29.09.06
Guild Theatre Committee New Writing Encouragement Awards
In 2005, the Theatre Committee of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain chose to initiate awards for the encouragement of new writing. Members were asked to nominate anyone in any capacity who had given them an exceptional experience in new writing.
Today (29 September) the winners of the 2006 awards were announced.
The Watford Palace Theatre (Joyce Branagh, Lawrence Till and Mary Caws), nominated by both Sarah Daniels and Ian Kershaw
"Joyce is a fantastic dramaturg and working on the script with her before the play was a real delight. She has an ability to intuit what one intended to say but didn’t quite achieve and a way of enabling the writer to uncover this. Once the play was in rehearsal I felt not only that I was very welcome in the room, but actually asked to be there and my opinion sought in a really open and non-defensive manner. In short, this was one of the happiest and best experiences of my working life to date."(Sarah Daniels)
"My play was produced at Watford earlier this year and it was not only a new play but a new play by a new writer. Lawrence Till read my play and rang me to tell me he wanted to put it on at Watford – definition of Exceptional Encouragement! I was made to feel such a part of the process that there was never any doubt, worry or anxiety that the play had been hijacked by someone else. The play’s the thing, the story’s the play and the Palace Theatre Watford pulled out all the stops to make sure the story was told as clearly as possible." (Ian Kershaw)
"As the new Artistic Director of the Watford Palace Theatre, I am delighted that Joyce, Lawrence and Mary have been nominated for this important Award. Supporting new writers in the development of their plays is one of the theatre’s most important tasks, and it is terrific to have this recognition for the work." (Brigid Larmour)
Claire Malcolm, Director, and Anna Disley, Deputy Director, New Writing North, nominated by Carina Rodney
"Claire commissioned my play and has been instrumental in developing it from a pre first draft stage with supportive and creative mentoring. She will be producing the play and has organised a tour which involves regional theatres acting as co-producers rather than hosts, putting individual packages in place to benefit amateur writers and actors associated with these companies. In response to a lack of opportunities and funding for new playwrights in the region, Claire has also launched the EMERGE scheme. Anna has worked tirelessly to raise funding for the new playwrights project as well as working on the production side of my play." (Carina Rodney)
Joe Sumsion of Action Transport Theatre Company, nominated by Kevin Dyer
"I went to Joe with a fragment of an idea – to write the story of Jo Berry whose father was killed in the Brighton Bomb. Joe Sumsion encouraged me to write the play. More than that he wanted me to write MY play. He funded my research, set up sessions with actors, paid for my visits to meet Jo Berry and to meet Pat Magee the IRA man who planted the bomb. Now that the show is on tour I can look back on a wholly positive, creative journey – resulting in a play with extremely high production values. Joe believes in new writing, and believed in me." (Kevin Dyer)
www.actiontransporttheatre.co.uk/thebomb.php
Gwenda Hughes, currently Artistic Director of the New Vic Theatre, Newcastle under Lyme, nominated by Lisa Evans
"Throughout her career, at Theatre Centre, Watford Palace, Birmingham Rep and with many freelance companies, she has championed, encouraged and enabled new writing. She is a formidable play doctor and not only directs many new plays but facilitates workshops, attends writer’s meetings and in my long history of working with her, always makes a play better than when it arrives at her desk but leaves the writer feeling it was all their idea all along. She has a gift of understanding what it is you are trying to say and enabling you to say it in your own voice. If any writer gets the opportunity to work with her, they should seize it with both hands and not let go." (Lisa Evans)
Gwenda Hughes said, “I’m delighted to receive this award. It’s a privilege to be in a position to support new writing which has such an important role to play in the production of innovative theatre.”
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