A bright young Zimbabwean lass based in Leeds, has won the prestigious Channel 4 Writer in residence award for classical theatre writing.
Announcing her success, a reading on West Yorkshire Playhouse website stated:”We are delighted to say that Zodwa Nyoni has been awarded a Channel 4 Writer in residence award. Hundreds of theatres nominate writers for the scheme and only 5 are chosen after application and interview. The (very impressive) interview panel of
Sir Richard Eyre (Chairman)
Catherine Johnson

Indhu Rubasingham
Sue Summers
John Tydeman OBE
Piers Wenger (Head of Drama, Channel 4)
were all extremely complimentary about Zodwa’s writing and I’m happy to say awarded her one of the residencies.
The residency begins on 1 January 2014 and we’re sure Zodwa will be very involved in many aspects of the Playhouse’s activities. Look out for news in the future.
Zodwa came to the Playhouse via a group of young writers in residence at the I Love West Leeds Festival in 2010. She was then Young writer on attachment at West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2011. She studied for a BA (Hons) in Art, Event and Performance at Leeds Metropolitan University before doing the MA in writing for Performance and Publication at Leeds University in 2013; along the way performing at West Yorkshire Playhouse as part of Speak Women Speak and as a Writer in Paines Plough’s Come To Where I’m From. Now coming back to the Playhouse with the Channel 4 award. Thus a please illustration of the importance of grass roots community arts activity (I Love West Leeds) and good connections with our regional universities.”