A play that explores "the extremes of sectarianism" has won one of the UK’s most distinguished literary awards, the James Tait Black Prize for Drama.
David Ireland’s Cyprus Avenue, which is set in Northern Ireland, is the fifth play to win the £10,000 prize – part of the UK’s oldest book awards.
Cyprus Avenue centres on Eric Miller, a Belfast Loyalist who is convinced his new born grandchild is Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams.
At one point he puts glasses on the baby and draws a beard on her face with marker pen.
The news was announced at an award ceremony in Edinburgh’s Traverse Theatre last night.
The prize is awarded annually by the University of Edinburgh in association with Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland and the Traverse Theatre.
The winning play was premiered at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin before its run at the Royal Court in April and May 2016, directed by the Royal Court’s Artistic Director, Vicky Featherstone, the former leader of the National Theatre of Scotland.
David Ireland’s drama led a shortlist that included two other plays: Oil by Ella Hickson and Scenes from 68* Years by Hannah Khalil.
The drama prize, which launched in 2012, is judged by emerging artists and established theatre experts, rather than critics.
Chair of the judging panel, Greg Walker, Regius Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Cyprus Avenue is a shocking and darkly humorous play that shakes audiences to their core.
"It reflects exactly what this award aims to celebrate – bold, inventive playwriting – and I am thrilled it won this year’s prize.”
Orla O'Loughlin, Artistic Director at the Traverse Theatre, said: “This year’s shortlist represents the impressive breadth and depth of innovation that the James Tait Black Award for Theatre seeks to champion.
"With Cyprus Avenue, David Ireland has created vibrant, urgent and provocative new play which speaks deeply to our turbulent times. I am delighted that David has won this year’s prize and congratulate him on his great success."
Previous winners of the James Tait Black Prize for Drama include: Gary Owen’s one-woman monologue, Iphigenia in Splott (2016); Gordon Dahlquist’s sci-fi play Tomorrow Come Today; Rory Mullarkey’s Cannibals (2014) and Tim Price’s acclaimed drama The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning (2013).
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