A Hertfordshire teenager has beaten off competition from over fifty entries to win The University of Hertfordshire Writing Award 2008.  Kirsten Macfarlane, 17, from Rickmansworth, impressed the judges with her play The Strange Case of Mrs Epcoth; the story of a plain, frail woman who is in an unhappy and doomed marriage. The play has elements of a ‘who-done it’ but leaves the audience with lingering questions about their eponymous heroine and the life she is forced to lead.

Stuart Mullins, Creative Director at THEATRE IS..., said: “We chose Kirsten’s script because we thought it showed the greatest ambition. Having never written a play before Kirsten created a challenging and absorbing fifteen minute piece. If the competition is about finding new and exciting dramatic voices, Kirsten came the closest to doing this.”

Kirsten commented, “Being able to see my work performed live onstage was a truly memorable experience, and although it was at first strange hearing professional directors and actors discuss my play (as writing tends to be a more private process), I've really learnt a lot about how the theatre works and how a play is written.”

These young writers worked with a group of talented actors; Joseph Millson from Ashes to Ashes, Survivors, lead actor at the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, Tanya Franks from Eastenders, The Bill, BAFTA nominated series Pulling and the National Theatre, Neil Reidman of Doctor Who, Eastenders and Holby City, Caroline Rippin who has appeared in various theatrical productions with Menagerie Theatre Company including A Sudden Visitation of Calamity and Michelle and the Landlady. Continues>