Ambassador Peel Playwriting Challenge 2025

Promoters:

  1. Ambassador Cruise Holidays Limited, company number 13299365 and with registered address at 8th Floor Becket House, 36 Old Jewry, London, England EC2R 8DD; and
  2. Peel Entertainment Group Limited, company number 03694202 and with registered address at Weir Chambers, 1 Water Street, Skipton, England BD23 1PQ

Jointly referred to as the ‘Promoters’.

How to Enter, Eligibility, Key Dates and Play Prize Details:

Please refer to www.theatreatsea.com for more details.

General

Cash Prize Detail T&Cs:

The selected winner of the Ambassador Peel Playwriting Challenge 2025 will win £6,000 in total and the prize will paid in three instalments. There is one cash prize to give away of £6,000. £3,000 will be paid within 14 days on the winner being announced on the 5th December 2025. The second instalment of £2,000 will be paid within 14 days of the play being performed live on Ambition, this is estimated to be April 2026. The final instalment of £1K will be paid within 14 days of completion of the “In Conversation With” interview about the play on board Ambition, this is estimated to be April or May 2026. The winner is solely responsible for any personal tax implications of winning the competition and any of the prizes available.

Cruise Prize Detail T&C’s

The winner of the Ambassador Peel Playwriting Challenge 2025 will win up to a 14-night Cruise with Ambassador Cruise Line on Ambition (excludes festive events and any private charters). There is one prize to give away: a cruise for two adults over 18 years old on any cruise up to 14-nights on Ambition departing between March 2026 – April 2027 sharing an ocean view cabin (subject to availability). The selected winner will receive one prize as described above. . You will not be permitted to transfer your prize to someone else (other than in accordance with the law) and there is no cash alternative. Prize includes one ocean-view cabin accommodation and full board. If category isn’t available, winner can pay the difference to upgrade to a higher category or accept a lower category on their cruise of choice, no cash alternative or refund if a lower category is chosen. The prize excludes: travel insurance; travel to and from the  port; port parking; taxes; onboard expenditure of a personal nature i.e. drinks, gifts, shopping, laundry, communications etc.; any visa or health certificate charges that may apply; and crew gratuities, which will be automatically billed to your onboard account at £7pp per night, unless you opt for a drinks package. Ambassador’s booking conditions apply at all times to the Cruise Prize and can be found here.

Ambassador Cruise Line reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any theme cruise activities/speakers/acts at short notice. In the event of your cruise being cancelled, you’ll be guaranteed a full refund.

Ambassador Cruise Line Representative

Bob McGowan – Chief Experience Officer for Ambassador Cruise Line

Bob joined Ambassador as Head of Guest Experience in April 2021 and was promoted to the role of Head of Operations in 2023 with responsibility for all aspects of ship operations including overseeing the delivery of the Ambassador product. With the guest service and experience at the heart of the Ambassador business, he was promoted to the position of Chief Experience Officer in 2024, bringing a renewed focus to the experience guests enjoy when onboard, hotel operations, onboard guest services and turnarounds.

Bob has worked in the hospitality and travel industry for over 18 years, originally training in hospitality management. He started his career overseas in 2000 before moving onto a cruise ship, working his way up to Cruise Director. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the Ambassador Cruise Line guest experience with an enviable track record of enhancing satisfaction scores and reputation.

Having started out as an entertainer and presenter onboard ships, to then an Entertainment Director, Bob is very familiar with the requirements of performing to an onboard audience from all perspectives.

Bob has been a huge advocate for the Theatre@Sea programme and the innovation it has brought to the line. He continues to look for innovation in guest experiences and to this end is delighted to be Ambassador’s powerhouse championing the Ambassador/PEEL Playwriting Challenge.

Chair of Judges

Susannah Daley Chair of PEEL Entertainment

Susannah started her journey with playwriting and producing at a very early age. A winner of the BBC Young Playwright of the Year she was also joint BBC Young Filmmaker two years later. She started and performed and write for the much applauded innovate theatre company ‘Action Replay’ at the National Media Museum and organised the first European Conference and Festival of Theatre-in Museum – Go Live.

Action Replay performed stories and theatre pieces in a wide range of theatrical styles to tell the stories of the science, history and art of photography, film & television. Susannah became Head of Theatre and Special Events, commissioning new theatre and innovations for Action Replay and organising ‘Script to Screen’ programmes with writers and filmmakers, including a then newly discovered Danny Boyle.

Since founding PEEL, (the PEEL Entertainment Group Ltd), Susannah has commissioned and produced many plays and touring theatre including an adaption of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty and an outdoor promenade reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Bringing theatre to the cruise industry has been a very big passion for Susannah who is proud of the amazing programme the company has been able to showcase and the work we have been able to give to writers, directors, actors, and production staff. Susannah is also a TEDx speaker.

Nathan Queely Dennis

Nathan is the winner of the 2022 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, with his debut play Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe 2023 to widespread critical acclaim.
 
Nathan was chosen by The Stage as one of the Fringe Five and the play was named as one of WhatsOnStage and TimeOut’s best shows of Edinburgh Fringe. Bullring transferred to the Royal Court in London and is currently on tour across the UK.
 
Nathan is part of the long form writers’ group with the Royal Court and part of the Pulse Collective. He has previously been a recipient of Four of a Kind with Wildcard Theatre and shortlisted for Pint Sized at the Bunker Theatre.
 
Nathan is currently developing Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz for screen with Kudos, and has other projects in development with Warp Films, House Productions and Dancing Ledge in association with Screenskills.