ISTR runs an annual essay competition for New Scholars. There is no set theme for this competition; rather, candidates are encouraged to submit work drawing on their current research in the area of drama, theatre and performance. New research or essays developed from papers presented at the preceding conference are welcome. The New Scholars’ Prize is awarded to the best essay, judged on originality, coherence and rigour.
Essays: Essays must be between 4 000 – 6 000 words (excluding bibliography) and should not be published or submitted for publication in advance of the award announcement. Candidates should submit entries in English electronically as an e-mail attachment. They will be judged anonymously; hence, the author’s name must not appear anywhere in the essay itself. All submissions must be accompanied by a cover sheet giving the name of the author, the essay title, an abstract of max 300 words, and a biographical note of max 250 words. The essays must be presented with attention to correct spelling, stylistics and referenced according to a standard norm (i.e. MLA or Chicago style).
Submission: Candidates should submit entries in English in MS Word format to the Convenor of the Prize Committee, Dr Miriam Haughton: miriam.haughton@nuigalway.ie<
Eligibility: A New Scholar is defined as a graduate student or post-doctoral researcher whose PhD has been completed less than three years ago, or a researcher without a PhD who has been in an academic post for less than three years. Membership of ISTR is not necessary to enter the competition, but prize winners will need to join ISTR to attend the conference where the prize will be awarded.
The judges for the New Scholars Prizes in 2019 are Dr Eamonn Jordan, University College Dublin, Dr Aoife McGrath, Queen’s University Belfast, and Dr Miriam Haughton, NUI Galway. The best three essays will be shortlisted for the Prize, and the final Guest Adjudicator will select the winner(s). Previous final adjudicators have included Prof. Marvin Carlson, Prof. Helen Burke, Prof. Lionel Pilkington, Prof. Chris Morash, Prof. Mária Kurdi, Dr Cathy Leeney, and Prof. James Moran. The final adjudicator for 2018 is Dr Melissa Sihra, Trinity College Dublin.