The Adam Morley Sponsor a Playwright Bursary to Announce Shortlist in September

Freelance director, producer and playwright Adam Morley will soon be announcing the shortlist of the inaugural Adam Morley Sponsor a Playwright Bursary, which will gift the winning writer with £1000 to further develop the script to production in 2018.

From initial submissions of nearly 100 plays, originally organised with Actors Awareness, a shortlist of 15 will now be assessed by a judging panel of industry experts. The blind submission process was specifically designed to encourage equal opportunities to all applicants, with the aim of making the bursary equal, fair and accessible across a diverse pool of applicants.

Adam Morley is an award-winning director, writer and producer. He is the Artistic Director of regional touring company Baroque Theatre and Associate Director of the Canal Café Theatre in London. He is the Executive Producer of Actors Awareness, which promotes equality and diversity in the arts.

The judging panel includes:

James Phelps is most famous for portraying Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise film series. He is also a regular charity worker, working with such organisations as the National Forest, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Virgin Money Giving, and Cancer Research UK.

Lola Williams is the director of actor's agency New Wonder Management and has over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry, both in front of and behind the camera. Lola combines an extensive track record in management with a unique understanding of the requirements of both the actor and the casting professional. Lola is an active member of WFTV UK (Women in Film and Television) and the Agents Association of Great Britain.

John Byrne is a writer, broadcaster, and personal advisor to a wide range of International Artists. John has been the career advisor to The Stage Newspaper for over a decade, during which time he has interviewed well over 3000 theatrical professionals, ranging from established to beginner actors to directors, producers and technical crew. He also writes a popular advice column for Young Performer Magazine.

Yasmeen Khan is a playwright, broadcaster and performer. Her plays have work with companies including Kali Theatre and Tamasha. Yasmeen is a diversity advocate; she runs The Rehearsal Room Presents, a platform for new and emerging theatre voices. Her Radio 4 documentaries have covered topics as diverse as mental health, responses to sexism and to how to become a minder. Her other current radio work includes a weekly specialist show focussing on British Asian issues for BBC radio, as well as fronting Friday drivetime on national speech network talkRADIO, where she covers everything from mainstream news to arts and culture. She was awarded Radio Presenter of the Year 2016-17 at the Asian Media Awards.

EmMA Taylor is Artistic Director of Canal Cafe Theatre, producer of Guinness World Record Breaking NewsRevue and an actress. She is a former teacher of French and Head of Drama and has been an industry judge on various panels including Amused Moose, Leicester Square Theatre's New Musical Project, The finals of The Lost Theatre's One Act Play Festival and currently The American Season at the Canal Cafe Theatre's search for a new play on the current political state in the USA and Women In Comedy Festival International Comedy Writing Competition.

Chris Hislop is a freelance theatre publicist. He has also worked as a theatre writer and critic, editor, development consultant and theatre director. He has over 10 years experience in arts journalism and PR, and specialises in Off West End/fringe theatre in London. He was the theatre editor, sales and marketing executive and a reviewer for OneStopArts, and also freelanced as a reviewer and blogger for WhatsOnStage and FringeReview (for which he was nominated for the Allen Wright Award in 2009).

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