The Kenneth Branagh International Award for New Drama Writing
The Kenneth Branagh International Award For New Drama Writing 2024
We are very pleased to announce the Top Twenty Scripts for 2024
We apologise for the delay in announcing the Top Twenty Scripts but we received many more scripts than expected and consequently the process has taken longer. Below is the list of the Top Twenty Scripts for 2024.
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Die Trying
Seven Times
Troy
Copernicus, Darwin and Freud
Invisible
Candles
Pennies, Spectacles and Nevertheless
Strangers on a Train
Schrodinger
The Minstrel Boy
Treesitter
A Necessary End
Star Light in a Jar
The Tale of Setsumi and Her Beloved Nobu
Cassiopeia
The Exit
The Gate
Anne Sexton Had a Band
The Meltdown
Naked Truths
The Top Nine Scripts will be announced within the next two weeks ...
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I am delighted to sponsor this writing award and to be a small part in an initiative that supports new writers. Without a good play or script, the best actors and directors in the world cannot hope to produce good work, and I welcome the encouragement that this award offers to writers both local and international.
KENNETH BRANAGH
We are now in our 20th year of The Kenneth Branagh International Award for New Drama Writing
Our Award annually attracts hundreds of scripts for 30-minute one act plays; over 19 years we have received 3,854 scripts from 49 countries: Slovakia, New Mexico, France, Belarus, England, Japan, Malaysia, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Nigeria, Belgium, India, New Zealand, Cyprus, Canada, Eire, USA, Finland, Germany, Wales, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Ukraine, S. Africa, Portugal, N. Ireland, Israel, the Caribbean, Albania, Mexico, Korea, The Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Greece, Crete, Taiwan, Colombia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Indonesia, and from the islands of Anglesey, Jersey, Lewis, Man and Arran.
Many of our winners have gone on to success in the theatre, films and TV.
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This award was the creation of Ann Trewartha. In 2003, after working on three Community Plays based on Windsor’s history, she wanted to help promote new writing talent so organised a Windsor Fringe event of three, 30-minute, one-act plays, finding directors and asking local writing groups to submit plays. This was such a success that David Birrell (a committee member and manager of Richmond Theatre) suggested that the Fringe offer a prize to raise its profile. Other committee members supported the birth of the Award, originally sponsored by the Marriott Hotel for seven years and since 2010 has been generously sponsored and supported by Kenneth Branagh.
Throughout its 20 years, the award was coordinated by Ann Trewartha who had a passion for supporting new drama writing. Aided by the Drama Committee, Ann ran the Award until she passed away in April ‘22 after a short illness.