In the second of our video interviews with the 2019 Judges, playwright Anna Jordan discusses what makes a story into a play, and how the Prize can support writers.

Anna Jordan won The Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting in 2013 with her play YEN. The play was inspired by a story in a local paper about two boys who committed a hideous crime. YEN had its premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre before transferring to the Royal Court London, and has gone on to be the most produced of the Bruntwood Prize winning plays, seeing international productions all over the world.

ANNA JORDAN is a writer, director and acting coach. As a writer her current productions include: THE UNRETURNING (Frantic Assembly / Theatre Royal Plymouth) and POP MUSIC (Paines Plough / Birmingham Rep). Anna won the Bruntwood Prize in 2013 for her play YEN, which has had productions at the Royal Exchange, Royal Court and MCC New York as well as several international productions. It was also shortlisted for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2015-2016. Other theatre includes WE ANCHOR IN HOPE (Royal Court – Beyond the Court), CHICKEN SHOP (Park Theatre) and FREAK (Theatre503 / Assembly Studios). She has recently written on HBO’s new series SUCCESSION. Anna has taught / directed at RADA, LAMDA, Arts Ed, Central and Italia Conti.