This year's James Tait Black Prize, Scotland's veteran literary award that has come to new prominence surfing the wave of prize-frenzy, has a theatrical new addition to its list: the James Tait Black Prize for Drama.
The shortlist for the first-ever drama award is revealed today. The £10,000 drama prize was launched last year by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with the National Theatre Scotland and in association with Edinburgh's Traverse and recognises a play that displays an original theatrical voice. There will be a reading of the successful play, produced by the National Theatre of Scotland, at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre at the start of this year's Edinburgh Fringe, on August 5 at 7pm.
The shortlisted plays are:
In Water I'm Weightless by Kaite O'Reilly: a series of provocative monologues originally performed by a cast of deaf and disabled performers. Produced by National Theatre Wales and a commission for the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival.
The Hundred Flowers Project by Christopher Chen: an examination of the connections between the Chinese Cultural Revolution and the digital transformation sweeping the US today. Originally produced with Crowded Fire Theater and Playwrights Foundation, both based in San Francisco, in October 2012.
The Effect by Lucy Prebble: a story about love and neuroscience set in a pharmaceutical testing centre. Originally co-produced by Headlong and The National Theatre in London in November 2012.
Foxfinder by Dawn King: a darkly comic play about a man who visits a farm to eradicate a fox infestation. First presented at the Finborough Theatre, London in November 2011 as part of the Papatango New Writing Festival.
The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning by Tim Price: based on the true story of a 24-year-old soldier accused of leaking military secrets from Iraq. The trial is currently taking place in the US. Originally produced by National Theatre Wales and first performed at Cardiff high School in April 2012.
The Edinburgh Fringe sensation that is La Clique, born when Herald Angel-winning promoter David Bates (above) ran the Spiegelgarden of mirrored retro-tents in the university campus's George Square, celebrates its 10th birthday this year. Now relocated to George Street where it sits, squats, pirouettes and dangles outside the Assembly Rooms, The Famous Spiegeltent will again be playing host to the contemporary burlesque and cabaret show that has been lovingly ripped off, to quote Eric Idle, from pillar to post.
Producer Bates said: "We've been copied around the world – that's a fact - but we set the bar in the first place, so we constantly have to keep moving forward."
This year The Famous Spiegeltent's other attractions this summer will include discussions forums in the Sunday Herald Verb Garden.
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