Pearcy’s ‘Person of Interest’ takes top three spot in Branagh Awards

BURNHAM: The work of a Burnham-based playwright has won a top-three spot in an international writing competition.

Michael Pearcy’s ‘Person of Interest’ was shortlisted for the Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing 2022, a prestigious writing contest featured at this October’s Windsor Fringe.

The competition, launched worldwide, sets out to find the best 30-minute, one-act play.

‘Person of Interest’ beat 190 other plays to be featured on stage at The Old Windsor Court over the three evenings of October 7,8 and 9. The dramatic piece explores how the life of the family of the ‘accused’ in a missing person’s case is affected.

Pearcy has been taking part in the Windsor Fringe since its conception two decades ago when an original piece, entitled ‘Janet and John’ was selected for an initiative that later became ‘The Branaghs.’

Mike said that although he didn’t win he was ‘very pleased to be a finalist.’

“My cast and director were on top form and ‘the Branagh’ is a jewel in the local arts scene,” he said. “Since then I've entered almost every year, been long listed, shortlisted twice and now I'm a finalist. Brilliant.

“The truth is, The Branagh has become an obsession, and writing a new play every year to meet the Branagh deadline has been like a long running drama course for me. I have learnt so much. I will be there next year.

“My only concern is that if I ever get to be the winner, does that mean I cannot enter any more? So sad if it does.”

This is the third time a piece of Pearcy’s work has been honoured at the festival. In 2020 and 2021 consecutively his works ‘Walkway’ and ‘NATFIS’ were shortlisted for the award.

Pearcy, whose one-act plays have been staged all over the world, including the USA, New Zealand and Singapore, is also an award-winning story writer and writing tutor.