15 November 2019
Newsdesk
The Women’s Prize for Playwriting, launched by EKP and Paines Plough, today announces a partnership with Samuel French, a Concord Theatricals company, who will publish the winning scripts found in first, second and third place.
Vivien Goodwin, Senior Vice President, Europe, of Concord Theatricals today said, ‘Samuel French is proud to be partnering with the inaugural Women’s Prize for Playwrighting. Our company has a long history of supporting playwrights through publication and licensing and developing theatre talent at all stages. We are delighted to be a part of this brilliant and timely initiative.’
Ellie Keel, founder of The Women’s Prize for Playwrighting said, ‘We are thrilled to be partnering with Samuel French, a Concord Theatricals company, as the official publishing and licensing partner of The Women's Prize for Playwriting and look forward to working with them to publish and promote the work of the winning writers, and to grow the Prize and extend its reach and offer to writers this year and in years to come.’
The Women’s Prize for Playwriting is designed to celebrate and raise the profile of playwrights by providing them with a national platform. Any person of 16 years or older who is resident in the UK and Ireland and who identifies as female can enter. The prize is for a full-length play (defined as over 60 minutes in length), written in English. Musicals and pantomimes are not eligible. Submissions are currently open and will close on Monday 2 March.
The judging panel for The Women’s Prize for Playwriting 2020 is chaired by senior literary agent Mel Kenyon, and further comprises actress and writer Monica Dolan; Sarah Frankcom, Artistic Director of LAMDA; playwright and screenwriter Tanika Gupta; playwright Ella Hickson; theatre producer and former Executive Director of the Donmar Warehouse, Kate Pakenham; actress and playwright Maxine Peake; and Artistic Director of Kiln Theatre, Indhu Rubasingham.
Samuel French has been one of the world’s leading publishers and licensors of plays and musicals for over 180 years. The company’s catalogue features some of the most acclaimed work ever written for the stage and titles by writers at the forefront of contemporary drama. In December 2018, Samuel French became part of Concord Theatricals. With a growing staff of unparalleled experts and unprecedented international reach, Concord Theatricals will support and grow Samuel French’s ethos of championing playwrights, innovating in the industry, and celebrating all those who create theatre around the world.
Concord Theatricals is the world’s most significant theatrical agency, comprised of R&H Theatricals, Tams-Witmark and Samuel French. Concord Theatricals is the only firm that provides truly comprehensive services to the creators and producers of plays and musicals under a single banner, including theatrical licensing, music publishing, script publishing, cast recording and first-class production.
EKP (Ellie Keel Productions) is a production company founded in 2019 which is dedicated to producing new work for the stage of the highest quality. Current productions include the multi award-winning Collapsible by Margaret Perry, which transfers to the Bush Theatre in February 2020; HOTTER and FITTER by Mary Higgins and Ell Potter at Soho Theatre; and the national tour of Still No Idea by Lisa Hammond and Rachael Spence. EKP works predominantly with writers and other practitioners who identify as female.
@EllieKeelProd
Paines Plough is the UK’s national theatre of new plays. The company commissions and produces the best playwrights and tours their plays far and wide. Whether you’re in Liverpool or Lyme Regis, Scarborough or Southampton, a Paines Plough show is coming to a theatre near you soon.
Paines Plough was formed in 1974 over a pint of Paines bitter in the Plough pub. Since then they’ve produced more than 150 new productions by world-renowned playwrights like Stephen Jeffreys, Abi Morgan, Sarah Kane, Mark Ravenhill, Dennis Kelly, Mike Bartlett, Kate Tempest and Vinay Patel.
