The Lowry in MediaCity is holding their annual Creative Writing Challenge aimed at celebrating children’s creativity and imagination.

There are just four weeks left for Greater Manchester children to enter in this competition that is aimed at children aged 7-11.

The Creative Writing Challenge (CWC) entries can include poetry, short stories and stage text.

Pic copyright Phil Tragen 2022

The CWC will culminate in a special celebration event at The Lowry, Salford in June for shortlisted entries. Children will either perform their work themselves or have their work performed on their behalf.

The Lowry’s aim is for the challenge to be accessible to as many children as possible and will accept entries in a variety of formats including written format, voice recordings or video. The deadline for entries is Friday April 26 2024.

In each category, there will be a 1st place winner and runner-up, plus a special Founder’s Prize and a winner selected by a Children’s Panel.

All shortlisted children will receive feedback from the professional judging panel.

The year’s CWC will also feature a new children’s judging panel made up of members of the reading group from Little Hulton Library, as well as a new partnership with the University of Salford that will see a judging panel made up of students.

Pic copyright Phil Tragen 2022

Last week saw pupils from St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Summerville Primary School and Christ Church CE Primary School visit The Lowry to get inspiration for their entries by watching the stage adaption of Onjali Rauf’s much-loved novel The Boy at the Back of the Class.

The Lowry supported the schools by providing transport and theatre tickets free of charge.

The Boy at the Back of the Class has been adapted for the stage by writer and broadcaster Nick Ahad, who is one of the judges of this year’s CWC.

Nick Ahad said: “Ever since I was a little boy, probably around the age of the children who came to see The Boy at the Back of the Class on tour, I’ve loved writing probably more than anything else.

“I remember the first stories I read and certainly the first ones I wrote and I vividly remember my first trip to the theatre. Those stories still mean so much to me. To think that some of the children who see The Boy at the Back of the Class might be inspired to write their own stories is a privilege greater than I can express. I’m so excited to see what they come up with.”

To find out more information on The Lowry’s Creative Writing Challenge, click here.

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