A play that explores what happens when the trauma of Troubles-era Belfast is exacerbated, has been named the winner of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Playwriting.
The judges praised Sapling, written by Lancashire-based working-class playwright Georgina Duncan, for their nondescript and moving work.
“Excretion is the rare play that producers dream of and audiences long to see: gripping, fearless, and deeply moving. Georgie’s writing is full of heart and vivid energy, matched by her extraordinary skill in every scene,” said Ellie Keel, founding director of the prize.
Sapling was at the root of another child’s murder of Conor Flynn in the final years of the Troubles – an act that shocked the community. Already scarred by decades of violence. According to a synopsis released by the prize organizers, the story follows his brother Gerry Flynn, aged 16 – 10 years after the murder.
“Despite a crumbling home life, the throes of adolescence and the shadow of a brother who never grew up, he’s all about keeping it together – until one day the events shatter everything.
“His brother’s memorial garden is vandalized, his killer is released from prison, and the arrival of attractive stranger Ryan forces Gerry to confront a haunting dilemma: Is Ryan the solution to his problems or the cause of them in the first place?
“Sapling is a tender and darkly funny story about what grows when deep-rooted pain is left unaddressed.”
Launched in 2019 as the only national prize to champion and support playwrights who identify as female or non-binary, the latest edition of the award received 1,275 entries – the most ever, organizers said. Open to English-language plays with a running time of 60 minutes, the prize offers its first prize-winner £20,000 as well as an option for Ellie Keel Productions, Pain’s Plow and Sheffield Theatres.
The judges – who included National Theater artistic director Indhu Rubasingam, actress Romola Garai and Guardians editor-in-chief Kathryn Viner, among others – had a “particularly rigorous” meeting, Kiel said, “reflecting the impressive standard of our final five plays”. She said: “These plays and writers have an amazing future on the big stage and I can’t wait to follow their journeys.
Kristin Scott was also announced as the first winner of the newly created Lifetime Achievement Award, the Thomas Leading Light Award. It is designed to “recognize an outstanding woman for her lasting influence in the arts industry, distinguished work and outstanding contribution to culture,” organizers said.
The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on Monday at the West End venue @sohoplace.
