Traverse shows nominated for £10K prize

Longlist announced for James Tait Black Prize for Drama

Scripts of two original Traverse productions have been nominated for the prestigious James Tait Black prize for drama.

Rob Drummond’s Quiz Show. Photo © Eoin Carey

Rob Drummond’s Quiz Show and David Harrower’s Ciara are among 14 plays on the longlist for the annual £10K award, which was launched in 2012 to complement the University of Edinburgh’s existing literary award.

Judges award the £10,000 prize to the best new English-speaking play, which they consider demonstrates an original theatrical voice and makes a significant contribution to the art form.

Nicola McCartney, the playwright who also lectures at the University of Edinburgh and oversees the awards said: “The James Tait Black Awards are renowned for showcasing the very best of literature and we are delighted to celebrate the work of playwrights for a second year.

“The longlist is incredibly diverse and each play is of a remarkably high standard – it will be no mean feat to choose a shortlist.”

While Quiz Show (Æ Review) and Ciara (Æ Review) were Traverse commissions, other plays on the longlist have also been performed in Edinburgh. These include AJ Toudevin’s Some Other Mother (Æ Review), which was part of the Traverse’s Spring Season last year, and Ciphers by Dawn King which toured to the Traverse in November 2013 (Æ Review).

Three more of the nominees were performed at the 2013 fringe. Fleabag by Phoebe Waller-Bridge was at the Underbelly and two were Traverse shows: Grounded by George Brant, and Long Live the Little Knife by David Leddy.

The drama prize is judged by postgraduate students and academics from the University of Edinburgh. The shortlist will be announced in July 2014 and the winner at an award ceremony at the Traverse on 11 August at 6pm.

The public event will be hosted by Joyce McMillan and there will be an opportunity to hear extracts from the three shortlisted plays, read by a company of actors and produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, which is the  University of Edinburgh’s partner in the awards.

The James Tait Black Drama Prize long list in full, with links (where available) to purchase the scripts.

Grounded by George Brant, produced  by The Gate Theatre, London

The Chronicles of Kalki by Aditi Brennan Kapil, produced by Mixed Blood Theatre, Minneapolis. Staged as Part I of a trilogy called Displaced Hindu Gods by Aditi Brennan Kapil.

Brahman/I by Aditi Brennan Kapil, produced by Mixed Blood Theatre. Part II of Displaced Hindu Gods.

Quiz Show by Rob Drummond, produced by Traverse Theatre Company
Ciara by David Harrower, produced by Traverse Theatre Company and Datum Point Productions
Ciphers by Dawn King,  an Out of Joint, Bush Theatre and Exeter Northcott Theatre co-production
Sequence by Arun Lakra, produced by Downstage Theatre and Hit & Myth
Long Live the Little Knife by David Leddy, originally commissioned and presented by Fire Exit Ltd at Tramway, Glasgow
Cannibals by Rory Mullarkey, produced by  the Royal Exchange, Manchester
Desolate Heaven by Ailis Ni Riain, produced by Theatre 503
Three Birds by Janice Okoh, Produced by The Royal Exchange Theatre in association with the Bush Theatre.
Perfect Match by Gary Owen, produced by Paines Plough and Oran Mor, Glasgow
Some Other Mother by AJ Taudevin, produced in association with The Tron Theatre in Glasgow, Scottish Refugee Council & supported by Stellar Quines & On Fife
Fleabag by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, produced by DryWrite Theatre Company.

ENDS