{{short description|Promising playwright award}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use British English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox award | name = George Devine Award | qid = | suppressfields = | fetchwikidata = | type = Theatre Award | awarded_for = New writing by a promising playwright | description = | sponsor = | date = | venue = [[Royal Court Theatre]] | onlysourced = | noicon = | country = [[United Kingdom]] | presenter = | eligibility = | reward = £15,000 | status = | established = 1966 | firstawarded = 1968 | final_award = | holder_label = Current winner | holder = Martha Loader, for ''The Town'' | total_awarded = | total_awarded_posthumously = | total_recipients = | website = {{URL|georgedevineaward.org}} }}
The '''George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright''' was founded in 1966, named in honour of the dramatist [[George Devine]] (1910–1966), co-founder and inaugural artistic director of [[Royal Court Theatre]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=George Devine Award |url=https://www.georgedevineaward.org/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=George Devine Award |language=en-US}}</ref>
== History == The George Devine Award was cofounded in 1966 by [[Jocelyn Herbert]] following George Devine's passing on 20 January 1966. Herbert was Devine's long time collaborator and colleague at Royal Court Theatre, as well as his partner since the late 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jocelyn Herbert - Special Collections |url=https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/2002 |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=[[University of Leeds]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-15 |title=George Devine Memorial Award |url=https://www.sigrid-rausing-trust.org/grantee/george-devine-memorial-award/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=The Sigrid Rausing Trust |language=en}}</ref> A special performance was held on 13 June 1966 at [[The Old Vic]] to raise funds for the award. Its programme pamphlet sets out the fundraising target of £20,000 in order to create an annual award of at least £1,000. At the time, the award was open to "any promising or unproved playwright, director or designer".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=A Performance in aid of the George Devine Award |url=http://frankfinlay.net/new-theatre/George-Devine-Award-Performance.html |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=frankfinlay.net}}</ref> In addition to the fundraising performance, Herbert also sold Devine's records to [[University of Leeds]]'s archive to acquire further funding for the award.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Jump |first=Sophie V |title=The convergence of influences on and evolving praxis of mid-twentieth century British theatre design (1935–1965) through a close study of selected works by Motley and Jocelyn Herbert |date=2015 |degree=[[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] |publisher=[[University of the Arts London]] |url=https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/9194/1/Sophie%20Jump%20PhD%20thesis%20FINAL%2027%20Jan%2016.pdf}}</ref>
Today, the award is granted annually to early-career playwrights, with submissions judged by a panel made up of established playwrights, directors, and actors. As of 2025, winner of the award receives a cash prize of {{Currency|15000|GBP|linked=}}.<ref name=":0" />
== Governance == Record from the [[Charity Commission for England and Wales]] showed that the award was officially registered as "George Devine Memorial Fund" in 1970, with a declaration of trust dated 18 August 1969.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GEORGE DEVINE MEMORIAL FUND - Charity 260304 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/260304/governance?_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_organisationNumber=260304 |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=[[Charity Commission]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> It was re-registered as "George Devine Memorial Award", a [[charitable incorporated organisation]], in 2023.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=GEORGE DEVINE MEMORIAL AWARD - Charity 1203345 |url=https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5206833/governance?_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_organisationNumber=5206833 |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=[[Charity Commission]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> According to the 1966 fundraising performance pamphlet, the inaugural trustees of the fund were Herbert, alongside [[Neville Blond]] and [[Robin Fox (theatrical agent)|Robin Fox]].<ref name=":4" /> The award's current trustees include playwright and screenwriter [[Christopher Hampton]] and producer Matthew Byam Shaw.<ref name=":5" />
== Impact on awardees' career == The award is considered to be prestigious in the [[Theatre of the United Kingdom|British theatre industry]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-12-11 |title=Welsh writer's star continues to rise as she wins prestigious award for new writing |url=http://nation.cymru/culture/welsh-writers-star-continues-to-rise-as-she-wins-prestigious-award-for-new-writing/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Nation.Cymru |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> [[Diana Nneka Atuona]], who won the award in 2019, credited the award's prestige with helping her attract venues willing to produce her winning play, which was eventually picked up by [[Donmar Warehouse]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Donnell |first=Guy |date=2023-01-12 |title="This is a time where people are very open to forgotten histories" An interview with Diana Nneka Atuona. |url=https://getthechance.wales/2023/01/12/this-is-a-time-where-people-are-very-open-to-forgotten-histories-an-interview-with-diana-nneka-atuona/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Get The Chance |language=en-GB}}</ref> Similarly, Elinor Cook said that winning the award in 2013 "made people's ears prick up", helping her land an attachment with the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]] as well as a TV writing gig with [[BBC One]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coombes |first=Doug |date=2014-04-01 |title=InSuffolk Interview - Elinor Cook |url=https://www.insuffolk.com/elinor-cook-interview/index.html |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=InSuffolk |language=en}}</ref>
Many of the award recipients went on to achieve further success in the theatre industry, with some also becoming prominent as writers for films and television. [[Mike Leigh]], the winner in 1973, has since received [[List of awards and nominations received by Mike Leigh|several accolades]] in the film industry and was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)]] in the [[1993 Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-04-18 |title=Mike Leigh, OBE - Oration given on 18 April 2002 |url=https://www1.essex.ac.uk/honorary_graduates/or/2002/mike-leigh-oration.aspx |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=[[University of Essex]]}}</ref> Peter Cox, who won the award in 1984, was made a [[Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire|Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)]] in the [[2011 New Year Honours]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-12-31 |title=New Year honours list: MBEs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/dec/31/new-year-honours-list-mbe |access-date=2026-04-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Winning the award for ''Lift Off'' in 2000, [[Roy Williams (playwright)|Roy Williams]] received an OBE in the [[2008 Birthday Honours]] and was elected as fellow of the [[Royal Society of Literature]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-07 |title=The Arts Foundation Futures Awards 2024: Roy Williams Welcome Address |url=https://artsfoundation.co.uk/news/the-arts-foundation-futures-awards-2024-roy-williams-welcome-address/ |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=artsfoundation.co.uk}}</ref>
==Past winners and nominees== {{Incomplete list|date=March 2026}}
===2020s=== {| class="wikitable" !Year !Winner !Special commendation !Shortlisted nominees |- |2025<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raven |first=Paul |date=2025-12-11 |title=Martha Loader wins 2025 George Devine Award for playwriting |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/327487/news/awards/martha-loader-wins-2025-george-devine-award-for-playwriting/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> |'''Martha Loader,''' for ''The Town'' |{{NA}} | * Asmara Gabrielle, for ''Bad Seed'' * [[Yasmin Joseph]], for ''Citizens of Umi'' * Isla van Tricht, for ''The Knot'' |- |2024<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-12-19 |title=George Devine Award 2024 winner announced |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/268232/news/awards/george-devine-award-2024-winner-announced/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> |'''Benjamin Kuffuor''', for ''Working Men'' |Temi Majekodunmi, for ''Positive'' | * Christopher Adams, for ''Progression'' * Stella Green, for ''The Book of Alice'' * Isabella Waldron, for ''Chatter''. |- |2023<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-11-22 |title=Tife Kusoro wins George Devine Award 2023 |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/207864/news/awards/tife-kusoro-wins-george-devine-award-2023/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> |'''Tife Kusoro''', for ''G'' |[[Ava Pickett]], for ''[[1536 (play)|1536]]'' | * Georgia Bruce, for ''Time, Like the Sea'' * Sami Ibrahim, for ''NGO'' * Shahid Iqbal Khan, for ''Djinnity'' * Somebody Jones, for ''How I Learned to Swim'' * Cordelia Lynn, for ''Witch Play'' * Bea Roberts, for ''Those Who (Are/Were) Left'' * Sam Ward, for ''Everything I'm Thinking All of the Time''. |- |2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Raven |first=Simon |date=2022-11-25 |title=Tyrell Williams wins George Devine Award for Red Pitch |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/144517/news/awards/tyrell-williams-wins-george-devine-award-for-red-pitch/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> |[[Tyrell Williams (dramatist)|'''Tyrell Williams''']], for ''Red Pitch'' |{{NA}} | * Mojisola Adebayo, for ''Stars'' * Nathaniel Brimmer-Beller, for ''Blood Red Apples And Deep Gold Honey'' * Babirye Bukilwa, for ''The Master's House'' * Karim Khan, for ''Brown Boys Swim'' * [[Iman Qureshi]], for ''The Ministry'' ''of Lesbian Affairs'' * [[Francesca Martinez]], for ''All'' ''of Us'' * [[Joel Tan]], for ''No Particular Order'' * Ruby Thomas, for ''Linck & Mulhähn'' |- |2021<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-12-13 |title=Emily White wins Royal Court Theatre playwright award |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/105624/news/emily-white-wins-royal-court-theatre-playwright-award/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> |'''Emily White''', for ''Atlantis'' |{{NA}} | * [[Travis Alabanza]], for ''Overflow'' * [[Caroline Bird]], for ''Red Ellen'' * Gareth Farr, for ''Shandyland'' * Sami Ibrahim, for ''Brick Shit House'' * [[Zodwa Nyoni]], for ''The Darkest Part of Night'' * Lulu Raczka, for ''Close Your Eyes,'' ''and Think of England'' * Tom Stuart, for ''Burn Baby Burn'' |- |2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rabinowitz |first=Chloe |title=Daniel Ward Announced as the Winner of the 51st George Devine Award |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Daniel-Ward-Announced-as-the-Winner-of-the-51st-George-Devine-Award-20201123 |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=[[BroadwayWorld]] |language=en|date=2020-11-23}}</ref> |'''Daniel Ward''', for ''The Canary and the Crow'' |{{NA}} | * Dipo Baruwa-Etti, for ''When Great Trees Fall'' * [[Chris Bush (playwright)|Chris Bush]], for ''Motherland'' * Annie Jenkins, for ''Staying at Stacey's'' * Nyla Levy, for ''Does My Bomb Look Big In This?'' * Charley Miles, for ''There are no beginnings'' * Danusia Samal, for ''Out of Sorts'' * Nina Segal, for ''O, Island!'' * [[Temi Wilkey]], for ''The High Table'' |}
=== 2010s === * 2019 - [[Diana Nneka Atuona]], for ''The Boy from Tiger Bay''<ref name=":12">{{Cite press release |title=DIANA NNEKA ATUONA ANNOUNCED AS RECIPIENT OF THE 50TH GEORGE DEVINE AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING PLAYWRIGHT |date=19 December 2019 |publisher=[[Royal Court Theatre]] |url=https://d19lfjg8hluhfw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/11131201/Diana-Nneka-Atuona-presented-the-George-Devine-Most-Promising-Playwright-Award1.pdf |access-date=2026-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260327224125/https://d19lfjg8hluhfw.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/11131201/Diana-Nneka-Atuona-presented-the-George-Devine-Most-Promising-Playwright-Award1.pdf |archive-date=2026-03-27}}</ref> * 2018 - Simon Longman, for ''Gundog''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowie-Sell |first=Daisy |date=2018-03-15 |title=Simon Longman wins George Devine Award |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/simon-longman-wins-george-devine-award_46040/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=[[WhatsOnStage.com]] |language=en-US}}</ref> * 2017 - Not awarded * 2016 - [[Theresa Ikoko]], for ''Girls''; and Jane Upton, for ''All the Little Lights''<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=George Devine Award |url=https://www.talawa.com/articles/george-devine-award |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120214719/https://www.talawa.com/articles/george-devine-award |archive-date=2025-01-20 |access-date=2026-03-28 |work=Talawa |language=en}}</ref> * 2015 - [[Charlene James]], for ''Cuttin' It''<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Snow |first=Georgia |date=20 May 2015 |title=Charlene James wins George Devine playwriting award |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/charlene-james-wins-george-devine-playwriting-award |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=The Stage |language=En}}</ref> * 2014 - [[Alice Birch]], for ''[[Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.]]'';<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize: Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again |url=https://www.blackburnprize.org/year/2015_/revolt-she-said-revolt-again/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Rory Mullarkey]], for ''The Wolf From the Door''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-28 |title=Rory Mullarkey adapts Globe Oresteia |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/rory-mullarkey-adapts-globe-oresteia-268129/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=officiallondontheatre.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2013 - [[Elinor Cook]], for ''Pilgrims''<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-08-19 |title=VIDEO: Elinor Cook Chats PILGRIMS World Premiere at HighTide |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/STAGE-TUBE-Elinor-Cook-Chats-PILGRIMS-World-Premiere-at-HighTide-20160819 |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> * 2012 - [[Tom Wells (actor)|Tom Wells]], for ''Kitchen Sink''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chadderton |first=David |date=2012-05-29 |title=Theatre news: Wells wins Devine Award for Kitchen Sink |url=https://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/wells-wins-devine-award-for-ki-367 |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=British Theatre Guide |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2011 - [[Penelope Skinner]], for ''[[The Village Bike]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Benedict |first=David |date=2011-05-27 |title=Skinner scores writing prize |url=https://variety.com/2011/legit/news/skinner-scores-writing-prize-1118037675/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> * 2010 - [[Vivienne Franzmann]], for [[Mogadishu (play)|''Mogadishu'']]<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-11-03 |title=From the Archive: BushGreen meets Vivienne Franzmann |url=https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/news/from-the-archive-bushgreen-meets-vivienne-franzmann/ |access-date=2026-03-28 |website=Bush Theatre |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== 2000s ===
* 2009 - [[Nick Payne]], for ''[[If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-01-03 |title=Nick Payne, the writer with stars in his eyes |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/hei-fi/entertainment/nick-payne-the-writer-with-stars-in-his-eyes-8436591.html |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> * 2008 - [[Hassan Abdulrazzak]], for ''[[Baghdad Wedding]]''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2008-06-11 |title=Baghdad playwright wins George Devine Award |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/baghdad-playwright-wins-george-devine-award-100711/ |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=officiallondontheatre.com |language=en-GB|last=Dickson-Purdy|first=Jen}}</ref> * 2007 - [[Alexandra Wood (dramatist)|Alexandra Wood]], for ''The Eleventh Capital''<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Tyler Sisters, Hampstead Theatre Downstairs, review: entertaining conviviality and relatable familial rivalry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/tyler-sisters-hampstead-theatre-downstairs-review-entertaining/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241109014447/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/tyler-sisters-hampstead-theatre-downstairs-review-entertaining/ |archive-date=2024-11-09 |access-date=2026-03-29 |work=The Telegraph |language=en|last=Cavendish|first=Dominic|date=8 January 2020}}</ref> * 2006 - [[Lucy Caldwell]], for ''Leaves''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Finola |date=2009-12-28 |title=Interview: Lucy Caldwell |url=https://cherwell.org/2009/12/28/interview-lucy-caldwell/ |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=Cherwell |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 2005 - [[Stuart Carolan]], for ''Defender of the Faith'';<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burnside |first=Anna |date=2009-02-08 |title=It's explosive stuff – and my mum refuses to watch |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/its-explosive-stuff-and-my-mum-refuses-to-watch-xzjcgrqgt9p |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> and [[Laura Wade]], for ''[[Breathing Corpses]]''<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wald |first=Christina |date=2006 |title=Interview: "No one claps at the end of a novel" - A Conversation with Laura Wade |url=https://journals.ub.uni-koeln.de/index.php/genderforum/article/view/2937 |journal=gender forum: An Internet Journal for Gender Studies |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 [13] |pages=110–119 |doi=10.18716/ojs/gefo/2006.2937 |issn=1613-1878}}</ref> * 2004 - [[Lucy Prebble]], for ''[[The Sugar Syndrome]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Enron Playwright Lucy Prebble on Turning Corporate Collapse into Broadway Razzmatazz |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/150419/enron-playwright-lucy-prebble-on-turning-corporate-collapse-into-broadway-razzmatazz/ |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=Broadway.com |language=en|date=13 Apr 2010|last=Prebble|first=Lucy}}</ref> * 2003 - [[Ché Walker]], for ''Flesh Wound''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-10 |title=Ché Walker On ... Returning to The Frontline |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/che-walker-on-returning-to-the-frontline_17165/ |access-date=2026-03-29 |language=|website=[[WhatsOnStage.com]]}}</ref> * 2002 - [[Richard Bean]], for ''Under the Whaleback'';<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sierz |first=Aleks |date=20 September 2009 |title=theartsdesk Q&A: Playwright Richard Bean |url=http://theartsdesk.com/theatre/theartsdesk-qa-playwright-richard-bean |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=theartsdesk.com |language=en}}</ref> and [[Gary Owen (playwright)|Gary Owen]], for ''The'' ''Drowned World''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-19 |title=Guildhall Questions: John Haidar answers |url=https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/about-guildhall/news/guildhall-questions-john-haidar-answers |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=[[Guildhall School of Music and Drama]] |language=en}}</ref> * 2001 - [[Leo Butler]], for ''[[Redundant (play)|Redundant]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-09 |title=RET Invite you to A Play, a Pie and a Pint |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/ret-invite-you-to-a-play-a-pie-and-a-pint_6705/ |access-date=2026-03-29 |language=|website=[[WhatsOnStage.com]]|last=Meads|first=Glenn}}</ref> * 2000 - [[Roy Williams (playwright)|Roy Williams]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE|FRSL}} , for ''Lift Off'';<ref>{{Cite web |title=Roy Williams|url=https://www.gre.ac.uk/people/rep/las/roy-williams |access-date=2026-03-29 |website=University of Greenwich |language=en-gb}}</ref> and [[Gary Mitchell]], for ''The Force of Change''<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Gibbons |first=Fiachra |date=2000-06-13 |title=Loyalist writer wins award |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/jun/13/northernireland.books |access-date=2026-03-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
=== 1990s === * 1999 - [[Rebecca Gilman]], for ''The Glory of Living'';<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rebecca Gilman (1965–present) |url=https://apps.lib.ua.edu/blogs/this-goodly-land/author/?AuthorID=42 |website=This Goodly Land |publisher=[[University of Alabama]]}}</ref> and [[Mark O'Rowe]], for ''Howie the Rookie''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-13 |title=Irish Dramatists in Conversation: the 2013 Synge Summer School |url=https://www.iasil.org/2013/03/irish-dramatists-in-conversation-the-2013-synge-summer-school/ |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=International Association for the Study of Irish Literatures}}</ref> * 1998 - [[Helen Blakeman]], for ''Caravan''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Caravan |url=https://www.camdram.net/shows/2016-caravan |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=Camdram |language=en}}</ref> * 1997 - [[Conor McPherson]], for ''St Nicholas'';<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conor McPherson|url=https://irishplayography.com/person/conor-mcpherson |website=PlayographyIreland|access-date=2026-03-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref> and [[Enda Walsh]], for ''[[Disco Pigs]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-28 |title=In rehearsal: Disco Pigs |url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/news/in-rehearsal-disco-pigs-396962/ |website= Official London Theatre|access-date=2026-03-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 1996 - [[Martin McDonagh]], for ''[[The Beauty Queen of Leenane|Beauty Queen of Leenane]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-01-22 |title=Leenane Trilogy |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/leenane-trilogy_30595/ |website=[[WhatsOnStage.com]]|access-date=2026-03-30}}</ref> * 1995 - [[Jez Butterworth]], for ''[[Mojo (play)|Mojo]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Church|first= Michael|date=1995-07-22 |title=This Mojo works good |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/this-mojo-works-good-1592910.html |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> * 1994 - [[Judy Upton]], for ''Ashes and Sand''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collected Plays of the London New Play Festival: Best of The Fest |url=https://www.aurorametro.com/product/collected-plays-of-the-london-new-play-festival-best-of-the-fest/ |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=Aurora Metro Books |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 1993 - [[Nicola Baldwin]], for ''Confetti'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nicola Baldwin |url=https://www.rlf.org.uk/writer/nicola-baldwin/ |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[Royal Literary Fund]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> and [[Jonathan Harvey (playwright)|Jonathan Harvey]], for ''Babies''<ref>{{Cite news |date=1994-08-23 |title=The Thamesmead Chekhov: Jonathan Harvey's studies of sexual |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/theatre-the-thamesmead-chekhov-jonathan-harvey-s-studies-of-sexual-awakening-have-brought-comparisons-with-chekhov-fair-enough-says-georgina-brown-if-chekhov-had-been-cheerful-spotty-gay-or-born-in-liverpool-1385478.html |access-date=2026-03-30 |work=[[The Independent]]|last=Brown|first = Georgina |language=en}}</ref> * 1992 - James Stock, for ''Blue Night In The Heart Of The West''<ref>{{Cite news |first=Ian |last=Shuttleworth|date=1995|title=Review of Star-Gazy Pie And Sauerkraut |work=[[Financial Times]]|url=https://www.cix.co.uk/~shutters/reviews/95009.htm|via=cix.co.uk |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=|author-link=Ian Shuttleworth}}</ref> * 1991 - [[Winsome Pinnock]], for ''[[Leave Taking]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leave Taking |url=https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/past-event/leave-taking/ |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=[[Bush Theatre]]|date=2018}}</ref> * 1990 - [[Billy Roche]], for ''Poor Beast In The Rain''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Writing Workshop: The Tools Of The Trade with Billy Roche |url=https://wexfordcoco.libcal.com/event/4343352 |access-date=2026-03-30 |website=Wexford County Council Public Library Service |language=en}}</ref>
=== 1980s ===
* 1989 - [[Christina Reid]], for ''The Belle of Belfast City''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tea in a China Cup |url=https://history.lyrictheatre.co.uk/view/tea-in-a-china-cup |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=history.lyrictheatre.co.uk}}</ref> * 1988 - Nick Ward, for ''Apart from George''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sierra |first=Gabrielle |date=2009-11-24 |title=The Cock Tavern Theatre Announces Nick Ward As Their Playwright In Residence |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/The-Cock-Tavern-Theatre-Announces-Nick-Ward-As-Their-Playwright-In-Residence-20091124 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref> * 1987 - [[Charlotte Keatley]], for ''[[My Mother Said I Never Should]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=My Mother Said I Never Should Written by Charlotte Keatley |url=https://www.benchtheatre.org.uk/plays90s/mymothersaid.php |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.benchtheatre.org.uk}}</ref> * 1986 - [[Anne Devlin (writer)|Anne Devlin]], for ''Ourselves Alone'';<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anne Devlin |url=https://www.concordtheatricals.co.uk/a/100159/anne-devlin |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=Concord Theatricals |language=en-GB}}</ref> and [[Jim Cartwright]], for [[Road (play)|''Road'']]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jim Cartwright |url=http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth252 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104084740/http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth252 |archive-date=2011-01-04 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.contemporarywriters.com}}</ref> * 1985 - * 1984 - Peter Cox {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}, for ''Up to the Sun and Down to the Centre''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Peter Cox Archive - Archives Hub |url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb71-thm/442 |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A nine-week festival of new plays: the Writers |url=https://www.petergill7.co.uk/works/new_plays/writers.shtml |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=www.petergill7.co.uk}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|name=Cox1983|Cox himself recalled winning the award in 1983 instead of 1984 [https://getthechance.wales/2023/01/28/stories-that-need-to-be-told-an-interview-with-dramatist-peter-cox/ in an interview in 2023].}} * 1983 - * 1982 - [[Louise Page]], for ''Salonika'';<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marlowe |first=Sam |date=2008-01-28 |title=Salonika |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/salonika-3z89l65hb77 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> and [[Sarah Daniels (playwright)|Sarah Daniels]], for ''Neaptide''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-31 |title=Children's books by Sarah Daniels |url=https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/tag/sarah-daniels/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=School Reading List |language=en-GB}}</ref> * 1981 - [[Andrea Dunbar]], for ''The Arbor'' ;<ref>{{Cite book |last=Beswick |first=Katie |title=Social housing in performance: the English council estate on and off stage |date= |publisher=[[Methuen Drama]] |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-4742-8521-6 |series=Methuen Drama engage |location=London |page=81}}</ref> [[Hanif Kureishi]], for ''Outskirts'' and ''Borderline;''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hanif Kureishi |url=https://www.cccb.org/ca/w/participants/hanif-kureishi |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=[[Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and [[Michael Wilcox]], for ''Accounts''<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Brayne |first=Alan |title=The changing depiction of homosexual people in twentieth-century British drama |date=1988 |degree=[[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] |publisher=[[University of Warwick]] |url=http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap/4005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shepard |first=Richard F. |date=1983-06-18 |title=GOING OUT GUIDE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/18/arts/going-out-guide.html |access-date=2026-04-02 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> * 1980 - [[Jonathan Gems]], for ''The Tax Exile''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-16 |title=Nancy Meckler Video Topics List – Unfinished Histories |url=https://unfinishedhistories.com/interviews/interviewees-l-q/nancy-meckler/nancy-meckler-video-topics-list/ |access-date=2026-04-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
=== 1970s ===
* 1979 - [[Nick Darke]], for ''Never Say Rabbit in a Boat''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-19 |title=The Nick Darke Award |url=https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/nick-darke-award |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=www.falmouth.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> * 1978 - Nick Wright, for ''Treetops;''<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Wright, Nicholas |encyclopedia = [[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]] |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswho2006annua2006unse |page=2482 |publisher=[[A & C Black]] |location=London |year=2006 |edition=158th |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nick Wright |url=https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/nick-wright |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=United Agents}}</ref> and [[Ron Hutchinson (screenwriter)|Ron Hutchinson]]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=1999 |title=Ron Hutchinson |encyclopedia=Contemporary Dramatists |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1658000181/BIC?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=2dfa15de}}</ref> * 1977 - [[Stephen Lowe (playwright)|Stephen Lowe]], for ''[[Touched (play)|Touched]]'';<ref>{{Cite web |title=Touched |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2020/19/touched/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> and [[Robert Holman]], for ''German Skerries''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Humphries |first=Trevor |date=1977-05-18 |title=Theatre |url=https://dn710803.ca.archive.org/0/items/FinancialTimes1977UKEnglish/May%2018%201977%2C%20Financial%20Times%2C%20%2327274%2C%20UK%20%28en%29_text.pdf |work=[[Financial Times]] |pages=3 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> * 1976 - * 1975 - * 1974 - * 1973 - [[Mike Leigh]] {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}}<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Leigh, Mike |encyclopedia = [[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]] |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswho2006annua2006unse |pages=1328-1329 |publisher=[[A & C Black]] |location=London |year=2006 |edition=158th |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hayman |first=Ronald |date=1974-08-24 |title=Mike Leigh: working with folks |url=https://dn711006.ca.archive.org/0/items/NewsUK1974UKEnglish/Aug%2024%201974%2C%20The%20Times%2C%20%2359174%2C%20UK%20%28en%29_text.pdf|work=[[The Times]] |pages=7 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> * 1972 - [[Wilson John Haire]],<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Haire, Wilson John |encyclopedia=Contemporary theatre, film and television |volume=6 |url=https://archive.org/details/contemporarythea0006unse |pages=174-175 |publisher=Gale Research |location=Detroit, Michigan |year=1989 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> for ''Within Two Shadows''; [[David Williamson]], for ''[[The Removalists]]'';<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=Travelling North Program August 2022 |url=https://www.woywoylt.com/travelling-north-program-august-2022/ |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=Woy Woy Little Theatre |language=en-AU}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|Some sources, such as [http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/club/clip3/ this entry] on [[Australian Screen Online]], state that Williamson won the award in 1971 instead of 1972.}} [[Mustapha Matura]], for ''As Time Goes By'';<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/bib/b13873345?originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fcatalog.nypl.org%2Frecord%3Db13873345~S67 |title=Mustapha Matura plays |series=Research Catalog |website=[[New York Public Library]]}}</ref>{{Refn|Some sources, such as [https://mustaphamatura.com/awards/ Matura's official website] and [https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/warrington-directorial-debut-with-rum-and-coca-cola%2011521/ an article] on [[WhatsOnStage.com]] (2010), claim that Matura won the award in 1971 instead of 1972.|group=note}} and [[Michael Abbensetts]], for ''Sweet Talk''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sweet Talk · National Library of Jamaica Digital Collection |url=https://nljdigital.nlj.gov.jm/items/show/11805#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0&xywh=-35,0,344,254 |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=nljdigital.nlj.gov.jm}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Michael |date=2016-12-14 |title=Obituary: Michael Abbensetts |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/obituaries--archive/obituaries/obituary-michael-abbensetts |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=The Stage |language=En}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|[https://assets.cambridge.org/97813165/04802/frontmatter/9781316504802%20frontmatter.pdf ''The Cambridge companion to British Black and Asian literature (1945–2010)''] by [[Deirdre Osborne]] ([[Cambridge University Press]] , 2016) listed this award being won by Abbensetts in 1973 instead of 1972.}} * 1971 - [[Heathcote Williams]], for ''AC/DC'';<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Merrifield |first=Jeff |title=Ken Campbell and the Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool: an analytical history |date=2001 |degree=[[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] |publisher=[[University of Liverpool]] |url=https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3181518 |doi=10.17638/03181518}}</ref> and [[Ted Whitehead]], for ''The Foursome''<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Whitehead, Edward Anthony |encyclopedia = [[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]] |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswho2006annua2006unse |page=2401 |publisher=[[A & C Black]] |location=London |year=2006 |edition=158th |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ted Whitehead |url=https://www.casarotto.co.uk/clients/ted-whitehead |access-date=2026-04-03 |website=Casarotto Ramsay & Associates |language=en}}</ref> * 1970 - [[Donald Howarth]] and [[John Antrobus]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Devine |first=Harriet |date=2020-04-13 |title=Donald Howarth (1931–2020) Playwright and Director - an Obituary. |url=https://thetheatretimes.com/donald-howarth-1931-2020-playwright-and-director-an-obituary/ |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=The Theatre Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Percival |first=Gary William |title=Developments towards a theatre of the absurd in England, 1956-1964 |date=1995 |degree=[[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] |publisher=[[University of St Andrews]] |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10023/14879|page=73}}</ref>
=== 1960s ===
* 1969 - * 1968 - [[Edward Bond]]<ref>{{Citation |title=Edward Bond, Playwright/Director |author=Casarotto Ramsay & Associates Limited |url=https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/uploads/files/cvs/Bond-Edward-CV-10.06.2024.pdf|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Bond, Edward |encyclopedia = [[Who's Who (UK)|Who's Who]] |url=https://archive.org/details/whoswho2006annua2006unse |pages=221-222 |publisher=[[A & C Black]] |location=London |year=2006 |edition=158th |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref> and [[Peter Gill (playwright)|Peter Gill]]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |year=1999 |title=Peter Gill |encyclopedia=Contemporary Dramatists |publisher=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]] |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1658000125/BIC?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-BIC&xid=31c68e4b}}</ref>
== Notes == {{reflist|group=note}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Awards established in 1966]] [[Category:British theatre awards]] [[Category:Theatre of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:British literary awards]] [[Category:Theatrical organisations based in the United Kingdom]]