Zodwa Nyoni has won a place on the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme – previously called the Pearson Playwrights’ Scheme – which celebrates and supports emerging British writing talent.
Nyoni is the only one of 5 on the list from the North of England and will now start a one-year attachment with the West Yorkshire Playhouse. She will also receive a bursary of £7000.
The aim of the scheme is to give writers first-hand experience of a working theatre and spend 12 months writing at least one full-length play. They will then get the opportunity to submit their work for the Catherine Johnson Best Play Award.
The playwrights were nominated by UK theatre artistic directors and the winners were chosen by a panel including the former artistic director of the National Theatre, Sir Richard Eyre and C4 head of drama, Piers Wenger.
“The calibre of writing we received was hugely impressive, showcasing a breadth and range of exciting new voices in British theatre. Our warmest congratulations to the five winners, whose writing was bold, distinctive, and with real contemporary resonance. We look forward to seeing the work they produce under the bursary and beyond,” said Wenger.
Nyoni is a postgraduate student at the University of Leeds and won the award for her one act play, Boi-Boi is Dead.
