Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.1.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # The Women's Prize for Playwriting Discover bold, expansive and beautifully crafted plays by women and non-binary writers in the UK and Ireland ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Pages - [Home](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/) - Welcome to the Women’s Prize for Playwriting – the very first prize celebrating and championing female and non-binary playwrights in the UK and Ireland. - [Team](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/team/) - Team Team Team Team Partners Partners Partners Sponsors Sponsors Sponsors Who we are Ellie KeelFounder and Director Ellie Keel studied Modern Languages at Oxford University and developed a successful career as an independent theatre producer before founding the Women’s Prize for Playwriting in 2019. She launched the prize with Founding Partner, Paines Plough, after her - [Reading process](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/reading-process/) - Reading process Helping you understand how we make our decisions. Readers Readers Readers Process Process Process Longlist criteria Longlist criteria Longlist criteria Fairness Fairness Fairness We know that reading processes can often be opaque, so we want to offer some information about our criteria and decision-making that we hope will give some clarity about how - [FAQs](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/faqs/) - FAQs Some common questions answered Eligibility criteria Can plays be co-written? Yes – as long as each writer is individually eligible, and the play meets all other entry criteria. Both writers must be female or non binary. Do you accept scripts for radio or screen? As a playwriting prize, we only accept work written - [How to enter](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/how-to-enter/) - How to enter All you need to know about submitting your play. Overview Overview Overview Eligibility Eligibility Eligibility Submit Script Submit Script Submit Script Overview The 2025 Prize closed on Tuesday 22nd April 2025. Navigate to the next section Eligibility Writers The Women’s Prize for Playwriting is open to writers who are: female or non-binary - [Past Winners](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/past-winners/) - Past Winners Discover more about our past winners and their winning plays. SAPLINGGeorgina Duncan (2025 Prize Winner)INTELLIGENCESarah Grochala (2023 Prize Winner)CONSUMEDKaris Kelly (2021 Prize Winner) REASONS YOU SHOULD(N'T) LOVE MEAmy Trigg (2020 Prize Winner)YOU BURY MEAhlam (2020 Prize Winner) Scripts available to buy. You Bury Me Ahlam | Concord Theatricals Buy Script Reasons You Should(n’t) Love - [About](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/about/) - About the Prize The Women’s Prize for Playwriting was founded in 2019 to champion and produce plays by female and non-binary writers, campaigning for a fairer and more equitable industry. Mission Mission Mission Charity Charity Charity History History History The award The award The award Mission We’re campaigning to ensure the transition to a more - [2025 Longlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2025-longlist/) - 2025 Longlist The full listing for 2025 Congratulations to all writers on our 2025 Longlist. If you are interested in learning more about or producing one of these plays, please contact us. Afsaneh Gray Exceptional When British-Iranian Anahita suggests her sister Neshad’s son wasn’t cast as Joseph in the school nativity because of racism, - [2025 Shortlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2025-shortlist/) - 2025 Shortlist The shortlist of writers for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Playwriting. We’re delighted to present our Shortlist for 2025. If you are interested in learning more about or producing one of these plays, please contact us. Alex Medland We’re Gonna Kill Billy We’re Gonna Kill Billy is a play about four - [2025 Winner](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2025-winner/) - 2025 Winner The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2025 was awarded to Sapling by Georgina Duncan. Selected by our judges from 1275 submissions, Sapling will be produced by the Women’s Prize for Playwriting, Ellie Keel Productions, Paines Plough and Sheffield Theatres. WinnerJudgesFinalists Sapling Georgina Duncan Belfast, 1990. 16 year old Gerry Flynn strives for normality during - [2025 Finalists](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2025-finalists/) - 2025 Final Five The Finalist plays for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2025. Congratulations to our Final Five playwrights. If you are interested in learning more about or producing one of these plays, please contact us. Fucking Jane AustenBillie EsplenA time-travelling Jane Austen and her lesbian lover must convince a dying Austen scholar to help them - [Future Light](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/future-light/) - Future Light Talent development programme About About About Support Support Support We see you We see you We see you Future Light Ever since our founding in 2019, the Women’s Prize for Playwriting has aspired to build our own talent development programme to engage more fully with writers. Now, in 2025, we’ve launched FUTURE LIGHT: a - [Tickets](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/tickets/) - Tickets now showing open for booking Consumed More info More info More info Coventry Belgrade Theatre | 25 – 26 July 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Traverse Theatre | 31 July – 24 Aug 2025 Coventry Belgrade Theatre | 3 – 6 Sep 2025 Leeds Leeds Playhouse | 10 – 13 Sep 2025 Guildford Yvonne Arnaud - [Contact us](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/contact-us/) - Contact us For further information, please contact charlie@womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk Press enquiries: kate@katemorleypr.com To discuss support for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, please email ellie@womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk The Prize is a registered charity, number 1208693. - [2025 Theatre Partner](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2025-theatre-partner/) - 2025 Theatre Partner Sheffield Theatres Our Theatre Partner for 2025 is Sheffield Theatres, who will have the first right of refusal to co-produce the winning play with Ellie Keel Productions and Paines Plough. Sheffield Theatres is home to three theatres: the Crucible, the Sheffield landmark with a world-famous reputation; the Playhouse, an intimate, versatile space - [2023 Winner](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2023-winner/) - 2023 Winner The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2021 was awarded to Intelligence by Sarah Grochala. Selected by our judges from over 1000 submissions, Intelligence is currently in development. WinnerJudgesFinalists Intelligence When a Victorian female computing pioneer tries to make a career for herself as a serious scientist, her path is blocked by men in every direction. - [2020 Winners](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2020-winners/) - 2020 Winners We are delighted to present the winners of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020. Selected by our judging panel from 1,169 submissions, the two winners will each receive the full prize money of £12,000, and their plays will both be optioned for production by the lead producers of the Prize. Amy Trigg Ahlam - [Productions](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/productions/) - PRODUCTIONS We aim to produce all plays that win the Women’s Prize for Playwriting – as well as supporting those which are shortlisted. FilterAllCurrent ProductionsPrevious ProductionsShowing & Booking Now Reasons You Should(n’t) Love MeReasons You Should(n’t) Love MeJuno was born with spina bifida and is now clumsily navigating her twenties... You Bury MeYou Bury MeThis - [2025 Judges](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2025-judges/) - Judges 2025 Milli Bhatia Milli Bhatia is an award-winning stage and screen director, and dramaturg from East London. She is a two-time Olivier Award nominee, for her productions of seven methods of killing kylie jenner and Blue Mist, both premiered at The Royal Court Theatre. Mel Kenyon Mel Kenyon is a theatrical agent and Head - [2025 Dates](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2025-dates/) - Dates The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2025 Submissions open Monday 13th January 2025 Submissions close 5pm on Tuesday 22nd April 2025 Longlist announced October 2025 Shortlist announced November 2025 Finalists announced early December 2025 Award ceremony February 2026 For details on how to submit your play, and entry criteria, see how to enter - [2023 Longlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2023-longlist/) - 2023 Longlist The full listing for 2023 Congratulations to all writers on our 2023 Longlist. If you are interested in learning more about or producing one of these plays, please contact us. Abi Zakarian WORTHY WOMEN An epic adventure concerning the freeing of the eight Worthy Women warriors of the infamous Amberley Panels: a - [2023 Shortlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2023-shortlist/) - 2023 Shortlist The shortlist of writers for the 2023 Women’s Prize for Playwriting. We’re delighted to present our Shortlist for 2023. If you are interested in learning more about or producing one of these plays, please contact us. Alison Carr Birdie In this dark drama, a family fractured by an unforgivable crime are reunited - [2023 Finalists](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2023-finalists/) - 2023 Final Five The Finalist plays for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2023. Congratulations to our Final Five playwrights. If you are interested in learning more about or producing one of these plays, please contact us. BELLRINGERSDaisy HallIn a thunderstorm, two bellringers wait for lightning to strike. There is an old belief that the sound of - [2023 Longlist-table version](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2023-longlist-table/) - [How to enter-old](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/how-to-enter-old/) - How to enter All you need to know about submitting your play. Submissions Submissions Submissions Eligibility Eligibility Eligibility Prize Prize Prize Submit Script Submit Script Submit Script Submissions The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2023 is now open for submissions! The deadline is 5pm on Monday 17th April. As part of the submission process, you’ll - [2023 Judges](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2023-judges/) - Judges 2023 Anya Ryan Mel Kenyon April de Angelis Chris Bush Katharine Viner Samira Ahmed Noma Dumezweni Nina Steiger Indhu Rubasingham (Chair) - [2021 Shortlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2021-shortlist/) - 2021 Shortlist The shortlist of writers for the 2021 Women’s Prize for Playwriting. Thank you to everyone for your submissions, below are the 30 plays that made it to the shortlist. MOUNTAIN WARFARE by Abi Zakarian Little Sister by Alice Flynn Birdie by Alison Carr Like.Share.Kill by Bella Enahoro Awareness by Beth Westbrook Foreign by Carmen Harris - [2020 Longlist Catalogue](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2020-longlist-catalogue/) - 2020 Longlist The full listing for 2020 Longlist (alphabetically) Scripts marked with a * were shortlisted A RAT, A RAT by Chloe Yates* A NEW PHILOSOPHY by Francis Grin BIRTH by Holly McKinlay BLEAK LAW by Amy Rhianne Milton BRUM HERSTORIES by Lorna French CIDER MAGUIRE by Janine McEwan CONTACT CENTRE by Victoria Barclay* - [2021 Longlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2021-longlist/) - 2021 Longlist The longlist of writers for the 2021 Women’s Prize for Playwriting. Congratulations to all writers on our 2021 Longlist. These exceptional plays were selected by our reading team from 850 entries. MOUNTAIN WARFARE by Abi Zakarian The Lampy by Áine King Little Sister by Alice Flynn Birdie by Alison Carr Mountain by Amy Conway Scum by Ava - [Dates 2023](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/dates/) - Dates The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2023 Submissions open Monday 16th January 2023 Submissions close 5pm on Monday 17th April Longlist announced late October Shortlist announced late November Finalists announced mid December Award ceremony January 2024 For details on how to submit your play, and entry criteria, see how to enter - [2020 Judges](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2020-judges/) - Judges 2020 Ella HicksonPlaywright Mel KenyonChair of the Judges | Senior agent, Casarotto Ramsay Indhu RubasinghamArtistic Director of Kiln Theatre Monica DolanActress and Playwright Kate PakenhamProducer and former Executive Producer of the Donmar Warehouse Sarah FrankcomArtistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester Also incoming Director of LAMDA Maxine PeakeActress and Playwright Adjoa AndohActor and - [Judges 2021](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2021-judges/) - Judges 2021 Arifa Akbar Mel Kenyon Indhu Rubasingham Lucy Kirkwood Winsome Pinnock Jasmine Lee-Jones Also incoming Director of LAMDA Jenny Sealey Nina Steiger Nicola Walker Jodie Whittaker - [2021 Finalists](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2021-finalists/) - 2021 Finalists The Finalist plays for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2021. From an incredible 850 submissions, we present our amazing 8 finalists MOUNTAIN WARFAREAbi ZakarianWhen the horrors of the past are denied, who decides which histories are remembered? Hugh and Liv Bryce have found their perfect (second) home: The Blue House sits on a remote hillside, - [2021 Winner](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2021-winner/) - 2021 Winner The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2021 was awarded to Consumed by Karis Kelly. Selected by our judging panel from over 850 submissions, Consumed will be produced in 2023. WinnerJudgesFinalists Left to Right: Ellie Keel (Founder and Director, Women’s Prize for Playwriting); Karis Kelly; Katie Posner (Co-Artistic Direct, Paines Plough). Consumed It’s Eileen’s 90th - [2020 Shortlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2020-shortlist/) - 2020 Shortlist The shortlist of writers for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting. We were delighted to receive 1,169 submissions to the Prize. 70 plays were longlisted, and below are the 35 plays that made it to the shortlist. …blackbird hour by babirye bukilwa A Rat, A Rat by Chloe Yates Colostrum by Olivia - [2020 Finalists](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2020-finalists/) - 2020 Finalists The finalists for the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwriting. From an incredible 1,169 submissions, we present our amazing 7 finalists. PARADISE STREETChinonyerem OdimbaThis is a story that takes in the shifts of both attitudes and violence, in is a new folklore style, it confounds any ideas of Black British presence, and follows the hopes, dreams, and - [How to enter-option scroll](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/how-to-enter-option-scroll/) - How to enter All you need to know about submitting your play. Submissions Submissions Submissions EligibilityPrize Submissions The submission window is currently closed. The next Women’s Prize for Playwriting will open for submissions on Monday 16 January 2023. See more dates here. Eligibility Writers The Women’s Prize for Playwriting is open to writers who are: - [2021 Longlist](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/2021-longlist-2/) - [Home-initial](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/home-2/) - SUBMISSIONS OPEN 11th NOV 2019 Hello. Welcome to The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, the very first playwriting prize open to all UK and Ireland-based women. Tell me more Tell me more Tell me more EKP and Paines Plough present The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020 Founding sponsor: PER People The first prize will be £12,000 offered ## Portfolio - [The Swell](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/productions/the-swell/) - Text here - [You Bury Me](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/productions/you-bury-me/) - Text here - [Consumed](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/productions/consumed/) - Text here - [Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/productions/reasons-you-shouldnt-love-me/) - Text here ## Project Categories - [Current Productions](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/project-type/current-productions/) - [Previous Productions](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/project-type/previous-productions/) - [Showing & Booking Now](https://womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk/project-type/showing-now/)