The WICKED Young Writers' Award is proud to announce Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall as its patron from April 2010. Launched in February of this year, the Award aims to recognise excellence in writing, encourage creativity, and help develop writing talent in young people from across all backgrounds and areas of the UK.
Michael McCabe, Executive Producer of WICKED, said in a statement: "it is an honour and a privilege to be welcoming HRH The Duchess of Cornwall as patron of the WICKED Young Writers' Award. We are greatly encouraged by Her Royal Highness's commitment to the Award for its inaugural year, and look forward to her supporting our shared interest in energising young people's engagement with reading and writing"
Bestselling author and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo will chair the WICKED Young Writers' Award judging panel, supported by Gregory Maguire, author of the acclaimed novel that inspired the musical. Michael Morpurgo said: "I hope the award will bring the passion and energy of WICKED's amazing theatrical show and its ability to reach across age-ranges and backgrounds, to young people and their writing. With the encouragement of their teachers and families and the excitement of this kind of challenge, we will see original and creative writing coming through from children of all backgrounds and abilities. Let's hope that many, many young people will be encouraged to begin their own storytelling journeys".
The WICKED Young Writers' Award is sponsored by the publisher Headline who will celebrate the Award by publishing an anthology of winning entries to be sold exclusively through Amazon.co.uk. Winners will also be invited to a special autumn ceremony held at London's Apollo Victoria Theatre, where WICKED is currently being performed.
The Award is separated into five categories between the ages of 5-25years and allows young people from across the UK and Northern Ireland to enter a piece of writing on a theme or subject of their choice. Young people are free to submit entries written at home or at school, and teachers will also be encouraged to enter writing on behalf of their pupils through a schools' entry form and online Teachers' Resource featuring exclusive video tips for inspiring and encouraging writing in the classroom. The final date for entries is Saturday 31 July 2010.
Schools and individuals can download entry forms and find tips on entering the WICKED Young Writers' Award at www.WickedYoungWriters.com |
