大象传媒

This is the second of our two prize-winning plays from the 大象传媒 World Service and British Council International Radio Playwriting Competition 2009.

The Prison Graduates won the English as a second language category.

Efo Kodjo Mawugbe鈥檚 play was described by the judges as 鈥渋maginative鈥�, 鈥渕uscular鈥� and 鈥渉ysterically funny鈥�.

The play sees four men try to make their way in the world after being released from prison in Ghana. They explore their many options, only to choose the one that might have surprised them all.

Directed by Marion Nancarrow and starring Daniel Francis (Eastenders; The Hounding of David Oluwale), Richard Pepple (The Estate), David Gyasi (Shooting Dogs), Mo Sesay (Coriolanus at Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe) and Wale Ojo (Widower鈥檚 Houses, National Theatre), this is where Woza Albert meets Samuel Beckett - a surreal, post-colonial fable.

Twelve-thousand scripts were received in the 2009 competition, which awards two first prizes - for the best plays with English as a first language and English as a second language.

Both winners came to London to see their work recorded and also attended the prize-giving ceremony at Shakespeare鈥檚 Globe Theatre in London.

The distinguished panel of judges included writer Kwame Kwei-Armah and actor Vincent Ebrahim.