BUDDING playwrights are invited to enter a competition which could see their work brought to life at Leigh Spinners Mill.

Manchester-based the Royal Exchange Theatre is taking its pop-up theatre, The Den, to the Park Lane site in May and are looking for a play to be performed there.

Judges of the competition, LocalTALE, are asking for people to send an original 10 to 30 minute play, which, as a starting point, should be inspired by the picture of a tree in blossom below.

Leigh Journal:

The picture of a tree in blossom which judges are asking for people to take inspiration from when they write their plays

Entrants do not need any playwriting experience but they need to live in Leigh, Atherton or Tyldesley or have a connection to the towns.

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Two free workshops will be held by the Royal Exchange Theatre’s award-winning literary advisor Suzanne Bell at the mill on Tuesday, January 28 from 6pm to 8pm and Saturday, February 1, from 3pm to 5pm.

She said: "We are delighted to launch this brilliant competition today and I cannot wait to see what stories the people of Leigh, Astley and Tyldesley want to tell.

"Theatre is a brilliant celebration of the imagination and a playwright can transport their audience to anywhere and any time through beautiful stories and vivid characters.

"The key to telling a good story or to writing a great play is to keep asking questions, be curious and listen.

"All you need is a passion for people and storytelling.

"For anyone who thinks it might not be for them I’d encourage them to come along to one of the sessions at Leigh Spinners Mill and find out a bit more about writing for the stage."

Leigh ambassador Louisa Brown added: "We came up with the idea for a playwriting competition because we wanted to give the people of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley the opportunity to showcase their talent and to work with the Royal Exchange within their own community."

A free resource pack is available online at royalexchange.co.uk/localtale.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 23. To enter your play click here.