Due to the current Coronavirus outbreak across the world, many people in the UK are staying at home and are not able to go out for social gatherings.

The King Lear Prizes have launched to encourage ordinary people, who have never been published before and are not professional writers, musicians or artists, to create new works of literature, poetry, music and art during the time they are quarantined.

As you will remember, King Lear went increasingly mad during Shakespeare’s play. Perhaps entering the King Lear Prize competition will stop you doing the same in quarantine!

King Lear Prize Categories

Initial prize categories are open to those who are at least 70 years old, given that they have been asked by the UK Government to stay at home and implement social distancing measures,

Short story

• 2,000 to 10,000 words
• In English
• Any subject or setting
• Submit full text
• Deadline: Friday 29th May 2020
• Prize: £1,000

Poetry

• Up to 40 lines
• In English
• Any form or subject
• Submit full text
• Deadline: Friday 29th May 2020
• Prize: £1,000

Solo Musical Composition

• Up to 4 minutes
• For one solo instrument only
• Any instrument
• Submit manuscript or audio recording
• Deadline: Friday 29th May 2020
• Prize: £1,000

Short Drama

• Up to 15 minutes in running time
• Performed by up to 4 people
• In English
• Any subject or setting
• Submit full script
• Deadline: Friday 29th May 2020
• Prize: £1,000

Art

• Painting or drawing
• Submit a photograph of your work
• Deadline: Friday 29th May 2020
• Prize: £1,000

To enter, and to ask any questions you may have for the organisers please go to: https://www.kinglearprizes.org.uk/