Women's Prize for Playwriting

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The Women's Prize for Playwriting is an award for female and non-binary writers from the UK and Ireland that was launched in 2019-2020.

Contents

History of the prize

The idea for the prize came from a discussion between Ellie Keel and Charlotte Bennett and Katie Posner Artistic Directors of Paines Plough in early 2019. The three thought essential to tackle the lack of support towards women playwrights. The Women's Prize for Playwriting was launched on 4 October 2019, to showcase female talent and also give the winner the opportunity to put on stage their play in a high-profile theatre.[ citation needed ]

The inaugural year the Prize received 1,163 submissions that were read and scored during the COVID-19 pandemic by judges Mel Kenyon, Maxine Peake, Monica Dolan, Sarah Frankcom and Indhu Rubasingham. Joint winners were Amy Trigg for her one-woman play Reasons You Should(n't) Love Me and Ahlam for You Bury Me. [1]

Trigg's play had its first performances at the Kiln Theatre in 2021, followed by a UK tour, before returning to the Kiln in November 2022. Ahlam piece started at the Fringe in 2021 and embarked on a tour, ending in London's Orange Tree Theatre in 2023. [2]

2021 winner was Karis Kelly with the play Consumed. The winner was selected from 850 submission and chosen by a judging panel formed by actors Nicola Walker and Jodie Whittaker, playwrights Lucy Kirkwood and Winsome Pinnock, critic Arifa Akbar, dramaturg Nina Steiger and directors Jenny Sealey and Indhu Rubasingham. The play was produced in 2023. [3]

The 2023 Prize announced its finalists in December, from a list of 1,002 submissions, and held the Award ceremony at the London Library in January 2024. [1] [4] The 2023 winner was Dr Sarah Grochala with the play Intelligence. The show sees computer pioneer Ada Lovelace and her struggles being recognised in a male-dominated world. [5]

Recipients

YearAuthorTitleResult
2020 Amy Trigg Reasons You Should(n't) Love MeWinner
AhlamYou Bury Me
ChinonyeremParadise StreetShortlisted
Eve LeighRed Sky at Night
Liv HennessyColostrum
Miriam BattyeThe Virgins
...blackbird hourBabirye Bukilwa
2021 [6] Karis KellyConsumedWinner
Abi ZakarianMountain WarfareShortlisted
Alison CarrBirdie
Isabella LeungA Bouffon Play About Hong Kong
Isley LynnFuries
Lydia Lukeupright enuf
Paula B Stanic4 Decades
Somebody JonesHow I learned to Swim
2023Sarah GrochalaIntelligenceWinner
Daisy HallBellringersShortlisted
Emma GibsonLumin
Shaan ShahotaThe Angels Were Worms
Sonali BhattacharyyaKing Troll (The Fawn)

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References

  1. 1 2 "Finalists announced for 2023 Women's Prize for Playwriting". 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  2. ↑ "The Women's Prize for Playwriting". Paines Plough. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  3. ↑ "About - The Women's Prize for Playwriting". 2020-10-08. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  4. ↑ "The Women's Prize for Playwriting 2023 Shortlist revealed | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  5. ↑ "Dr Sarah Grochala wins Women's Prize for Playwriting with her play 'Intelligence'". Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (cssd). January 23, 2024.
  6. ↑ Miller, Tate (2022-03-13). "Feature: The Women's Prize for Playwriting". Everything Theatre. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
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