Shortlist announced for 2023’s George Devine Award

The George Devine Award today announces its 2023 Shortlist of nine playwrights.

Actor and 2023 Award judge Johnny Flynn:

‘‘It has been an extraordinary privilege to read these plays and I have been bowled over by their inventiveness. Each one pushes the form in a totally unique way, and yet despite their extreme differences in style, it’s amazing to see common themes in many of them. Entertaining worlds filled with artificial intelligence, witches, power imbalances and social media out-of-control spanning nearly 500 years have led us to reconsider what it is to be human in 2023, and beyond.”

Formed in 1966 in memory of the Royal Court’s founding Artistic Director George Devine, the Award is recognised as one of the most prestigious in new writing and seeks to shine a light on a playwright of promise. The winner will receive a prize of £15,000 in support of their future as a playwright. Former winners include Tyrell Williams, Alice Birch, Lucy Prebble, Daniel Ward and Diana Nneka Atuona. 

The 2023 Shortlist is:

Georgia Bruce for TIME, LIKE THE SEA

Sami Ibrahim for NGO

Shahid Iqbal Khan for DJINNITY

Somebody Jones for HOW I LEARNED TO SWIM

Tife Kusoro for G

Cordelia Lynn for WITCH PLAY 

Ava Pickett for 1536

Bea Roberts for THOSE WHO (ARE/WERE) LEFT

Sam Ward for EVERYTHING I’M THINKING ALL OF THE TIME

The industry judging panel for 2023 is Nick Payne (also a former recipient of the Award), Justin Audibert, Johnny Flynn, Nimmo Ismail, Rebekah Murrell and Roxana Silbert. They will now decide upon the recipient of this year’s Award, who will be announced in late October.

Johnny Flynn:

“It makes me realise how lucky we are to have a culture of theatre in this country that is on the frontline of thought and ideas bringing us together as a society.”