Claire Urwin's 'No Wonder' selected for national showcase
'No Wonder' a play written by Centre for New Writing MA student Claire Urwin has been selected by the National Student Drama Festival to be part of a showcase of exceptional productions from across the UK.
The play premiered at the University's Martin Harris Centre last November where it caught the eye of National Student Drama Festival Director Holly Kendrick.
The festival is a week-long celebration of theatre, live performance, discussion and special events and takes place annually in Scarborough. Hundreds of student productions from across the UK compete to be one of ten selected for the festival, and performed in venues such as the town's Stephen Joseph Theatre.
A play about "wardrobes, washing machines and whatever happens when men fall out of high windows", No Wonder features a cast of University of Manchester students and is directed by Guy Jones, creator of Heart of Guard Theatre Company.
The play is the first University of Manchester student production to be selected by the NSDF for several years and Claire, who was awarded a bursary by the University last year for her promising poetry, is delighted with the news: "I'm thrilled the play has been selected for the festival and looking forward to working with the NSDF in transferring it to Scarborough.
"I'm particularly glad that two productions associated with the University of Manchester got through this year so we'll be able to support one-another over the next few weeks."
A production of Simon Stephens's play 'Herons' directed by University drama graduate Clive Judd has also been selected for the showcase, which takes place at the end of March.
Urwin recently won the International Student Playscript Competition for her first play 'How Hard It Happens' which progressed to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last summer after a successful premiere on campus.