Azuka Oforka won Best Writer at last night's The Stage Debut Awards for her play The Women of Llanrumney, which was premiered at Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, in May this year.

The play, which explores the lives of women on a Welsh-owned slave plantation in Jamaica in 1765, was described as 'a scorching writing debut that marks the arrival of an exhilarating new voice' (The Stage).

The Best Writer award was shared with Sam Grabiner for Boys on the Verge of Tears at Soho Theatre. Their joint victory marks the first time the gong has been won by two writers.

Also on the shortlist for Best Writer were NHB authors Martha Loader for Bindweed (HighTide/New Wolsey Theatre) and Harry McDonald for Foam (Finborough Theatre).

Other winners at this year's Stage Debut Awards, which were held in London on 29 September, included Jack Wolfe, who won the Best West End Debut Performer award for his performance in Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's musical next to normal, and Daniel Bailey, who won the Best Creative West End Debut award for his work as director on Tyrell Williams's play Red Pitch (@sohoplace).