The Writers’ Guild Of Great Britain Theatre Committee Awards for
the encouragement of new writing have been announced.
The awards, the brainchild of a former committee member, playwright
Mark Ravenhill, were set up to give members the opportunity to thank
those who had given them a particularly positive experience in new writing
over the previous year.
Chris Bridgman, Director, North West Playwrights, nominated
by Harvey Cox.
‘Chris’s constructive criticism while writing and rewriting
of a play I have been developing has done a great deal to help me,
as a novice, to improve my writing. He has a superb ability to home
in on weaknesses in a script, without undermining one's confidence.
Whenever I leave a discussion with him, even if he has not leapt up
and down and hailed me as the next Stoppard, Pinter or Ayckbourn,
I feel good about what has been said and ready to look at my work
again and make it better. This is so valuable to someone who has not
yet had anything commissioned, but thinks he has it in him to do so
one day.’
Neil McPherson, Artistic Director, and the Finborough Theatre,
nominated independently by Sarah Grochala and Iain Finlay Macleod.
‘Neil MacPherson and the Finborough Theatre have been very supportive
of my writing in the past 12 months and through them I have managed
to have two of my plays shown in London. Although I have had plays
on throughout Europe and the US, this is the first time I have had
a production on in London. It has been very beneficial in many ways.
One of the plays, I was a Beautiful Day, also transferred to Glasgow's
Tron Theatre for a short run. They are extremely supportive of writers,
a great team, and, most importantly, great audiences!’ (Iain
Finlay Macleod)
‘The simple reason for this nomination is for their encouragement,
championing and support of older writers, as well as younger ones.
They understand that sometimes talent can take time and experience
to develop and that it’s not only the under thirties who might
have something new and fresh to say about the world.’ (Sarah
Grochala)
Purni Morell, Head of Studio, the Royal National Theatre,
nominated by Timberlake Wertenbaker
"Since Purni has taken it over, the National Theatre Studio has
been amazingly open to writers of all kinds, allowing real experimentation
and freedom and encouraging more daring work.
‘I am extremely grateful to her, who convinced me to spend
some weeks at the studio developing anything I wanted. There is no
pressure, everyone is very nice but no one is looking over your shoulder
and it's made clear that if you just want to think for a few weeks,
that's fine. This lack of pressure was inspiring, and a weekly gathering
for the writers who were there (five in all) and the various directors,
some from abroad, was part of the pleasure as well. Purni made sure
these were fun, relaxed, non-hierarchical. It was a great experience
and I attribute the ease of it and lack of preciousness to Purni.
She's forged a very distinct identity in the Studio and I felt incredibly
encouraged and free (and I wrote a play.)
‘It was only at the very end that Purni convinced me to show
her the play, again without pressure, and she has been incredibly
helpful with its development and given me much needed confidence.
I've spoken to many other writers who have had the same experience
there. I think her range of interest is remarkably broad but she is
also one of those people who passionately defends what she likes as
opposed to what everyone else is liking at the moment. She makes writers
feel safe but asks them not to be safe. Such people are rare and deserve
recognition.’
The Orange Tree Theatre (Sam Walters, Artistic Director, and Alan
Strachan, freelance director). Nominated by Ben Brown.
‘Alan Strachan directed my play, The Promise, at the Orange
Tree (as he did my previous plays) and, as other writers have found
too, he is the perfect new-play director. Sam Walters, who produced
it, deserves special credit for enormously increasing his new-writing
production: as well, he just produced another one-act new play from
a first-time writer and is producing two more in his new season.’
David Thacker, Artistic Director of the Bolton Octagon. Nominated
by Aelish Michael
‘David has commissioned my play about the steeplejack Fred Dibnah,
The Demolition Man, for the main house in spring 2011. Since
he ran a workshop on an early draft of the play last March, David
has acted as dramaturg on the development of the piece, which is my
first full-blown commission. His fantastic intuitive flair for knowing
what works dramatically has been invaluable through various drafts
over the past few months. His faith in the project and in me has instilled
me with greater confidence as a playwright, encouraging me to produce
the best possible play that I can. David is demanding and a stickler
for detail, but in the kindest, most positive, most generous way.
His uniquely supportive and inspiring approach, always sprinkled with
good humour, has made the work on the play an enjoyable and unforgettable
experience.’
