The first Bruntwood Playwriting Competition was launched in November 2005 and received a staggering 1,800 scripts.
The judges were: Chris Smith MP (Chair), Nicholas Hytner – National Theatre Artistic Director, Kwame Kwei-Armah – Actor and Playwright, Braham Murray – Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange Theatre, and Michael Oglesby – Chairman of Bruntwood
1st Prize of £15,000 went to Ben Musgrave for his play PRETEND YOU HAVE BIG BUILDINGS, performed on the main stage at the Royal Exchange during the Manchester International Festival 2007.
2nd Prize of £10,000 was awarded to Duncan Macmillan with MONSTER, performed in The Studio at the Royal Exchange in 2007, also as part of the Manchester International Festival. Duncan was writer-in-residence at the Exchange during 2007, receiving a £5,000 bursary.
3rd Prize of £5,000 went to Phil Porter for THE CRACKS IN MY SKIN, performed in The Studio during 2008.
Under 26 Prize (£5,000) went to Matt Hartley with SIXTY FIVE MILES.
North West Prize (£5,000) was awarded to Ian Kershaw for CANDY LAND.
The other shortlisted writers were:
Dominic Leggett – AFTERMATH
DC Moore – ALASKA
Brierley Thorp – BARRICADING EDEN
Martyn Hesford – MOTHER’S DAY
Jack McNamara – SYNAPSE
Christian O’Reilly – THE SAN FRANCISCO
