WGGB presents its annual awards for the encouragement of new writing in London on Friday 29 November 2024.
Founded by playwrights Mark Ravenhill and David James (former Chair of the WGGB Theatre Committee), the Olwen Wymark Awards were set up to give WGGB members the opportunity to publicly thank those who have given them a positive experience in new writing over the previous year.
They are named in honour of playwright Olwen Wymark, passionate supporter of WGGB and former Chair of the WGGB Theatre Committee, who died in 2013.
David James, who has organised the award since 2005, said: “This year marks a special year for our Olwen Wymark Awards, as we celebrate the 20th cohort of winners. For two decades we’ve been proud to honour those who provide exceptional support for playwrights. Writing thrives when it is encouraged and in challenging times for our theatre sector, they are more important than they have ever been.”
The winners of the 20th annual awards are:
Nick Bagnall, freelance theatre director and mentor
Nominated by Matthew Thorneton-Field for Nick’s support of Matthew’s play The Withering that they are working on together, and future work, too
“Nick started out as someone who wanted to direct my play The Withering but I now consider him a good friend. He has helped develop my script, and together we are collaborating to get it produced, which led to a recent industry readthrough at The Liverpool Everyman Theatre. He has encouraged me through some really dark physical and mental challenges, inspiring me to keep writing, and has encouraged me to write other pieces including one about Death Row. He is kind, collaborative, practical, doesn’t do status and despite being frantically busy always finds time for a chat. Theatre is in a terrible place at the moment, but he is giving me a real chance to get my play to shine. Put simply, without him I’d be lost, and I might just have given up. Thank you Nick!”
Photo: Ellie Kurttz
Hannah Ellis Ryan (actor, producer and founder of Her Productions, and co-founder of Vignettes) and Alex Keelan (writer, and co-founder and writers room producer of Vignettes). Vignettes invites established and emerging female and non binary writers to create new work, build a network and support each other to create an annual production of short plays in Manchester
Nominated by Christine Mackie for Hannah and Alex’s support during her time as part of the 2024 Vignettes cohort
Christine Mackie said: “Although in my late-60s, I am a new writer, and being invited to be part of Vignettes last year gave me the opportunity to engage with other writers and understand their processes, which hugely informed my play Race for Life. I’ve loved this new adventure but at times it can feel pretty isolating, with so much emphasis on young new voices and the ageism in our industry. Hannah and Alex supported my pitch, believed in me and encouraged me to be bold about the choices I was making. They matched a director for my play and organised the casting; they came regularly to see the shows and continued to check in with me throughout the process. Being invited to join this diverse group of writers as an equal was freeing. Together we were able to share ideas, give feedback on each other’s first drafts, and celebrate and support each other during the public sharing of our work. I will be forever grateful for being included in the 2024 Vignettes cohort, with some extraordinary writers. Manchester knows who Hannah and Alex are, but the wider world of theatre should do too.”
Photo of Alex Keelan: CJ Griffiths Photography
Jan McVerry, writer
Nominated by Katherine McDermott for Jan’s unwavering support which has helped her regain her confidence and voice as a writer following a difficult period in her life
Katherine McDermott said: “Jan’s support has given me belief, self-confidence and purpose, which I thought was at a dead end following a very low point in my life. She has enabled me to regain the confidence that I had lost in my writer’s voice and also helped me to find ways of working with and around my physical disability and the chronic pain that I live with. Her encouragement has enabled me to enter my play Lunchtime on the Med into a couple of awards and it has been longlisted for the RSC 37 Plays and Papatango 2023. I have regained my excitement for writing and belief in my words and the stories I want to tell. Her support and friendship and professional experience meant I was able to give myself time and love to find a way through the writers’ block. She’s an incredible human being.”
Sue Parrish, Artistic Director of Sphinx Theatre Company
Nominated by Julia Pascal PhD for Sue’s support, encouragement and mentorship over many years
Julia Pascal said: “Sue Parrish has known my work as a playwright over several years. More recently, she commissioned me to write a short play and outline a structure for a full-length text. Sue has supported, encouraged and mentored me during the many final drafts of scripts that I have produced. She has also engaged me in meetings with the Arts Council to promote women’s equality in theatre, as well as spotlighting my Guardian feature on the under-representation of women playwrights. She has shared knowledge of other writers, scripts and networks while also pointing to significant performances to heighten my awareness and improve my practice. Consequently, her long-term input to my body of work has challenged and provoked me to create more adventurous texts.”
Paul Smith, Artistic Director and CEO Middle Child Theatre and Matthew May, Literary Manager Middle Child Theatre
Nominated by Sid Sagar for Paul and Matthew’s contribution to his professional growth as a playwright
Sid Sagar said: “Both Paul and Matthew have been integral to my development as a playwright in the last few years. More recently they commissioned me to write a 70-minute play for Middle Child Biting Point which will be performed in 2025 in Hull and potentially elsewhere in the UK. As part of this commission, I recently spent time in Hull with them both for a period of writers’ research and development, something I’ve never had the chance to do. I also visited the Brighton Festival with them to learn about new and exciting ways that ideas can come to life. I’ve been given the chance to workshop my play with them at the National Theatre Studio as part of the NT’s Generate programme for regional work, and visit the Greenwich+Docklands International Festival to explore how our collaboration can benefit from unique perspectives. Paul and Matthew’s contribution to my professional growth has been profound and I am proud to call them friends.”
Antony Stuart-Hicks, Senior Producer, Mercury Theatre
Nominated by Fiona Padfield for Antony’s support in getting back to writing after a long illness
Fiona Padfield said: “After some very difficult and serious health problems and many years in hospital (my head on the pillow, dreaming about writing), Ash [Antony] took me by the hand and led me back to the water. He has quite literally changed my life. He put me in touch with Paines Plough where I attended a workshop, and where I’ve recently been selected as one of their mentored writers. He introduced me to partners I have since collaborated with to produce my new play Lovedale. He also suggested I apply for Arts Council funding – something I’d never considered. He has given me support and confidence and made me believe in my work again. He has given me courage and inspired me. His actions have transformed the quality of my life. Having been on the brink of death, I am now excited about the future.”
The winners of the 20th Olwen Wymark Theatre Encouragement Awards and those who nominated them are pictured below at the lunch to mark the awards on 29 November 2024 in London
