Playwrights b4 25 competition winner announced

Congratulations to young playwright Viki Moananu (Vailu’utai, Faleatiu, Tufulele), who has taken the top prize in Playmarket’s 2025 Playwrights b4 25 competition. His winning play, Quitters, explores the guilt and frustration that remains among the living when someone takes their own life. It was described by the judges as “a script that both kicks you in the heart and makes it sing.”

The annual Playwrights b4 25 competition is run by Playmarket, the agency for New Zealand playwrights, and recognises the best new writing for the stage by writers under the age of 25. Playmarket’s Murray Lynch said: “Viki joins a line of compelling and influential winners of Playwrights b4 25. Emerging playwrights challenge old ideas and open doors to unexplored worlds of thought.”

Congratulations also to eight other young playwrights whose plays were shortlisted for the award:

• Mic Drop by Ayush Aditya and Marcus Savelio

• Verdict by Pan Clark and Alanah Munn

• Death, Ray by Zachary Klein

• Iron Chef by Kayden Leftly

• We’re Gonna Kill Billy by Alex Medland

• Carry Me Home by Benjamin Wickers