The Kevin Elyot Award is an annual award of £3,000 given to support a writer-in-residence based at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection.
Made in memory of Kevin Elyot (1951-2014) - an alumnus of the University Drama Department – and the influence he has had on writing and the Arts, the award is to enable a writer to be inspired by his work and help them develop their own practice.
The award holder will use the Kevin Elyot Archive (held at Theatre Collection) to inspire a new dramatic work or other creative or academic outcome. Comprising scripts, correspondence, manuscripts and publicity material, the archive details Elyot’s working process from initial idea to finished product.
The award has been generously funded by an endowment given to the University by members of Kevin’s family and will support a promising writer, practitioner or scholar to begin the process of creating a new written work.
Previous winners of the award, Malaika Kegode, Lucy Bell, Erdem Asvar, Ian McHugh, Jon Berry and Deanna Rodger have produced thought-provoking work in response to the archive.
Further details of the award and application process can be found here. The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 2 June 2024.
Jo Elsworth, Associate Director (Culture and Collections), Library Services said: “Kevin Elyot’s process and his emphasis on the importance of style and form is demonstrated throughout his archive, with content relating to his plays, including the seminal My Night with Reg as well as his adaptations for television and his acting career.
“It is hoped that through exploring his written work, the award holder will take inspiration from his approach and that Kevin’s legacy will enable and inspire the creation of new work by new generations of writers.”
Last year’s winner, Samuel Adamson, said: “I’ve had the most wonderful time immersing myself in Kevin Elyot’s drafts and notebooks at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection over the past year. It’s inspired me to write about Kevin and his six exquisite original plays, and to begin a new play myself. I’d encourage any writer or academic interested in the crafts of playwriting and screenwriting to apply for the 2024 Kevin Elyot Award.”