The Scotsman has announced the first recipients of the Fringe First awards, which have seen six shows receive the new theatre writing accolade. Originally created as a method to encourage premieres at the festival, the Fringe First awards are now the longest established prize at the festival.
The six winners were chosen from over 500 eligible shows and are:
Speechless
Inspired by Marjorie Wallace's best-selling book 'The Silent Twins', Polly Teale and Linda Brogan's powerful new play is an astonishing and moving portrayal of the secret world of a very special but ultimately destructive alliance between two sisters, a Shared Experience production at The Traverse.
Beautiful Burnout
An NTS and Frantic Assembly collaboration Beautiful Burnout is a thrilling new piece of highly physical theatre, by playwright Bryony Lavery, which immerses the audience in the explosively visceral world of boxing. 'Beautiful Burnout' will challenge your preconceptions about the most controversial sport of our time.
Bare
Manchester based theatre company Bareback Theatre bring Renny Krupinski’s ass-kicking, palm-greasing, gut-crunching journey through the world of bare-knuckle fighting to life at The Spaces on The Mile. With relationships and his body on the line, the tale of destruction experienced by a bare-knuckle fighter is explored.
White
Scottish Children’s Theatre company Catherine Wheels’ latest piece is especially for two to four year-olds with music, stories and surprises. In the 'White' world everything sparkles, but everything changed when it is suddenly invaded by colour.
Real Babies Don’t Cry
Gilded Balloon presents the psychological thriller by the celebrated writer Stewart Permutt. Lonely mother Sally buys a 'newborn baby', a life-like doll to replace the daughter she never had. A bizarre comedy verging on tragedy about two women's friendship.
My Romantic History
Scottish playwright DC Jackson’s comedy about love, loss and laminating machines. The Bush Theatre and Sheffield Crucible produced show at The Traverse explores the theme of ‘If you haven’t met someone by the time you graduate, you’re going to marry some idiot from your work. It’s that simple.’
On Friday of each week of the Festival Fringe The Scotsman will announce further winners of the Fringe First awards, with the final week’s winner receiving their award at the Scotsman Fringe Awards.