by Eoin McAndrew
'Little Brother'
WINNER
Verity Bargate Award
Character 7 is delighted to sponsor the VERITY BARGATE AWARD alongside Soho Theatre. The VBA looks for extraordinary voices and unique styles which stand out from the crowd and tell inspiring, unheard stories.
BACKGROUND
Established in 1982 to honour the co-founder of Soho Theatre, the award funds the commissioning of a play to be produced at the theatre.
Past winners include Vicky Jones, Thomas Eccleshare, Insook Chappell, Matt Charman, Bonnie Greer and Toby Whithouse.
Recent judges include Russell T Davies, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Arinze Kene, Lolita Chakrabarti and Laura Wade.
2024
EOIN McANDREW
The judging panel for 2024 consisted of playwright Anupama Chandrasekhar (The Father and the Assassin at National Theatre), multi award-winning screen and stage actor Alan Cumming, Olivier Award-winning playwright Moira Buffini (Handbagged at Hampstead Theatre / West End; Dinner at National Theatre / West End), award-winning musician and actor Rebecca Lucy Taylor AKA Self Esteem (Cabaret at Kit Kat Club), and Anthony Lau (Associate Artistic Director, Sheffield Theatres). The award is chaired by film and television producer, Character 7’s Stephen Garrett.
SHORTLISTED
DRAGONSLAYER
Samantha Miles
DRIFTWOOD
Martina Laird
STUFF
Martha Watson-Allpress
WHAT IF ORPHEUS WAS FOUR SAD WOMEN
Eleanor Tindall
by Sam Grabiner
'Boys on the Verge of Tears'
WINNER
2022
The 2022 award was judged by a panel of industry experts including past Soho playwrights Theresa Ikoko (‘Girls’, 2015, Soho Theatre), James Graham (‘Tory Boyz’, 2008, and ‘Monster Raving Loony’, 2016, Soho Theatre) and Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (‘Mum’, 2021, Soho Theatre), as well as April De Angelis (‘Jumpy’, 2011, Royal Court and 2012, West End). The award is chaired by film and television producer, Character 7’s Stephen Garrett.
SAM GRABINER
"Grabiner’s depiction of the bumpy journey from boys to men is a prime piece of entertainment and an impressive calling card from a new young talent."
★★★★☆
- THE TIMES
“A sensation.”
★ ★ ★ ★
- THE INDEPENDENT
“A shrewd and zingy comedy.”
★ ★ ★ ★
- THE TELEGRAPH
“I was not prepared to be kidnapped by a play and a voice so completely as I was by Amanda Wilkin’s 'Shedding A Skin'. I’m excited to see this profound, funny, modern, stark and hopeful play performed at Soho Theatre. Then of course, after that, just everything Amanda puts her pen to!”
- PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE
“Amanda Wilkin gives a cracking performance in her richly written show about growing to know yourself.”
★ ★ ★ ★
- THE STAGE
“A sensation.”
★ ★ ★ ★
- THE INDEPENDENT
“A shrewd and zingy comedy.”
★ ★ ★ ★
- THE TELEGRAPH
“I was not prepared to be kidnapped by a play and a voice so completely as I was by Amanda Wilkin’s 'Shedding A Skin'. I’m excited to see this profound, funny, modern, stark and hopeful play performed at Soho Theatre. Then of course, after that, just everything Amanda puts her pen to!”
- PHOEBE WALLER BRIDGE
