A Play, a Pie and a Prize for Edinburgh playwright
Inaugural David MacLennan Prize is Home
By Thom Dibdin
Edinburgh-based playwright Jenny Knotts has won the inaugural David MacLennan Prize for her play, Home.
The prize is a fully commissioned production of the play in Glasgow Oran Mor’s lunchtime theatre slot, A Play, A Pie and a Pint.
Knotts was moved to write Home after watching a documentary about the care of elderly people in Scotland. A comedy tinged with sadness, it centres on twin sisters Maggie and Agnes, whose voices are inspired by Knotts’ own grandmother.
It is set on their last day in the house that has been their home for decades. Maggie suffers from Alzheimer’s and Agnes uses a wheelchair.
Speaking of the award, Knotts said: “Winning the David MacLennan Prize is a dream come true – I have been going to see plays at Oran Mor for years and know how important it is to the Scottish theatre scene.
“I think it is so generous of them to support a new writer like myself with a fully commissioned play, and I can’t wait to see where this takes me.”
A rehearsed reading of Knott’s play Bulldog was performed at the Traverse during the fringe this year. Other writing credits include One Day This Will Be Long Ago (Arches Live/Opera Breve) Toi Toi Toi (Opera Breve) and The Divot, the Flag and the Black Black Donald, part of Mother Tongue (University of Edinburgh/Cursive Productions).
The award was initiated by A Play, A Pie and a Pint‘s artistic director David MacLennan, who produces over 30 new plays every year in the slot. It is run in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh’s MSc in Playwriting, led by playwright Nicola McCartney.
David MacLennan added: “We are delighted to produce Home at Oran Mor – Jenny’s distinctive voice is unlike any I have heard before and I think our audiences will really enjoy it. The calibre of the students’ writing was incredibly high this year and it was a challenge to choose a winner. Moreover, the partnership with the University has been a success and we hope it continues.”
Listing:
Home will be performed at Oran Mor, Byres Road, Glasgow Mon 25 – Sat 30 November, 2013 at 1pm. Tickets: www.playpiepint.com
ENDS
