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.
Childhood is where we often establish life long friendships, a formative aspect of our lives, the school setting offers an integral opportunity to not only learn, but socialise. From a young age, we also begin to pick up on societal cues, cues that determine our life paths and shape daily interactions. Having debuted their production Playfight last year, Orisun Productions, consisting of producer Shereener Browne and director Leian John-Baptiste present an examination of the corrosive way in which racism determines the direction Black lives take, the show following best friends Kai, TJ and Zara who initially inseparable encounter change that challenges this. Currently playing at Theatre Peckham as part of their fringe festival, Shereener and Leian tell us more about the show’s pertinent topic, taking part in the inaugural Peckham Fringe Festival and what audiences can expect!