The 2024 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to UK playwright Ava Pickett for her play 1536.  Awarded annually since 1978, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is the largest and oldest international award recognizing women+ who have written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre. On March 11, the Prize hosted the theatre community at the Royal Court Theatre in London to celebrate and honor Pickett and the 9 Finalists. Pickett garnered a cash award of $25,000, and a signed limited-edition print by renowned artist Willem de Kooning, created especially for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. US Playwright Justice Hehir won a Special Commendation Award of $10,000.  The 8 additional finalists each received an award of $5,000. Set in Tudor Essex, 1536 follows three best friends as they wrestle with marriage offers, gossip, and bad hair.  When the news from London of the Queen’s arrest at the hands of her husband reaches them, the dynamics of their friendship begin to splinter as they struggle with what it means to be a woman in a society that kills women, even those high-born. The panel of Judges were poet, playwright and curator Inua Ellams, playwright Sarah Mantell, actors April Matthis and Clare Perkins and directors Eric Ting  and Lyndsey Turner. The eight additional Finalists are Roxy Cook (UK-Russia) A Woman Walks Into a Bank, April De Angelis (UK) The Divine Mrs S, Rhianna Ilube (UK) Samuel Takes a Break…In Male Dungeon No.5 After a Long But Generally Successful Day of Tours, Jasmine Naziha Jones (UK) Baghdaddy, Alex Lin (US) Chinese Republicans, Lenelle Moïse (US) K-I-S-S-I-N-G, Hannah Moscovitch (CAN) Red Like Fruit, a.k. payne (US) Love I Awethu Further. Press contact: DKC/O&M (212/695-7400)...