STUDIO Theatre in Salisbury is encouraging people to get creative during the lockdown and come up with their own monologues.

The theatre, which is based in Ashley Road, is launching its first monologue competition. It said: “We are searching for the best performed and best original monologues. We have a panel of judges who will then create a final short list of five for each of our categories.”

The competition categories are 12 to under 16, 16 to under 25, over 25, and best original monologue, which is open to all ages.

The five shortlisted will perform their monologues either in person or online via Zoom, depending on the latest government restrictions, to a panel of judges on March 6. Each winner will receive a prize and all the finalist’s performances will be recorded and shared on Studio Theatre’s social media platforms.

Studio Theatre said: “You monologue can be contemporary or classical but must follow one of the following themes - self expression, love, comedy, tragedy or seasons of the year.”

To take part send a landscape recording of their monologue performance, which should be no more than two minutes long. At the start of the video say your name, the category and the name of the monologue and who it is written by. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, February 26. All participants under 18 must have parental approval before entering the competition. Email submissions to studiomonologuecompetition@gmail.com.