The award will return for its second year at the Park Theatre.
It has been confirmed that the Papatango Young Playwrights Award will return for its fifth year and second at the Park Theatre in 2026.
A celebration of the scriptwriting achievements of nine young people, shortlisted for their l talent from 482 participants of Papatango’s 2025-26 GoWrite Programme will be showcased in a professional showcase.
The three winners of the award will be announced in an invitation-only ceremony at Park Theatre in Finsbury Park on Wednesday 15th July.
The scripts to be showcased on Park200, the venue’s main stage, are:
- Yumby Lorenzo of Harris Lowe Academy Willesden
- Illogical by Hayden of Hanham Woods Academy
- Can I Say Goodbye Now? By Angelina of Hammersmith & Fulham Mencap
- Two Soldiers by Ruben of Frome College
- The Wall in Walthamstow by Simra of Eden Girls’ School
- To Burn or Not to Burn by Amelia of Half Moon Theatre group
- Jack & Jill by Imogen of Holyrood Academy
- Statement of (Redacted) Regarding Sinister Happenings by Maia of the Pavilion Study Centre Meadway
- Stand Up by John of Friern Barnet School
GoWrite is Papatango Theatre Company’s creative learning programme, which won Outstanding Drama Initiative at the 2026 Music and Drama Education Awards. The programme supports young people in state schools, Pupil Referral Units, SEN settings and community groups for young refugees, young people with disabilities or care experience in London and the South West to write their own monologues, which Papatango perform and publish. The nine shortlisted young writers this year are aged between 11-16, and have been selected from more than 480 scripts created across 29 settings.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by actor Josh Finan. Finan is a BAFTA nominee best known for his work in The Responder, Baby Reindeer and most recently, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast. He will be continuing his creative collaboration with Papatango Theatre Company after starring in the world premiere of Shook at Southwark Playhouse, the 2019 Papatango New Writing Prize Winner from Samuel Bailey.
Kate Ereira, Papatango’s Creative Learning & Engagement Producer, said: “We are enormously proud of the writers whose work has been selected for this year’s Papatango Young Playwrights’ Award. After spending this year producing and publishing the work of hundreds of young people, many in challenging circumstances or facing growing social and economic barriers to theatre, we know how many incisive and important stories belonging to the next generation are yet to be told. We’re very grateful to our supporters at Nick Hern Books and Park Theatre for their help further amplifying some of these vital voices. We hope this celebratory showcase is just the beginning of their journeys in theatre.”
To find out more about Papatango visit: https://papatango.co.uk/