The Verity Bargate Award is a biennial British theatre award for new writing. It was established in 1981–82 in memory of Verity Bargate, the co-founder of Soho Poly, precursor to Soho Theatre.
It is open to writers based in the United Kingdom and Ireland and it is recognised as one of the oldest and most prestigious playwriting prizes of its kind. Since its formation it has been an important springboard for the careers of some of Britain's most established playwrights and screenwriters.
As of 2024, the winning playwright receives £8,000 for an exclusive option for Soho Theatre to produce the prize-winning play. Their play is guaranteed a full London run on one of their stages alongside workshops and rehearsed readings of the play in India and USA as part of the theatre's wider international programme in these locations.
History
The Verity Bargate Award was established by Soho Theatre to support emerging playwrights and to identify new writing for production. Named after Soho Theatre’s former artistic director Verity Bargate, the award is presented for an outstanding new stage play.
In the early years of the prize, notable plays that won the award included: Shona by Tony Craze (1983), Killing the Cat by David Spencer (1990), Kindertransport by Diane Samuels (1992), Jump Mr Manlinoff, Jump by Toby Whithouse (1998). More recent winners have been A Night at the Dogs by Matt Charman (2004), The One by Vicky Jones (2013) and Shedding a Skin by Amanda Wilkin (2020).
In 2024, for the first time in the award’s history, the winning play received rehearsed readings in New York and Mumbai. In the same year Boys On The Verge Of Tears by Sam Grabiner became the first winner of the Award to win the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre.
Judges
Previous judges include Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Laura Wade, James Graham, Theresa Ikoko, Morgan Lloyd Malcolm (all former Soho Theatre playwrights), Lolita Chakrabarti, Russell T Davies, April De Angelis, Sue Townsend, Emma Rice, Irving Wardle, Meera Syal and Ikenna Obiekwe. Since 2014, award has been chaired by film and television producer, Character 7's Stephen Garrett (producer), who sponsor the Award.
Past Winners
+ Verity Bargate Award Year Play Playwright 1983 Shona Tony Craze (joint winner) 1983 Lunch Girls Ron Hart (joint winner) 1983 The Shelter Johnnie Quarrel (runner-up) 1984 Up For None Mick Mahoney (joint winner) 1984 Coming Apart Melissa Murray (joint winner) 1985 The Bombdies Julie Dennis 1986 Releevo David Spencer (joint winner) 1986 Made in Spain Tony Grounds (joint winner) 1986 Smith Johnnie Quarrell (runner-up) 1987 James Bonney MP Ian Buckley (shortlist) 1988 Me and My Friend Gillian Plowman (winner) 1988 Here is Monster Brock Norman Brock (runner- up) 1989 Dogs! Sons of Dogs! Michele Celeste 1990 Killing the Cat David Spencer 1991 Water Music Lyndon Morgans 1992 Kindertransport Diane Samuels 1994 Bruises & The Shore Watcher's House Judy Upton 1996 The Backroom Adrian Pagan (joint winner) 1996 Perpetua Fraser Grace (joint winner) 1998 Jump Mr Malinoff, Jump Toby Whithouse 2001 Office Shan Khan 2004 A Night At The Dogs Matt Charman (joint winner) 2004 Felt Effects Joy Wilkinson (joint winner) 2007 This Isn't Romance Insook Chappell 2011 Pastoral Thomas Eccleshare 2013 The One Vicky Jones 2015 Roller Diner Stephen Jackson 2017 City Song Carys Coburn 2020 Shedding A Skin Amanda Wilkin 2022 Boys on the Verge of Tears Sam Grabiner 2024 Little Brother Eoin McAndrew
Workshops
Ahead of each submission window, Soho Theatre travel to venues across the United Kingdom and Ireland, to bring new-writing workshops to emerging playwrights. These workshops are designed to equip participants with the tools and inspiration to write a new play, encouraging first time writers to take their first steps in playwriting.
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