Diana Nneka Atuona is a British born, Nigerian writer from Peckham, South London. She studied International Politics at South Bank University and upon graduating, was awarded a scholarship from Gray’s Inn to study Law, though her first passion is has always has been to write for stage and screen. She has been a member of the Royal Court’s Invitation Writing Group and was the Theatre Local officer for The Royal Court’s Theatre Local Project in 2011 and 2012. Her first and only play, Liberian Girl, was placed top 25 in the Verity Bargate 2013 competition (Soho Theatre) and was longlisted for the Bruntwood Prize 2013. On November 29 2013, she was awarded the Alfred Fagon Award for Playwriting.
She told Words of Colour Productions: “As a very new writer it feels great to win this award. It gave me the confirmation I needed that I’m doing something right. It has also given me the confidence to continue. I really wanted to see Liberian Girl produced. The play is about a girl’s experience during a civil war in Liberia and child soldiers.”
The Alfred Fagon Award was established in 1996 in memory of the late Jamaican playwright and actor, Alfred Fagon. The £5,000 prize is awarded to the writer who has, in the opinion of the judges, written the best stage play of the year. New as well as established writers are encouraged to enter.