2019: PRY IT FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS by Edele Winnie – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/pry-it-from-my-cold-dead-hands.html
2020: DEAD BEAR by John Gavey - http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/dead-bear.html
2021 (two winners): STUCK by Jonathan Tessier – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/stuck.html
and PIRATE ATTACK ON THE 1C BUS GOING DOWNTOWN by Joey Ouellette – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/pirate-attack.html
2022: MIRABELLA by Joey Ouellette - https://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/mirabella.html
2023: WHICH WAY, MILLENNIAL MAN? by Jonathan Tessier - https://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/which-way-millennial-man.html
2024: COPRACORN by Kieran Potter (opening at The Shadowbox Theatre 23 May 2025)
2025: ... you?
Post Productions is pleased to announce the 2025 Windsor-Essex Playwriting Contest. This is an opportunity for playwrights and aspiring playwrights from Windsor and Essex County to receive feedback on their scripts from a panel of dedicated and experienced judges – and potentially see their work produced onstage at The Shadowbox Theatre as part of Post Productions’ 2026 season. Winning playwrights also receive 10% of gross ticket revenue from the production of their work and may participate in the casting and rehearsal processes if they wish.
All playwrights who submit will receive detailed constructive feedback from a panel of experienced judges who have read and discussed their work. Finalists will receive additional feedback in the second round of the contest.
Please read the eligibility and submission requirements below – and attend to them carefully so you can maximize your odds of winning!
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
This contest is intended to provide an opportunity for Windsor-Essex writers to showcase their talent and professionalism through the Post Productions brand of theatre. Any submission that fails to meet the following eligibility requirements will be neither read nor adjudicated:
1. Submitting playwright must be at least 18 years old and be either a Windsor-Essex native or currently reside in Windsor-Essex;
2. Entries must be properly formatted (any widely accepted playscript format is fine) PDF manuscripts in a readable 12-point font (Courier, Times New Roman, Calibri, etc.), carefully proofread before submission, with numbered pages and a title page (which must include the script’s title, playwright’s name, intended genre, intended themes, and a 50-150 word synopsis of the script);
3. Entries should be 75-120 minutes long when produced (one page equals roughly one minute);
4. Cast of characters should be small (2-6) and number of settings kept to a minimum (1-4);
5. Entries must be plays – no musicals, monologues, variety shows, or other forms of theatre will be accepted. There's nothing wrong with these other forms of theatre. They are just not what the contest is intended to adjudicate;
6. The script must be unproduced as of the date of its submission;
7. Entries must be submitted by email to [email protected]
DEADLINES AND PROCESS
Post Productions is committed to using this contest as a developmental experience that benefits all involved parties. Our goal is to help all submitting playwrights prepare for eventual success. To these ends, our process involves constructive feedback with an opportunity for finalists to revise and resubmit their scripts. Scripts submitted in previous years of the contest are welcome, as long as they have been revised using the constructive feedback provided.
1. Entries to the first round must be received by 20 April 2025 via email to [email protected];
2. Once received, entries will be anonymized, read, discussed, and scored by our panel of judges, who will prepare feedback for each submitted script that has met the eligibility requirements, and collectively decide which entries will become finalists;
3. Decisions and feedback will be sent to all submitting playwrights by 27 May 2025;
4. Finalists will be invited to proceed to the second round of the contest, where they will have the opportunity to refine their scripts using the judges’ feedback, and resubmit their revised entries no later than 27 June 2025;
5. Winners will be chosen and notified by 31 July 2025.
A NOTE ON CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK:
Constructive feedback is feedback that is intended to not only identify what is good or bad, right or wrong, exemplary or insufficient about a script; it's intended to help the playwright understand the reasoning behind the judges' reactions to the script and offer suggestions regarding how to address problematic features of the script, build on exemplary features of the script, and otherwise contribute to the playwright's ongoing development. The judges endeavour to provide constructive feedback in as neutral a tone as possible.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Check out previous winners of the Windsor-Essex Playwriting Contest at the links below!
2018 (two winners): A HAUNTING IN E FLAT by Joey Ouellette and AUTOPSY by Alex Monk – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/autopsy--haunting.html
2019: PRY IT FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS by Edele Winnie – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/pry-it-from-my-cold-dead-hands.html
2020: DEAD BEAR by John Gavey - http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/dead-bear.html
2021 (two winners): STUCK by Jonathan Tessier – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/stuck.html
and PIRATE ATTACK ON THE 1C BUS GOING DOWNTOWN by Joey Ouellette – http://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/pirate-attack.html
2022: MIRABELLA by Joey Ouellette - https://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/mirabella.html
2023: WHICH WAY, MILLENNIAL MAN? by Jonathan Tessier - https://www.postproductionswindsor.ca/which-way-millennial-man.html
2024: COPRACORN by Kieran Potter (opening at The Shadowbox Theatre 23 May 2025)
2025: ... you?
For any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the contest, please contact Post Productions via email at [email protected]
CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE WINNER OF THE 2024 WINDSOR-ESSEX PLAYWRITING CONTEST
KIERAN POTTER!
Copracorn by Kieran Potter will premiere at The Shadowbox Theatre in April 2025.
TO THE WINNER OF THE 2024 WINDSOR-ESSEX PLAYWRITING CONTEST
KIERAN POTTER!
Copracorn by Kieran Potter will premiere at The Shadowbox Theatre in April 2025.
