With the pandemic preventing theatre groups from mounting plays, the Elliot Lake Amateur Theatre Ensemble decided to create the Phoenix Project Playwriting Competition.
President David Black says they receive eight submissions with a panel of judges selecting three winners and two honourable mentions.
The three winners are Vince Ucci for Stranded Not Lost; Kayt Burgess for By The Numbers and Suzanne Pare for her untitled play with honourable mentions going to Jim Graham for Burnt Oranges and Linda Morgan for her untitled play.
Black adds to receive prizes all five playwrights must complete a draft by March 1st with the final copy submitted by March 25th.
He says the project was financed through a grant from the East Algoma Community Futures Development Corporation with the rest going towards technical equipment and training for online presentations of the plays until audiences can once again fill the theatres.