The prize is a partnership between EKP and Paines Plough. It was launched at the National Theatre in November 2019.

In its first year the prize attracted 1,163 entries. Two First Prizes of £12,000 were awarded, to Amy Trigg for Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me and to Ahlam for You Bury Me – read full article by The Guardian. The judging panel for the 2020 prize was Adjoa Andoh, Monica Dolan, Sarah Frankcom, Ella Hickson, Mel Kenyon (Chair), Kate Pakenham, Maxine Peake, and Indhu Rubasingham.

The Principal Partner of The Women’s Prize for Playwriting is 45North and the prize is run in association with Sonia Friedman Productions. The official publishing partner of the prize is Samuel French, a Concord Theatricals company.

Read Founder Ellie Keel’s latest interview on The Women’s Prize for Playwriting. Or visit womensprizeforplaywriting.co.uk  for more information.

2023 Prize:

The winner of the 2021 Prize, Intelligence by Sarah Grochala, was selected from 1002 submissions by a judging panel chaired by Indhu Rubasingham and including the actor Noma Dumezweni, the playwrights April de Angelis and Chris Bush, the journalists Katharine Viner and Samira Ahmed, the critic Anya Ryan, the dramaturg Nina Steiger and the agent Mel Kenyon. Grochala was awarded the £12,000 Prize in a ceremony at the London Library, and her play is currently in development for production.

2021 Prize:

The winner of the 2021 Prize, Consumed by Karis Kelly, was selected from 850 submissions by a judging panel chaired by Mel Kenyon and including the actors Nicola Walker and Jodie Whittaker, playwrights Lucy Kirkwood and Winsome Pinnock, the critic Arifa Akbar, dramaturg Nina Steiger and directors Jenny Sealey and Indhu Rubasingham. Kelly was awarded the £12,000 Prize in a ceremony at the London Library, and her play is currently in development for production.