James Shapiro wins Sheridan Morley Prize

James Shapiro has been announced as the winner of the ninth annual Sheridan Morley Prize for Theatre Biography.

Shapiro won the award for 1606 William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear,a biography which marks the forthcoming 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death by looking at a remarkable year in the playwright's life: 1606.

The award was presented at a ceremony at the Garrick Club on 2 March. Shapiro beat four other nominees to scoop the £2,000 cash prize.

The Prize is judged by a jury of theatrical and literary practitioners including Kika Markham, Benedict Nightingale and the previous years' winning author John Lahr.

Lahr commented today: "James Shapiro’s book is written with great strategic narrative skill, very clear English and it’s organised extremely well. The adjective that comes to my mind for the book is luscious."