Theatre Uncut, in partnership with the Lyric Theatre Belfast, Sherman Theatre, Traverse Theatre and Young Vic, have announced the second Theatre Uncut Political Playwriting Award today following the success of the inaugural award, won by Sami Ibrahim for his play two Palestinians go dogging.
The award aims to find the next generation of political playwrights that want to explore the big issues that affect our lives today. At a time where questioning the political fabric of society feels particularly important, Theatre Uncut is looking for brand new full-length plays for stage that examine the political in its widest sense - from the domestic to the global.
Emma Callander and Hannah Price, Co-Artistic Directors of Theatre Uncut:
“Playwrights are an integral part of society. We rely on their tenacity, imagination, bravery and skill to educate us, to move us, to challenge us. This award provides an opportunity for emerging playwrights to have their voices heard and looks towards a time when we can sit together in the theatre and share the experience of reflecting on our lives, together.”
To encourage writers from as wide a demographic as possible, from all across the UK, to submit their plays Theatre Uncut have partnered with theatres in the UK’s 4 capital cities: the Young Vic in London, the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff and the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.
Jimmy Fay, Executive Producer at the Lyric Theatre said:“We are delighted to be partnering with this great collaboration of theatres on the Political Playwriting Award. It is more important now than ever that we are able to support new voices in this time of uncertainty and we look forward to seeing the great work that comes out of the process.”
Submissions will open on 7 August and close on 7 October 2020. The award will be eligible for: writers based in the UK only; plays that have not yet received any kind of production; plays over 60 minutes long; writers who have had no more than two full professional productions of their work.
The company are dedicated to providing as fair a process as possible so all plays are read anonymously and the reading panel are made up of individuals with widely diverse perspectives in terms of race, sexuality, age, gender, physical ability, financial background and geographic location.
After a longlist of 20 plays has be read by Theatre Uncut Artistic Directors Hannah Price and Emma Callander they will be joined by representatives from all partner venues, Independent Talent and Nick Hern Books to select the winner from a final shortlist of 6 plays.
The writer of the winning play will receive an award of £9,500, an agreement to option the production of the play to Theatre Uncut and the award partners, and the offer of publication by Nick Hern Books.
For more details go to www.theatreuncut.com/award