The 2019 JMK award has gone to 24-year-old director Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu for his production of Arinzé Kene’s Little Baby Jesus, which was first performed at London's Oval House Theatre in 2011, at the time winning Kene the Offie for Most Promising Playwright.
As winner of this year's prize, Fynn-Aiduenu will direct a full-scale production of Kene's play at London's Orange Tree Theatre working with designer Tara Usher.
He said, “it is a blessing to be given the support and time to mount the professional revival of Arinzé Kene’s play Little Baby Jesus that changed my life. I want people to watch this piece and see that their growing pains can make incredible stories and that there is someone out there desperate to hear them. I thank the JMK Trust and Orange Tree Theatre for investing in my madness. I cannot wait to tear this stage up!”
Fynn-Aiduenu’s credits include Sweet Like Chocolate, Melanin Box Festival, Fresh Direction as part of the Young Vic’s My England, Timbuktu and Black Attack.
This year’s runners-up, who each receive £2,000, are Oscar Toeman and his designer Rebecca Brower for The Sugar Syndrome by Lucy Prebble.
The JMK Trust was founded in memory of director James Menzies-Kitchin, who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 28.