24:7 play Maine Road shortlisted for radio prize

Manchester based, Monkeywood theatre’s new production Maine Road, a play written by co-founder Sarah McDonald Hughes, has been shortlisted for the Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2009, the most prestigious radio drama prize in the country.

The script for Maine Road made a shortlist of 9, from over 400 applications. The winner will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony on Wed 8 July 2009 to win a bursary of up to £5,000 and a commission to write a play for BBC Radio 4. This biennial award commemorates the life and work of distinguished BBC Radio Drama Producer Alfred Bradley and encourages new radio writing in the North of England. Previous winners include Billy Elliott writer, Lee Hall.

This news follows an announcement last month that Maine Road was accepted to be part of Manchester’s annual fringe theatre festival, 24:7. Monkeywood Theatre Company will be performing the play from Mon 20 July at Pure in the Printworks. The story, set in 2003, follows Leo, a young Man City fan whose world is being rapidly bulldozed around him. His Gran’s dead, his team are moving on and his mum’s “off her head.”

Sarah said “I am really thrilled that Maine Road is not only to be performed for a live audience as part of the 24:7 Theatre Festival, but is in the running to win such a prestigious radio award.”

Maine Road will follow Monkeywood’s last production, A Song for the Lovers, performed to critical acclaim at The Lowry in Salford.

For more information please go to www.monkeywoodtheatre.co.uk