The Stage

Female writers triumph in the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition

Published Friday 21 November 2008 at 15:45 by Charlotte Ellis

Female writers have stormed this year’s Bruntwood Playwriting Competition for the Manchester Royal Exchange, with three of the four winners being women.

Each beat off competition from more than 1,000 entrants to be named joint winners at a ceremony held yesterday (Thursday).

The winning plays were Butcher Boys by Naylah Ahmed, Mogadishi by Vivienne Franzmann, Salt by Fiona Peek and Andy Sheridan’s Before the Echoes Die Away.

Ahmed said the victory has left her feeling “elated” and said she was attracted to the competition because it offered “recognition of work and a financial prize”.

Chair of the judging panel, actor Richard Wilson, said: “It’s all very exciting because these people could be the famous playwrights of tomorrow. I’m looking forward to meeting each of them personally and hopefully they will go on to great things.”

Now in its second year, the competition requires entrants to submit work under a pseudonym allowing playwrights, regardless of gender or experience, to compete on equal footing.

This year’s winners - all first time playwrights - will share a prize fund of £40,000 and a year-long script development programme at the Exchange.

They could also have their plays produced at the Exchange, with all those that receive a production being published by Nick Hern Books.

When this year’s competition was launched in May, judge Brenda Blethyn called for more women to compete. Following her appeal, 60% of entrants were female.

Blethyn said: “I’m delighted we’ve had so many women entering the competition. Reading the scripts has been great fun and really highlighted how many talented writers we have in this country.”