Theatre503 Playwriting Award shortlist announced

The biennial Theatre503 Playwriting Award has announced five shortlisted plays from over 1600 entries.

This year's competition saw submissions from over 52 countries around the world. The judging panel included Evening Standard critic Henry Hitchings, BBC broadcaster Mark Lawson, playwright David Greig and playwrights Timberlake Wertenbaker and Roy Williams.

The Theatre503 Playwriting Award is an opportunity for playwrights to be recognised for an original piece of work for the stage.

The winner receives £6000 in prize money and a production of the winning play.

The shortlisted plays are Caterpillar by Alison Carr from Newcastle upon Tyne; Br’er Cotton by Tearrance Chisholm from Missouri; In Lipstick by London-based Annie Jenkins; The Political History of Smack and Crack by Manchester-born and Birmingham-raised writer Ed Jones and In Event of Moone Disaster by Edinburgh-based writer Andrew Thompson.

The winner will be announced on Wednesday 2 November at Theatre503.