Many of the ten shortlisted titles reflect the nature of our times, covering subjects such as the growth of contemporary gang culture in Britain and the war in Afghanistan. As a group they describe young people struggling to grow up in a world that is politically, economically and socially unstable, where the old certainties of family, morality and authority are under threat.
One of the unique aspects of the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is that at the shortlist stage, only the names of the plays are revealed. The writers remain anonymous, allowing the play to be judged rather than the playwright, until the winners of the £40,000 prize fund are announced at a ceremony held at Manchester’s Royal Exchange Theatre on Tuesday 15 November.
The shortlist is:
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A Map of the Region
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Brilliant Adventures
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Britannia Waves the Rules
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Climbing Snakes
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I And The Village
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I Started A Fire
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One Look
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Shadow Play
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Three Birds
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White
Sarah Frankcom, Judge and Joint Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange, Manchester said:
“This is a shortlist of plays that feel urgent and young. They are pieces of writing that say something about the world we live in now, across class and generations. From an eleven year old girl from Harpurhey to an Estonian family in the twilight of the USSR, these plays reflect experiences and voices that are being heard for the first time.”
Michael Oglesby, Judge and Chairman of Bruntwood added:
“The Bruntwood Prize has gone from strength to strength and with a record number of entries in 2011, it’s turning out to be the most exciting year yet. As Chairman of Bruntwood I’m incredibly proud of what our partnership with the Royal Exchange Theatre has achieved, and as one of the judges I’m looking forward to reading the titles on this eclectic shortlist.”
The ten plays will be read by the judging panel consisting of: award-winning writer Simon Stephens (chair); writer Jackie Kay; actor Sue Johnston; actor Maxine Peake; Royal Exchange Joint Artistic Director Sarah Frankcom and Chairman of Bruntwood Michael Oglesby. They will award a first prize of £16,000, the largest single award to date, and three Judges’ Awards of £8,000 each.All four award winners will have the chance to develop their play with the Royal Exchange, with a view to production.In addition, leading theatre publishers Nick Hern Books will publish all winning plays that receive a production at the Exchange.
The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting aims to discover and promote the best writing for theatre. It is a joint venture between property company Bruntwood and the Royal Exchange Theatre. The competition is open to all writers – from first-time playwrights to those with more experience.
Since launching in 2005, six full productions, nine prize winners and well over 5,000 entries have been generated by the prize and over £80,000 in prize money has been awarded in total.