The shortlist for the UK’s biggest national competition for playwriting is out today.
Fourteen plays compete across four categories, including new work from actors David Dawson (My Policeman), Kirsty Marillier (Home and Away) and Georgia Bruce (It’s A Sin).
The 2022 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting also welcomes two first-time playwrights: Georgia Bruce and Nathan Queeley-Dennis, while Dave Harris becomes the first person to have been shortlisted twice in the history of the prize.
Two writers from Manchester and one from Liverpool are also in the running for the new North West Original New Voice Award and Residency.
All winners enter a development process with Manchester Royal Exchange in an endeavour to bring their work to production.
The nine UK scripts in the running for the overall £16,000 prize :
- Time, Like the Sea by Georgia Bruce
- The Institute by David Dawson
- The China Play by Jeremy Green
- Leave the Morning to the Morning by Patrick Hughes
- Bindweed by Martha Loader
- Allah in the Walls by Jasmin Mandi-Ghomi
- Three by Jill O'Halloran
- Bullring Techno Makeout Jamz by Nathan Queeley-Dennis
- (the) Woman by Jane Upton
Three of the playwrights shortlisted for the overall Prize—David Dawson, Patrick Hughes and Jill O'Halloran—are also eligible for the Original New Voice Award.
Five scripts have been shortlisted for the International Award from Australia and the US:
- way back when by Dylan van den Berg (Australia)
- The Red Lead by Roshelle Fong (Australia)
- Watch Me by Dave Harris (USA)
- The Zap by Kirsty Marillier (Australia)
- No Pink Dicks by Moreblessing Maturure (Australia)
The Judges will announce the winner at the Royal Exchange on November 14.