The play was professionally produced and performed in front of a packed audience at the University’s Weston Auditorium on 28 November where it was picked as the eventual winner. Also performed were the plays from the three other finalists; Tom Batchelor, 17 from Monks Walk School in Welwyn Garden City; Declan Clowry, 18 from Ilford County High School in Ilford, Essex and Susannah Bangham, 19 from St John’s College School in Cambridge, which included a war play, a love story and a fantasy comedy.

The overall prize for the Writing Award is a three year scholarship. This goes to the prize winner who has applied to the University of Hertfordshire and who achieves the necessary entry requirements. The scholarship will go to Tom Batchelor subject to his A level grades.

Natalie Fountain, UHArts Manager at the University of Hertfordshire said: “We are delighted for Kirsten. It is a real achievement to stand out amongst all the high quality entries we received. The UH Writing Award aims to encourage young people to try creative writing and the high standard of work is reflective of the project’s positive outcomes.”

Submissions were judged by a team of creative writing lecturers from the University of Hertfordshire. A high-profile panel from the theatre world; Max Stafford-Clark, Stuart Mullins, Patrick Morris, from Menagerie Theatre Company helped those shortlisted to develop their scripts and explore their writing talents.