THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR Announced As Winner Of 10th Annual Papatango New Writing Prize

Papatango today announce The Funeral Director by Iman Qureshi as the winner of the 10th annual New Writing Prize.

This year saw a record-breaking number of submissions from across the UK and Ireland - 1,384. This means the Prize continues to attract more annual UK/Irish submissions than any other playwriting platform - and is unique in giving feedback to all entrants.

At a ceremony held today at Shoreditch Town Hall, extracts were performed from the five shortlisted plays before an industry audience. The shortlisted plays were Legacy by Benedict Lombe, Lunatic 19s by Tegan McLeod, The Funeral Director by Iman Qureshi, The Gyre by Toby King and The Lash by Kenny Emson.

The Funeral Director, an exploration of a gay Muslim woman coming to terms with her identity, will make its world premiere in a four-week run at Southwark Playhouse from 31 October - 24 November - with press night on 2 November, publication with Nick Hern Books, 10% of the gross box office, a £6000 commission and developmental support for a follow-up play.

Iman said today, "I'm bursting with delight, and so grateful to Papatango for taking a leap of faith on a story so very close to my heart. When I wrote a play about a gay Muslim woman who runs a funeral home, I did worry that theatres would see it as 'too niche' to ever put in front of an audience. But we should never feel our stories don't have value. Winning this prestigious national prize reaffirms the fact that even stories deeply rooted in a specific culture or community have the power to appeal to our shared humanity."

Papatango's Artistic Director, George Turvey, said "I am thrilled that such a special and distinctive new play has won the Prize in its tenth year. Even with so many entries, many of a phenomenal standard, Iman's voice really stood out at every stage of the judging process. It's a great privilege for Papatango to be able to share her story with audiences later this year."

"I just thought it would be a secret I'd have to die with. And now - I think it'll be what kills me."

Life as the director of a Muslim funeral parlour isn't always easy, but Ayesha has things pretty sorted. She and Zeyd share everything: a marriage, a business, a future.

Until Tom walks in to organise his boyfriend's funeral. A snap moral decision, informed by the values of Ayesha's community and faith, has profound consequences.

Forced to confront a secret she has hidden even from herself, Ayesha must decide who she is - no matter the cost.

The Funeral Director is an incisive and heartfelt story of sexuality, gender and religion in 21st-century Britain.

Iman Qureshi will make her full-length debut with The Funeral Director. Born in Pakistan and raised in Saudi Arabia, she has had short plays or limited runs commissioned or produced by Tamasha, Kalí Theatre, Purple Moon Drama and the BBC. As a member of Tamasha Playwrights and Soho Theatre's Writers Lab her short play His and Hers was produced as part of Tamasha's New Muslim Voices. Iman has also written for the Guardian, Independent, Time Out and the Huffington Post, been writer in residence at various schools, and been shortlisted for the Muslim Writer's Award in 2011.

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