Belli Corti Playwriting Competition

A competition that brings scripts to the stage

In the Roman landscape of author calls, Belli Corti holds a unique position: it does not simply reward writing on paper, but transforms it into real theatre. Promoted by the Nuovo Teatro San Paolo in collaboration with the Accademia San Paolo, this new playwriting competition invites authors to submit short plays and monologues in Italian. Selected works are then entrusted to directors and actors chosen by the artistic board, who stage them during one or more dedicated evenings open to the public.

The formula has solidified over time, becoming one of the most anticipated events for emerging playwrights in the Municipality of Rome and the Lazio region. The cycle runs offset from the calendar year: the call opens in summer and closes on October 31st, while the staging of selected texts takes place in the first months of the following year, typically between January and February.

How the competition works

Participation is completely free and open to authors of any nationality, provided the texts are written in Italian. Works can be unpublished or previously published, and each author may submit a maximum of two pieces: two monologues, two short plays, or one of each.

• Monologue: maximum length of 1,000 words.
• Short play: between 2,500 and 3,000 words.
• Required material: author's personal details, title and synopsis, CV, text in Word or PDF format, and authorization for staging.
• Submission: via the online form, following the instructions published on the theatre's website.

The artistic board evaluates materials based on originality, innovation, and dramaturgical experimentation, then contacts the authors of the selected works. During the final evenings, a quality jury—composed of authors, directors, actors, and theatre critics—attends the performances and awards the prizes.

The Junior Section

Alongside the main section, aimed at adult performers, the competition includes a Belli Corti Junior section, dedicated to texts intended for performers aged 6 to 17. This is a consistent element of the Nuovo Teatro San Paolo's vocation, which is highly active in theatre for children and young people, as well as in training.

The Nuovo Teatro San Paolo

The theatre is located on Viale di San Paolo, a stone's throw from the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in the southern part of the city between Ostiense, Marconi, and Garbatella. It is a neighbourhood theatre in the best sense of the term: hosting a drama season, family shows, academy activities, and a programme of competitions that includes, in addition to Belli Corti, initiatives dedicated to full-length plays and choreography.

For those who write for the theatre, the prospect of seeing their monologue performed by professional actors in front of a real audience is the primary value of this initiative: more than the prize money, it is the transition from page to stage that counts.

Why follow it

• Free participation and international openness, with the only requirement being the Italian language.
• Guaranteed staging for selected texts, with professional direction and cast.
• Jury composed of industry professionals, useful for networking.
• Final evenings open to the public: even those who do not participate in the competition can attend.