Playwright & Succession Writer Lucy Prebble Wins Blackburn Prize for A Very Expensive Poison

Olivier-nominated playwright Lucy Prebble has been named the recipient of the 2020 Blackburn Prize. She wins for her drama A Very Expensive Poison, which centers on a Russian assassination that takes place in Britain. The prize, which is presented to female playwrights, comes with an award of $25,000.

A Very Expensive Poison, which debuted at London's Old Vic in 2019, is based on the real-life killing of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who consumed a green tea that was laced with polonium. The play sees Litvinenko investigating his own death.

Prebble has previously been shortlisted for the Blackburn Prize several times, including for Enron, her sole Broadway credit and the recipient of an Olivier Award nomination for its West End debut. Her screenwork includes writing for HBO's hit drama Succession.

The eight 2020 Blackburn finalists include Celine Song's Endlings (which will open at off-Broadway's New York Theatre Workshop on March 9), Zoe Cooper's Out of Water, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's The King of Hell's Palace, Anchuli Felicia King's Golden Shield, Kimber Lee's untitled f*ck m*ss s**gon play, Dominique Morisseau's Confederates, Stef Smith's Nora: A Doll's House and Anne Washburn's Shipwreck.

Past Blackburn Prize winners include Lynn Nottage for Sweat and Jackie Sibblies Drury for Fairview, both of which were also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.