Shortlist announced for Verity Bargate new writing award

After receiving over 900 submissions, Soho Theatre has announced their shortlist for the 2015 Verity Bargate Award (VBA).

The six shortlisted plays are: Daniel Alicandro’s Myfanwy and the Underworld, Georgia Christou’s Yous Two, Fury by Phoebe Eclair-Powell, Theresa Ikoko’s Girls, Roller Diner from Stephen Jackson and Big Mama by Rosie Raven.

The shortlisted plays will go to a panel of seven judges: David Aukin (former Head of Film at Channel 4), Diane Morgan (artistic director, NitroBEAT), Fiach MacConghail (artistic director, Abbey Theatre, Dublin), Jenny Sealey (artistic director, Graeae Theatre Company), Phil Porter (former Soho Six member), Tanya Ronder (playwright,F*ck the Polar Bears) and chaired by Stephen Garrett (co-founder of Kudos Film and TV).

Excerpts from the six plays will be performed on Thursday 5 November, before the winner – who will receive £6,000 and a production of their play at Soho Theatre – is announced.

The competition includes a vital outreach programme with workshops and talks across UK and Ireland with partner organisations in Bristol, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Newcastle, Dublin and Glasgow.

Previous winners of the Verity Bargate Award – established in the memory of Soho Theatre’s founding artistic director – include Vicky Jones’ (The One), Thomas Eccleshare (Pastoral), Diane Samuels (Kindertransport') and Matt Charman (A Night at the Dogs), writer of current film release Bridge of Spies'' directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks.