Free Turn and Screen Yorkshire have launched LOOP; the UK’s first audio drama fund, offering paid development for writing talent living in, or from, the North of England.
The audio drama space is exploding right now. Audible, Spotify, the BBC and other independent distributors are clamouring to bring exciting new audio experiences to their audiences. We’re talking about ambitious, unforgettable, genre-busting drama that captures the attention and imagination of millions of people.
LOOP is a five-month paid (part-time) initiative, where a talented panel of industry professionals from Free Turn, Screen Yorkshire and the wider scripted audio industry will work with ten selected writers, putting them through an audio-first development programme.They will help the writers develop and hone their scripted audio idea into a creatively and commercially exciting project, develop a full treatment and first episode, and take it out to the UK’s biggest audio streamers or distributors.
We’re looking for proven writers with the ambition to be part of the new wave of audio. We want writers with fresh, new and exciting ideas that are created with audio in mind, ideas that are contemporary and reflective of the modern world. We want to create a varied slate from a diverse range of writers and genres, including Young Adult, Kids, Horror, Psychological Drama, Sci-Fi and Comedy formats, with ideas that dare to challenge the format and push people’s expectations of audio.
We’re looking to work with talented writers from any and all backgrounds with a great idea. You’ll have written a novel, short stories, theatre, a screenplay, TV, a game or even an audio drama before. If you don’t yet have a writing credit or published pieces, you’ll need to demonstrate previous experience of working professionally with narrative, story development or scripts. We’d still be happy to receive your submission but would be looking only for the most exceptional examples.
Aside from this, the only conditions are that you are aged 18 or over by the closing date for applications (19th May 2023), that you have an idea for an audio drama, and either live, work or are originally from the North of England. You must be available for the key dates for the programme listed below (from July – December 2023) and fully commit to all of them at the time of accepting your place.
Please ensure that you read the FAQs before submitting your application via our online form, along with a brief for what we’re looking for below. As part of your application, you’ll be asked to submit an initial two-page treatment, any previous writing credits you’ve achieved or an example of some past work that has been published by a third-party, or details of your relevant professional experience.
The deadline for applications is Friday 19th May at 5pm. Unfortunately we will not be able to offer feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Please note, that accepting your offer to take part in LOOP is your commitment to the following key programme activity and is a condition of receiving your payment to take part in the programme.
If you have read our FAQs and programme brief and feel that LOOP is the right programme for you, please ensure that you are available for the key LOOP programme dates listed above before applying.
For any enquiries about LOOP contact: loop@freeturn.co. Please note that Screen Yorkshire is unable to respond to enquiries about this programme.
As part of our remit to monitor and improve access to under-represented groups in the industry, we report to our funders on the diversity of applicants to this scheme. We would be extremely grateful if you could also fill in our ANONYMOUS DIVERSITY FORM once you have submitted your application form via the button below.