World premiere of Papatango prize-winner Shook comes to Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre
The winner of this year’s prestigious Papatango New Writing Prize, from a record number of entries, the world premiere of Samuel Bailey’s Shook comes to Scarborough’s Stephen Joseph Theatre at the end of November.
“He’ll look different. My little boy. When I get out. Like… to the picture I’ve got in my head. Be like meeting him all over again. Be a whole new start.”
Instead of GCSEs, Cain, Riyad and Jonjo got sentences. Locked up in a young offenders’ institution, they trade sweets, chat shit, kill time – and await fatherhood.
Grace’s job is to turn these teenagers into parents, ready to take charge of their futures. But can they grow up quickly enough to escape the system?
Samuel Bailey’s debut full production tenderly and honestly examines the young men society shuts away.
Directed by Papatango’s Artistic Director George Turvey, Shook features Josef Davies, Josh Finan, Andrea Hall and Ivan Oyik.
Papatango is a charity which discovers and champions new playwrights by running free, open-application opportunities.
The Papatango New Writing Prize is free to enter and open to any resident of the UK or Ireland. It is assessed anonymously by a reading team which identifies as at least 50% female and is at least 25% BAME. All entrants receive personal feedback on their scripts, an unmatched commitment to supporting aspiring playwrights. The 2019 Prize assessed and gave personal feedback to 1,406 plays. The winner is guaranteed a full production, publication, royalties and commission. The Prize was the first UK award to make such a commitment, changing the landscape for new writing. Writers discovered through the Prize have won BAFTAs, OffWestEnd and Royal National Theatre Foundation awards, premiered in over 20 countries, and worked with the RSC, National Theatre, BBC and HBO.
Shook can be seen in the McCarthy at the SJT on Saturday 30 November. Tickets, priced from £10, are available from the box office on 01723 370541 and online at www.sjt.uk.com
