Brad Birch awarded 2016 Pinter Commission

Playwright Brad Birch has been awarded this year's Pinter Commission.

The prize, which is given annually by Lady Antonia Fraser, the widow of Harold Pinter, is designed to support a new commission at the Royal Court Theatre.

Birch has been involved in several projects at the Royal Court, including short play Permafrost which ran as part of the Rough Cut Season. He was also a contributing writer on the Court's Peckham: The Soap Opera.

Other projects include a recent adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray entitled Selfie for the National Youth Theatre, and Tender Bolus for Manchester Royal Exchange.

Birch said: "I hope to write a play that stands up to the great names of the Royal Court and Harold Pinter."

Fraser said: "I believe that the Pinter Commission is exactly what Harold would have wanted. Because he had experienced the devastating rejection of his early work, he knew the true value of encouragement. New writing was always intensely important to Harold and Brad Birch is a welcome recipient of the 2016 Award."

Now in its fifth year, the Pinter Commission can be given to any playwright, whether they are established or new.