News: Winners announced for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020

The winners for the Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020 have been announced in an inaugural digital ceremony. Due to the strength of the field, there were two first prize winners, including Amy Trigg for Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me and Ahlam for You Bury Me.

Both playwrights will receive £12,000 in respect of an exclusive option for the co-producers to produce their play.

The prize has been created by Ellie Keel Productions (EKP) and Paines Plough, with 45North and in association with Sonia Friedman Productions to celebrate and support exceptional UK and Ireland-based playwrights who identify as female. The prize is sponsored by Samuel French Ltd, a Concord Theatricals company, who are the official publishing partner.

Amy Trigg said, “Winning The Women’s Prize for Playwriting is such an honour. It’s a bit of a shock, but a lovely one! It’s been so joyful to be a part of this process and connect with such wonderful writers along the way. Thank you to everyone who made this award happen – the industry is lucky to have you.

My play is about a disabled woman but at its heart it is a universal story about love, growing up and feeling unfinished. I hope the audience finds the play relatable in lovely but sometimes heart-breaking ways.

A year ago I was worried about sending my play out to be read by strangers. Would it be good enough? Would I feel exposed? Would I regret it? Fortunately, I had some mates who told me to ‘just do it’. If you are reading this and haven’t yet had that encouragement, then I’ll tell you now: ‘just do it;. I’ll be cheering you on!”

Ahlam said, “I am completely stunned and honoured to have won the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting.

I hope You Bury Me offers a glimpse into the painful and beautiful paradox that is Cairo, and her stories that are full of love and tenderness, as well as rage and violence.

I want to thank everyone involved at The Women’s Prize for Playwriting for believing that this is a story worth telling, I cannot describe what this means to me.”

e support we pledged. Amy’s play is incredibly funny and bursting with heart, relating to any person who has navigated the rollercoaster of dating in your twenties. Ahlam’s is a  

Winners were selected from a shortlist of 35 plays and 1,169 entries. The judging panel was chaired by senior literary agent Mel Kenyon, and included actor and director Adjoa Andoh, actress and playwright Monica Dolan, Sarah Frankcom, director of LAMDA, playwright Ella Hickson, producer Kate Packenham, actress and playwright Maxine Peake and artistic director of Kiln Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham.

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