Moving new drama wins Mail award
THE Scottish Daily Mail today announces the winners of its prestigious drama award to encourage new UK acting talent.
Now in its fourth successful year, the Scottish Daily Mail Edinburgh Festival Fringe Drama Award has chosen productions by two new companies – Jim, from Spaghetti (Drama Studio, London) and Red Tap/Blue Tiger, from the Albion Company (Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, London).
One overall winner has been picked from entries submitted by Britain’s leading drama schools, with the other receiving a commendation. As the name suggests, the two that have triumphed will showcase their work at the Edinburgh Fringe in August.
Winner Jim is a piece of new writing set over a 15-year period telling of a father and son during the final week of the father’s life. The story reveals it is never too late to say sorry. Jim also aims to increase awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which i s estimated to affect three million people in the UK.
The judges unanimously picked Jim for its challenging and moving content.
They said the entry had a strong storyline and would undoubtedly have significant audience appeal in the highly competitive drive for audiences in Edinburgh.
They were particularly impressed that the company had sought to engage with the British Lung Foundation – a decision that was described as ‘ far- sighted and thoroughly enterprising’.
Commended entry Red Tap/Blue Tiger focuses on a 21-year-old who, on l earning that someone he thought was his dad is not and in the ensuing rage, sends his brother into a terminal coma and seriously assaults his mother.
On the run with two friends, he sets out to hunt down his real father but things don’t go according to plan.
This vibrant piece of new writing explores a wide range of timely social and political issues in a witty and engaging manner. The judges called it ‘jaunty’ and ‘edgy’.
The Mail created this award in collaboration with Drama UK, which provides a link between the theatre, media and broadcast industries and theatre training providers while championing professional training in the UK.
This unique collaboration provides these two fledgling companies with financial support, enabling graduate actors, writers and technicians to take productions to Edinburgh and showcase their work.
It reflects the Mail’s enduring support of the performing arts and Scotland’s premier drama festival. The judging panel included the Daily Mail’s drama critic and sketch writer Quentin Letts and theatre producer Jim Zalles.
A spokesman for Drama UK said: ‘We are delighted to be working with the Scottish Daily Mail again this year.
‘We thank the newspaper for once more supporting students from Drama UK member schools by encouraging new and emerging talent.’
The spokesman added: ‘ The award has grown in stature and i t undoubtedly assists young graduates take the first step into their professional career, supports them in the often challenging yet rewarding task of taking a production and performing it in front of a wide audience at a worldclass festival.’