Actor Thomas Pickles wins inaugural Adrian Pagan Playwright Award

The inaugural Adrian Pagan Playwright Award has been won by actor Thomas Pickles for his play Dead Party Animals.

The award, which was set up for theatre professionals who do not describe themselves as playwrights to showcase their writing talent, was judged by David Lan, Mark Ravenhill, Mike Bradwell, Nina Steiger and Julia Tyrell.

Pickles, an actor from East Lancashire, will win a £2,000 prize as well as a full production of Dead Party Animals at the new venue from the team behind the King's Head Theatre in Islington, the Hope Theatre, in May 2014.

Pickles' acting credits includes The Mouse and His Child and The Merry Wives of Windsor for the RSC and, on television, Doctors and Casualty.

The shortlist for the award, which was set up by the King's Head artistic director Adam Spreadbury-Maher in honour of stage manager-turned-writer Adrian Pagan, comprised of four other plays; Remi Rachuba's The Visitor, Isobel Middleton's Dissolution, Gina Gough's Kitchen Sinking and Isaac Ssebandeke's My Darling Wife.

Read Adam Spreadbury-Maher's blog on why he set up the award here