Orísun Productions Launches The Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights

Black theatre production company Orísun Productions announces today, on Windrush Day, the launch of The Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights, the first initiative of its kind in 30 years dedicated specifically to discovering, nurturing, and elevating British Caribbean playwrights in the UK. Submissions will open on 2 October, with further information available here.

Established by Shereener Browne, founding CEO of Orísun Productions and former criminal barrister, the prize was born from both a personal and political history connected to the Windrush scandal. The Prize aims to address the ongoing underrepresentation of British Caribbean voices across British theatre and to build a lasting legacy for Caribbean storytelling on British stages. The Windrush Prize launches in partnership with Arcola Theatre in London, who will co-produce and present a production of the first winning play at the Arcola Theatre in 2027.

Shortlisted writers will also receive mentorship, professional feedback and a reading of an excerpt from their script.

As part of the wider initiative focussed on nurturing talent, Orísun Productions will prioritise outreach and connection through workshops, seminars and networking events delivered with established partners. These wraparound events will support skills development and professional networking beyond simply finding a ‘winner’. These events will also be designed to help unearth new writers – including individuals with stories to tell who may not describe themselves as playwrights. The workshops will feature British Caribbean writers and theatre-makers, with further details to be announced.

“This prize is deeply personal,” said Shereener Browne. “My father, originally from Nevis, spent decades building a life in Britain, only to have his identity and belonging questioned. He did not live to see the justice he deserved. Using the compensation to create opportunities for other people from the Caribbean diaspora both honours him and amplifies the unique and significant contribution the Caribbean community has made to this country.”

Shereener created the initiative as a result of her late father, Myron Brown’s (correct spelling), experiences at the hands of the British government. He became effectively stateless after being refused documentation required to prove his status as a British Citizen – despite having lived and worked in Britain for decades. Although he later successfully applied for compensation through the UK Government’s Windrush Compensation Scheme, the settlement was tragically awarded after his death. Browne is now using that compensation to establish The Windrush Prize as a lasting legacy for future generations of British Caribbean artists, naming the prize in honour of the Windrush generation – whose contributions transformed British cultural life while too often remaining historically overlooked.

“My origins are in the Caribbean, but I am also a Yorkshire lass raised a stone’s throw from the Dales. There are so many unique and untold stories like mine across Britain,” ShereenerBrowne added. “We want to encourage people to feel empowered to write their stories down, and give them the confidence to share them with the world.”

Arthur Torrington CBE, co-founder of The Windrush Foundation and Patron of The Windrush Prize said “The Windrush Prize for Caribbean Playwriting is a powerful way to honour the resilience and creativity of the Windrush generation and their descendants. By encouraging stories from the Caribbean community to be told on stage, the Prize helps preserve our shared artistic legacy and reminds Britain of the vital contributions made by Caribbean people to its cultural and social life.”

Mehmet Ergen, Artistic Director, Arcola Theatre, said “Arcola Theatre is immensely proud to partner with Orisun for the launch of The Windrush Prize, championing the future of theatre by elevating perspectives and stories that deserve to be told centre stage. We have long been committed to nurturing diverse voices and bold emerging talent, and are honoured to shine a spotlight on British Caribbean writers. We sincerely hope this initiative will play a meaningful role in supporting many more British Caribbean stories on their journey from page to stage.”

The Windrush Prize will be administered by The Society of Authors, Robyn Law, Head Of Charities  said “The Society of Authors are delighted to work as administrator for the Windrush Prize for British Caribbean Playwrights. We recognise the importance of this prize that will support an underrepresented group within the industry and will encourage British Caribbean storytelling.”

The initiative also launches in partnership with other leading arts and literary organisations including Methuen Drama, Casarotto Ramsay and Associates, Afridiziak Theatre News, London Writers Centre, Lewisham Council and The Kael Report.

The judging panel is jointly chaired by Harold Finley (founder/editor The Kael Report) andClare Finburgh-Delijani (Professor, Dept. of Theatre and Performance at Goldsmiths University of London), alongside a distinguished panel including playwright Roy Williams, actor Steve Toussaint (The House Of The Dragons), Tracey Low (National Theatre) , Jack Lea (Playful Productions), Lynette Goddard (Professor, Black Theatre & Performance, Royal Holloway, London University) and Mehmet Ergen (Artistic Director, Arcola Theatre).

Clare Finburgh-Delijani, Judging panel co-chair said “The Windrush Prize celebrates theatre related to the Caribbean which, at the crossroads of cultures from the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia, arguably produces some of the most exhilarating and globally significant creative work in the world.”

Harold Finley, Judging panel co-chair said “The Windrush Prize is an exciting addition to the UK arts scene, providing a platform to celebrate and amplify the voices of Caribbean playwrights.”

Lynette Goddard, Professor, Black Theatre & Performance, Royal Holloway and judging panel member said “I am delighted to be one of the judges for the Windrush Prize for British Caribbean playwrights. This fantastic initiative pays tribute to the Windrush-descendant generations and I am looking forward to seeing the range and directions of this exciting new work.”

Steve Toussaint, actor and judging panel member, said “There has always been a recognition of the need for disparate voices in any lively art sector and healthy society in general. To be a small part of an exciting new scheme designed to address that need makes me very proud indeed.”

Jack Lea, Playful Productions and judging panel member said “It is an honour to join the panel for the inaugural Windrush Prize. The Prize is a powerful reminder of how vital theatre is in telling the stories that shape our collective memory and I am greatly looking forward to reading and celebrating the best new playwrighting voices in Britain.” 

Dom O’Hanlon, Senior Publisher for Plays at Methuen Drama, who will publish the selected play, said “We’re delighted to be supporting The Windrush Prize for Caribbean Playwrights and working with the team to publish the playtext alongside the upcoming run. This is an important initiative and one that widens access to theatre in published form and it’s exciting to have a new play that will encourage the next generation of playwrights from the Caribbean diaspora.”

Nancy Stridgen, Cultural Partnership Manager, Lewisham Council said “Lewisham Council is pleased to welcome and recognise this initiative as a much needed intervention that responds to a clear gap within the new writing landscape. This Prize directly addresses the underrepresentation of British Caribbean writers within existing new writing schemes. By encouraging participation at all career stages and supporting people to identify as writers, it widens access and nurtures talent that is currently undersupported. The project supports Lewisham’s cultural ecology by helping to strengthen creative pathways for writers within Lewisham’s diverse creative communities.”

Founded in 2018 in Lewisham, South London, Orísun Productions is an acclaimed and award-nominated Black female-led theatre production company committed to developing bold, socially engaged work and amplifying underrepresented voices in British theatre.