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Virginia Jekanyika wins in international playwriting competition

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ZIMBABWEAN playwright Virginia Jekanyika is part of the winners of the English as a Second Language category, English as a First Language category, the Georgi Markov prize and the regional winners of this year’s competition that were recently announced.

ZIMBABWEAN playwright Virginia Jekanyika is part of the winners of the English as a Second Language category, English as a First Language category, the Georgi Markov prize and the regional winners of this year’s competition that were recently announced.

Winner of English as a Second Language prize — The Cactus Flowers by Virginia Jekanyika, Zimbabwe.

The play is about three women who are trying to pull themselves out of poverty in Kariba, Zimbabwe, by starting their own fishing business. Just as things start to go their way, they are hit by a sudden tragedy, which results in a bitter betrayal and a struggle for survival. A bitter-sweet story of family and friendship. This play is also the regional winner for Africa.

Winner of English as a First Language prize — The Ravens by Alana Valentine, Australia.

Struggling to escape the world of prostitution, Kira has recently received a large sum of compensation money. Unsure what to do with it, and under pressure from an old friend, Kira meets Nina, a social worker in training, and an unlikely friendship develops.

This play is also the regional winner for the Pacific.

Winner of the Georgi Markov prize — Diablo and Romina by Ana Gonzalez-Bello, Mexico.

In the play Roxanne Romina lives with her mother in a small town in the south east of Mexico, where nothing ever happens to her, except being picked on. That is, until her cousin Frank returns from America and everything changes.

This play is also the regional winner for the Americas. Regional Winners:

Asia — Disciples by Joshua Lim So, The Philippines, Caribbean-Wild Horses by Kenrick Alexander Sharpe, Jamaica, Europe- The Hanging by Peter Auf der Heyde (writing as Thamsanqa Keti), Germany, Middle East — Like Amber and Musk by Kate Lord Brown, Qatar

Shortlisted Plays: English as a First Language Bombshell by Fiona Looney, Ireland, Death and Taxis by Joanne Carpenter, Kenya, Learning to Swim by Orla Murphy, Ireland, Outside the Wire by Genne Murphy, USA and Recombination by Cassie Gonzales, Sweden

English as a Second language: The Guilt by Camila Vergara Pena, Colombia, The Hanging by Thamsanqa Keti, Germany, A Martini with Orson Welles by Elia Gonella, Italy

Longlisted Plays: English as a First Language The Expert Gravedigger by Ogochukwu Nwokedi, Nigeria, Mystery of the Diamond Studded Belt by Lena Barkin and Alexander Eby, USA, Pressure by Jerry Newman, USA

English as a Second language: The Dead Ones are Lucky by Desmond Ntshalintshali, South Africa, Lenin’s Shoe by Saviana Stanescu, USA, The Trip by Manjima Chatterjee, India, Toilets are for Something Fishy by Dilman Dila, Uganda

A new Competition will be announced in October 2015.