Colonialism, divorce and dystopia feature on audio drama award shortlists

Colonialism, divorce and dystopia are some of the themes tackled in the Society of Authors’ shortlists for the best audio drama scripts.

The Imison Award celebrates the most original audio drama script by a writer new to the medium and the Tinniswood Award marks the best original audio drama script of the year. Both prizes awarding the winning authors £3,000.

Adam Usden’s “The Book of Yehudit" is in the running for the Imison Award, along with Jane Wainwright's "Wide Open Spaces". Both were aired on BBC Radio 4, with the former following a struggling “ultra-Orthodox Jewish couple”, while the latter explores mental illness and the loss of a baby.

Sponsored by The Peggy Ramsay Foundation, the judges of the Imison Award are are Stefan Buczacki, Jamila Gavin, Isla Gray, Catherine Johnson, Christopher William Hill, Nell Leyshon, David Morley, Hilary Robinson, Mike Walker and Elizabeth-Anne Wheal.

Meanwhile “Jenny Lomas” by David Eldridge is shortlisted for the Tinniswood Award. It explores virtual stalking and identity theft and was broadcast on BBC Radio 3. It will compete against "John Finnemore’s Double Acts – Penguin Diplomacy" by John Finnemore, which appeared on BBC Radio 4 and was praised for its “comic dramatic writing” and exploration of colonialism, according to the judges. Sarah Woods’ take on Britain in the near future for BBC Radio 4, “Borderland”, is also nominated.

The prize, sponsored by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society, is judged by Hardeep Singh Kohli, Colin Teevan and Jane Thynne.

The awards will be presented by the society’s president Philip Pullman at the BBC Audio Drama Awards in London on 28th January.