THE Meyer Whitworth Award for playwriting had a habit of picking winners with staying power, its list including Philip Ridley, David Harrower, Conor McPherson, Dennis Kelly and Morna Pearson.

It was awarded for the 20th and final time in 2011 and has been succeeded by the Royal National Theatre Foundation Playwright Award, which is admistered UK-wide by Playwright's Studio Scotland, and for which the 2013 deadline is fast approaching.

The closing date for applications is Friday, September 6, and full details are available at the studio's website, below.

To be eligible plays must be by writers who have had no more than two of their plays professionally produced and the submitted must have been professionally produced in the UK for the first time between December 1, 2010, and November 30, 2012.

The winning playwright receives £10,000, with additional prizes of £1000 available to two runners-up.

l playwrightsstudio.co.uk

SOME of Scottish Opera's young singing stars are taking part in an outdoor classical concert in the grounds of Leuchie House in East Lothian.

The concert, featuring up-and-coming performers from Scottish Opera, will be held on Sunday September 1 in the extensive grounds of the country house, just outside North Berwick.

As well as Scottish Opera Emerging Artists Andrew McTaggart, pictured, (baritone) and Sioned Gwen Davies (mezzo-soprano) and the soprano Marie Claire Breen, a former Emerging Artist, Leuchie on the Lawn will also feature performances tenor Martin Aelred, the Rose Street String Quartet and harpist Yolli Fisher.

The event marks the start of the inaugural Leuchie Week (September 1-7), which aims to raise awareness and funds for Leuchie House, a respite facility offering breaks to enhance the lives of people and their carers from all over Scotland who are living with long-term conditions.

l leuchiehouse.org.uk

MULL Theatre sets off on its autumn tour across the Highlands and Islands next month with a new production of Michael Healey's play The Drawer Boy, starring Barrie Hunter, Kevin Lennon and Alasdair McCrone, who also directs.

The Drawer Boy is the story of young actor who arrives at a farm in the seventies to research a role, and the story he uncovers of the two middle-aged men who live there.

It was a huge hit when first produced in Canada, winning many awards, and was first staged in Scotland by Andy Arnold shortly after he took over the reins at Glasgow's Tron Theatre.

This is its first Scottish tour, opening at Mull Theatre on September 12 to touring to October 4 at Cove Burgh Hall, and including dates on Uist, Harris, Lewis, Skye and Bute.

l mulltheatre.com