The 3rd Prize goes to:

The Cracks in My Skin
by Phil Porter

Synopsis

A scorching summer. A teacher (Josefa) desperately wants a baby but her chances are diminishing due to illness and the breakdown of her marriage. Returning home after an operation, she finds an ex-pupil ( Linden), his grandfather (Roper) and another ex-pupil (Janie) treating her house as their own. She takes them in and an unlikely family forms. A doctor (Alun) visits and tells Josefa that by mothering these others she is suggesting to God that she no longer needs a baby of her own. Josefa becomes distant and the family disintegrates. Janie, the most vulnerable family member, responds with shocking violence. A play about love, faith and desperation

Phil Porter’s Biography

Phil graduated from The University of Birmingham in 1999 with a 1 st Class degree in Drama And Theatre Arts. Since then, he has worked full-time as a writer. His plays include Stealing Sweets And Punching People (Theatre 503 and Off-Broadway), Smashed Eggs (a play for children, winner of the Arts Council Children's Award, commissioned and first produced by Pentabus), Isolated Children In Far Away Places (Manchester Royal Exchange Studio) and Broken ( London and Edinburgh fringe.) Phil translated Janos Hay's The Stonewatcher for The National Theatre's Channels Hungary project. He wrote the libretto for the recent Royal Opera House / Royal Ballet production of Pinocchio and the book and lyrics for Northampton Theatre Royal's Hansel And Gretel. His short film The Lizard Boy, written with and directed by James Tovell, has been produced by Hardboiled Films and will premiere this autumn. Phil has written two episodes of ITV's sitcom for children My Parents Are Aliens. He is currently working on commissions for Birmingham Rep, Paines Plough and the Unicorn Theatre and developing a number of television and film projects.