The Kevin Elyot Award is an annual award of £3,000 given to support a writer-in-residence at the University of Bristol .
It is made in memory of Kevin Elyot (1951-2014) - an alumnus of the University Drama Department – and the influence he has had on writing and the Arts.
It is hoped that the award will enable a writer to be inspired by his work and help them develop their own practice.
The is held at the Theatre Collection, and comprises scripts, correspondence, manuscript and publicity material detailing Elyot’s working process from initial idea to finished product.
The award has been generously funded by an endowment given to the University by members of Kevin’s family and will support a promising writer, practitioner or scholar to begin the process of creating a new written work.
The award holder will use the Kevin Elyot Archive as well as other holdings within the Theatre Collection to inspire a new dramatic work or other creative or academic outcome.
Previous winners of the award, Lucy Bell, Erdem Asvar, Ian McHugh, Jon Berry and Deanna Rodger have produced thought-provoking work in response to the archive.
Further details of the award and application process can be found here. The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 20 April 2022.
Jo Elsworth, Director of the Theatre Collection, said: “Kevin Elyot’s process for adapting novels for television is also well documented in the archive, alongside documents reflecting Kevin’s acting career, prior to turning to writing.
“The content relating to his plays, including the seminal My Night with Reg, demonstrates his creative process and his emphasis on the importance of style and form.
“It is hoped that through exploring his written work, the award holder will take inspiration from his approach and that Kevin’s legacy will enable and inspire the creation of new work by new generations of writers.”