George Devine
Award
The award is recognised as one of the most prestigious for new writing.
It was set up in 1966 as a memorial to the life and talent of George Devine, a Director and Actor who launched a Writers’ movement that revolutionised theatre.
The award of £15,000 invites submissions annually from Theatres, Organisations and Agents around the UK for an original new stage play from a promising playwright.
'Winning this award, in this year, for this story means everything.’
Daniel Ward (2020 Award Recipient)
Winner 2022
TYRELL WILLIAMS
‘I am so incredibly honoured and grateful to have won this award. It is truly a privilege to join the list of esteemed George Devine Award winners.
I have to thank all my brilliant collaborators, The Bush theatre and the wonderful, generous audiences who joined us each night.
I also have to thank the other writers who were shortlisted - they all continue to inspire me and are creating phenomenal work’.
Tyrell Williams debut play Red Pitch opened to wide acclaim at The Bush Theatre.
Erica Whyman from this year’s Selection Panel -
‘It was such a privilege to read and discuss the shortlisted plays with the distinguished panel this year – although incredibly hard to choose a winner. They represent an extraordinary range of scintillating writing, full of formal invention, poetry, skill and ingenuity. It was particularly notable how many of the shortlisted writers are breaking ground in their writing, experimenting with theatrical vocabulary and inviting audiences into worlds and experiences that historically have not been centred on our stages.
Tyrell Williams’ remarkable playRed Pitch, was especially accomplished, setting a scene of unforgettable atmosphere and character, using language with immense verve and flexibility, and telling a story that delivers a profound and particular emotional punch. It is an exhilaratingly deft piece of writing’.
Shortlist 2022
MOJISOLA ADEBAYO
Mojisola Adebayo’s plays include Moj of the Antarctic, Muhammad Ali and Me, I Stand Corrected, The Interrogation of Sandra Bland, Wind / Rush Generation(s) and Nothello. Family Tree won the 2021 Alfred Fagon Award.
NATHANIEL BRIMMER-BELLER
Nathaniel is a dual-national, mixed-race and Jewish playwright and director. His plays have been performed at the Almeida, the Old Red Lion, and six times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
babirye bukilwa
babirye is an actor, model, poet and writer for theatre and television. They have been shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting and the Alfred Fagon Award. Their work seeks to amplify the Black British working-class Queer experience, and explores how mental health impacts relationships and behaviour.
KARIM KHAN
NFTS Screenwriting graduate and Pillars Artist Fellow, Karim Khan wrote on All Creatures, and is working on several BBC shows. His sell-out, Fringe-First winning ‘Brown Boys Swim’ premiered at Edinburgh before transferring to Soho.
IMAN QURESHI
Iman is a writer for stage and screen. Her work includes The Funeral Director (Papatango/ETT) and The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs (Soho Theatre/Damsel). She is currently working on several TV and theatre commissions.
FRANCESCA MARTINEZ
Francesca Martinez is an award-winning wobbly comedian, actress and writer. Her debut play, 'All of Us', was directed by Ian Rickson, and opened at the National Theatre this summer.
JOEL TAN
Joel Tan is a Singaporean playwright based between London and Singapore. Recent work includes THE BUTTERFLY LOVERS (Victorian Opera/Wildrice, 2022), NO PARTICULAR ORDER (Ellandar Productions/Theatre 503) and INSIDE/OUTSIDE (Orange Tree Theatre, 2021). Upcoming work includes commissions with the Royal Court, the Almeida, and Headlong Theatre.
RUBY THOMAS
Ruby is a writer and actor. Plays include: EITHER (2019) and THE ANIMAL KINGDOM (2022) for Hampstead Theatre. She is currently writing theatre and TV for the BBC and Starz.
Selection Panel 2022
APRIL DE ANGELIS
April De Angelis is an acclaimed playwright who has worked in stage, radio and television. Her work ranges from the domestic to the epic and is both brilliantly funny and dark and incisive. April’s plays are distinguished by their robust vivacity. Her newest play KERRY JACKSON will premiere at the National Theatre in 2022.
MIKE BARTLETT
Mike Bartlett is a multi-award-winning writer for both stage and screen. Recent theatre credits include Scandaltown (Lyric Hammersmith Theatre); The 47th (The Old Vic); Cock (The Ambassadors’ Theatre/Royal Court); Mrs Delgado (Arts at the Old Fire Station/Theatre Royal Bath/Oxford Playhouse); Albion (Almeida) and for screen, Life (Drama Republic / BBC).
JULIET GILKES ROMERO
Juliet Gilkes Romero is an award-winning playwright. She is currently Writer in Residence at the National Theatre’s New Work Department. Highlights include The Whip (RSC) winner Alfred Fagon Best Play 2020. Soon Gone; A Windrush Chronicle co-produced by BBC and Douglas Road Productions (2019). At The Gates of Gaza (Birmingham Rep) WGGB Best Play 2009.
LEAH HARVEY
Leah Harvey is an actor who grew up in Newham. They trained at LAMDA, graduating in 2016. Since then, Leah has appeared in new writing projects such as "Emilia" at the Globe theatre, "Small Island" at The Royal National Theatre, among others. Leah can often be found longboarding around their local park
JENNIFER TANG
Jennifer is a stage director and theatremaker, specialising in directing new writing and making work that fuses theatre with music. She is the 2020-2022 Genesis Fellow and Associate Director at the Young Vic theatre in London and was recently listed in the ELLE 2020 hotlist.
For more information go to jennifertang.co.uk
ERICA WHYMAN
Erica is Acting Artistic Director of the RSC and Chair of Theatre 503. Previously, she was Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Northern Stage, after stints as AD of The Gate and Southwark Playhouse. She is a celebrated theatre director and experienced dramaturg credited with revitalising new work at RSC, including most recently ‘My Neighbour Totoro’.