Guwahati: The plays for the first Mahendra Borthakur Memorial Northeast One-act Play Competition, to be organised at Dr Banikanta Kakati auditorium of Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra at Panjabari here on December 8, 9 and 10, will be selected on the basis of certain elements incorporated in the manuscripts, the organising committee said here on Tuesday.

Each team has to submit a manuscript of its play within a period to be notified by the committee later. Elements in the script like dialogue, technique, presentation and contemporary value to society will be evaluated by the committee for selection in the competition.

The highlights of the competition include a play by renowned playwright Mahendra Borthakur which will be staged by the organising committee on the second day and another play to be staged by a theatre group from Mumbai on the concluding day.

Committee president Babul Das said, "This is the first time that a one-act play competition has been organised at the regional level in the city. We will select the competing teams on the basis of the manuscript they submit. We have framed certain rules for the competition and the teams have to strictly adhere to them. We will give awards to the best, second-best and third-best team, actors and actresses. The best writer, director, music director and set director will also be awarded."

The best team will win a cash award of Rs 21,000, the the runners-up will get Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000.

The rules for the competition include joining a month prior to the competition, being present one day before the staging of the play and limiting the number of performing and supporting team members to 10 each, as the organisers will provide accommodation and food for them.