The Stewart Parker Trust Award or Stewart Parker Prize was a set of Irish theatre awards. The Stewart Parker Trust was founded in 1988, named in honour of Northern Irish playwright Stewart Parker. The last set of awards were given in 2022, for playwrights shortlisted in 2019. Funding for up to three awards was provided by the An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and the BBC, while guidance on the selection process was provided by the Irish Theatre Institute.
History
The Stewart Parker Trust was founded in 1988 in honour of Northern Irish playwright Stewart Parker,[1] after he died of cancer aged 47 in November 1988.[2] John Fairleigh, who was for many years the honorary director of the Trust, was largely responsible for the administration of the awards from the start.[1]
The trust first established the New Playwright Bursary.[3] In 1997/8 two further awards were added: the BBC Stewart Parker Irish Language Award, for a new playwright working in the Irish language, and another one, "for a playwright whose work has contributed to the betterment of cross community understanding within Northern Ireland".[4][3] Later, with the collaboration of BBC Northern Ireland (BBC NI), the BBC NI Radio Drama Award was created.[3]
At the tenth anniversary of the awards, they were presented by the Irish President, Mary McAleese, at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.[4] She again presented the awards at the Abbey in 2009 (for 2008).[5]
After Fairleigh had to leave the role, the workload became too large to be managed by volunteers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a pause was put on the awards. In 2022, it was announced that the awards would be ended, with one last round made to the 2019 shortlisted candidates. The Irish Theatre Institute and BBC Northern Ireland (BBC NI) co-hosted the final ceremony in October 2022.[1][3]
Description
There was a cash bursary as part of the award, as well as a mentoring scheme.[1] At the final ceremony, there were three award categories: the New Playwright Bursary, the BBC NI Radio Drama Award, and the BBC NI Irish Language Drama Award.[3] Funding was provided by the An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland,[4][5] and the BBC,[3] while guidance on the selection process was provided by the Irish Theatre Institute.[5]
The winners were announced annually at the Lyric Theatre in Dublin.[6]
Previous winners
Previous winners of the award include:
- 1988: Sebastian Barry, for Boss Grady’s Boys[7]
- 1993: Vincent Woods, for At the Black Pig's Dyke[7]
- 1996: Gina Moxley, for Danti-Dan[7]
- 1997?: Daragh Carville, for Language Roulette[8]
- 2002: Tim Loane, for Caught Red Handed[9]
- 2003: Micheál Ó Conghaile, for Cúigear Chonamara
- 2008:[a] Abbie Spallen, New Playwright Bursary[5]
- 2008: Elaine Murphy, BBC Northern Ireland Radio Drama Award[5]
- 2008: Seán Ó Morónaigh, BBC Northern Ireland Irish Language Drama Award[5]
- 2012: Nancy Harris, New Playwright Bursary for No Romance[10]
- 2012: Stacey Gregg, BBC Radio Drama Award, for Perve[10]
- 2012: Paul Mercier, BBC Northern Irish Language Award for Sétanta[10]
- 2019: Meghan Tyler, New Playwright Bursary, for Crocodile Fever[3]
- 2019: Seanan McDonnell, BBC NI Radio Drama Award, for So, Where Do We Begin?[3]
- 2019: BBC Stewart Parker Irish Language Award jointly awarded to Philip Doherty, for Fiach, and Hilary Bowen-Walsh and Mumbo Top for Cara sa Chúirt[3]
Other winners include: Jimmy McAleavey,[11] Deirdre Kinahan, Conor McPherson, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Philip Davison, and Michael Harding.[7]
Footnotes
- Awarded on 20 April 2009.[5]
References
- "Announcement from the Stewart Parker Trust Awards". Irish Theatre Institute. 2022. Archived from the original on 15 June 2025.
- Rothstein, Mervyn (4 November 1988). "Stewart Parker, 47, a Playwright On Irish Troubles, Dies in London". The New York Times.
- Irish Theatre Institute (21 October 2022). "Today, the Stewart Parker Trust are delighted to announced the winners of the 2019 Stewart Parker Trust Awards!". Facebook.
- "Remarks by President Mcaleese at the presentation of the Stewart Parker Trust Awards ceremony". President of Ireland. 1998. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- "Stewart Parker Awards". BBC. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- "STEWART PARKER TRUST AWARDS". Irish Theatre Institute. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
- "Literature". Arts Council of Ireland.
- "Becoming Carville". culturenorthernireland.org. 21 February 2008. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- "Tim Loane". Lagan Press. 20 August 2016. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- "Stewart Parker Trust Award Wins for Nancy Harris, Stacey Gregg and Paul Mercier". Abbey Theatre. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
The award ceremony for the 2012 Stewart Parker Trust Awards took place yesterday, Wednesday 25 April, at the Lyric Theatre Belfast.
- Maher, Heather (24 October 2018). "Associate Playwrights". Abbey Theatre. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
External links
- Stewart Parker Trust articles on Irish Theatre Institute website