Hall writes way into award

Writing plays is in the genes for Pip Hall, but scooping New Zealand theatre's biggest honour has nothing to do with her name, she says.

The actress, writer and daughter of star playwright Roger Hall won the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award in a ceremony at Downstage Theatre at the weekend. The award, which comes with a $10,000 full-length play commission, recognises an outstanding emerging playwright.

"I'm really stoked," Hall said. "It's an amazing award, and to win with all this hot competition was great." Other finalists were Arthur Meek, author of Downstage's current play, Collapsing Creation, Miria George, Eli Kent and Thomas Sainsbury.

The last time Hall's work appeared in Wellington was in 2007 with Who Needs Sleep Anyway?, co-written with her father. The elder Hall, famous for satires including Glide Time, is one of New Zealand's most successful playwrights. His daughter said he was really proud of her honour, but it was satisfying to win an award that was undeniably about her work. "There's always a little bit of: `Are people reading your work on its merits or are they reading your work because of your name?"' She has written two plays this year. The 53rd Victim is based on the story of a New Zealand woman who pretended to be a doctor in the 2005 London bombings, before later being found dead.

Up North, which will premiere in Palmerston North next year, is about a 1950s love triangle. Mark Amery, director of playwrights' organisation Playmarket, said the award confirmed Hall as a major talent. "The 53rd Victim and Up North are two of the finest plays I've read in the last year."

- © Fairfax NZ News