Shortlist Announced for the 2017 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

Following Anna Jordan’s YEN and Katherine Soper’s Wish List the Royal Court Theatre collaborates for a third year with the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester to support the 2017 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting.

The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting is Europe’s biggest playwriting competition. The biennial Prize is a partnership between the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and family-owned property company, Bruntwood. It highlights the importance of new writing for theatre and the value of nurturing playwrights and their craft. The total prize fund is £40,000 and each of the winners will enter into a development process with the Royal Exchange Theatre.

The ten shortlisted scripts were selected from 1,898 original plays that were submitted to the Prize this year. Each playwright enters their play under a pseudonym, creating an equal opportunity for writers of any background and experience to enter. The final ten are then judged and debated by a prestigious panel of top industry figures.

The 2017 Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting Shortlist:

Alan McKendrick, Oh Graveyard, You Can’t Hold Me Always

Archie Maddocks, A Place For We

Daniel Foxsmith, Pumpjack

Joshua Val Martin, This Is Not America

Kevin Doyle, when after all it was you and me (or – the genocide play)

Laurie Nunn, King Brown

Rebecca Callard, A Bit Of Light

Sharon Clark, Plow

Tim Foley, Electric Rosary

Timothy X Atack, Heartworm

The 2017 winning scripts will be announced at an award ceremony hosted by BBC news presenter Naga Munchetty on 13 November at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.

For more information, including full details of the writers and judging panel, see the press release here.