Ellie Fry, from BBC Blast, introduces the competition they're running together with the Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company that City Gateway helped launch earlier in the year.

I'm writing about a Hip Hop Shakespeare competition we're running at BBC Blast at the moment, in partnership with 1Xtra and MOBO winning artist Akala's Hip Hop Shakespeare Company.
 
BBC Blast is all about encouraging 13-19 year olds to get creative, whether that be artistically, through music, drama, writing, radio, journalism or events. The Hip Hop Shakespeare Competition offers young people the chance to win a 2-day masterclass with Akala and Bashy, honing their lyric writing and performance skills, and then the opportunity to perform at their own Maida Vale session and be broadcast on Ras Kwame's Introducing Homegrown show on 1Xtra.
 
All they need to do is upload a 60-second solo rap or spoken word verse inspired by both Hip Hop and Shakespeare to bbc.co.uk/blast, and they could find themselves at the legendary Maida Vale Studios come September. This is a really great showcase opportunity for young talent and a completely free opportunity, so we'd really like as many people to get a shot at it as possible. I know there are loads of talented MCs out there so I'm really trying to get this out virally, on artist's myspaces and relevant websites... It would be great if you'd be interested in helping us promote it, online or in the magazine - or even if you could suggest any relevant websites or places to contact about spreading the message. I've got loads of great images and I'm attaching an eflyer below (just click on it for all competition rules and info):