The Windrush Prize

***£10k cash * text publication * min. 3-week run ***

The first Prize for British-Caribbean Playwrights in thirty years…

“It’s an honour to be a judge on this competition. The Windrush generation made this country great but they are all but gone now. We are their memories.”

— Roy Williams, Judge

Writing by Black authors has certainly become more visible in recent years, particularly since the BLM movement. Despite this, British Caribbean playwrights remain underrepresented in the majority of literary awards and production pathways. This Prize aims to address this gap and encourage the next generation of playwrights from the Caribbean diaspora to tell the stories of their community in their own words. It is the first award of its kind in over 30 years and the only prize in the UK aimed solely at unpublished British Caribbean plays. Along with major partners, Arcola Theatre & Methuen Drama, the Prize will address the historical loss of stories from this community and build legacy.

“The Windrush Prize for Caribbean Playwriting is a powerful way to honour the resilience and creativity of the Windrush generation and their descendants. By encouraging stories from the Caribbean community to be told on stage, the Prize helps preserve our shared artistic legacy and reminds Britain of the vital contributions made by Caribbean people to its cultural and social life.”

— Arthur Torrington CBE, Patron

Selected writer will receive:

£10k Prize money;
mentoring & support;
text publication;
min 3 week run at Arcola theatre.

Short-listed writers will receive:

Career support;
feedback;
script development.

Wrap-around events will include:

Workshops on writing;
information & networking events;
online interviews with judges.

“Arcola Theatre is immensely proud to partner with Orisun for the launch of The Windrush Prize, championing the future of theatre by elevating perspectives and stories that deserve to be told centre stage. ”

— Mehmet Ergen, Judge

The Windrush Prize was founded by Shereener Browne, CEO of Orísun, in honour of her late father, Myron Albert Claxton Brown, and named for the generation of pioneering men and women who laid the foundation for others who later settled in Britain. The Prize is seed-funded from an award made to shereener’s father from the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

“There has always been a recognition of the need for disparate voices in any lively art sector and healthy society in general. To be a small part of an exciting new scheme designed to address that need makes me very proud indeed.”

— Steve Toussaint, Judge