Sean Foley, Artistic Director of Birmingham Repertory Theatre, has announced the panel and shortlist of eight new plays for the first ever major playwriting prize dedicated to the art of Comedy - The Victoria Wood Playwriting Prize for Comedy in partnership with The Victoria Wood Foundation and supported by BBC Comedy.

Joining Sean Foley on the panel are: BAFTA winning actor, comedian and friend of Victoria Wood, Daniel Rigby, BAFTA winning actor and broadcaster Siobhan McSweeney, West End and Broadway producer Tegan Summer, renowned playwright Tanika Gupta, television producer and representative of the Victoria Wood Foundation Piers Wenger.  The project is led by the multiple award-winning live comedy director, dramaturg and comedy teacher, Dec Munro. Images and biographies for the panel can be downloaded here.

The names of the four finalists will be released on Monday 13 May. The winner will be announced at a special ceremony, which will be held at The Rep on Wednesday 15 May from 4.30pm – 6.30pm.  They will receive £25,000 (£10,000 of which will be the play commission) and a special award designed and currently being made in The Rep’s own workshops.

The Prize has been made possible thanks to the generous support of The Victoria Wood Foundation, a charity set up after the death of Victoria Wood in 2016 by her friends to support the arts. For more information, visit: birmingham-rep.co.uk