Participation

History of the Project

Since Everyone Has the Right (formerly known as the Protect the Human Playwrighting competition) launched in 2007 to attract plays with human rights at their heart we have received thousands of scripts from across the UK and internationally. From sex tourism in Thailand to the killing fields of the Khmer Rouge the plays have explored a broad range of human rights issues.  Sell out performances at Amnesty’s Human Rights Action Centre, Soho Theatre and high profile theatres across the UK including West Yorkshire Playhouse and Birmingham Rep have provided a national platform for the best of these plays showcasing the work of playwrights including Sarah Grochala, Julian Armitstead and Nick Gill.

 “Everyone has the Right is not about lecturing but about sowing the seeds for powerful theatre that grapples with necessary issues; it reminds people there are things we need to think about and talk about.” The Guardian

Many of these plays have gone on to further success including being produced on BBC Radio 4; development at the National Theatre Studio and full scale production at new writing theatres including Theatre 503, the Finborough Theatre and the Griffin Theatre (Australia).

In 2012, our fifth anniversary year, we are in discussion with four playwrights on scripts including ‘the disappeared’ in Northern Ireland, the death penalty in the US, the 1992-95 war in Bosnia and the link between poverty and human rights abuses.  

Everyone Has the Right 2011

On November 16 2011, we presented a reading of One Hour, Eighteen Minutes by Elena Gremina, translated by Noah Birksted-Breen. This was presented in collaboration with Sputnik Theatre

Everyone Has the Right 2010

Following an overwhelming response, we selected 5 plays that were developed and performed at Amnesty International’s Human Rights Action Centre for public performance:

• 28 by Dawn King
• Pyramus and Thisbe by David Watson
• The Advocate by Laura Quigley
• Las Brutas by Juan Radrigan, translated by Catherine Boyle
• The Archbishop and the Antichrist by Michael Ashton

Protect the Human 2008

Winning Play:
After the Accident by Julian Armitstead

Finalists:
There’s Loads of Them in Burnley, Thais by Anna Clarkson
Lullaby by Dominic Leggett

Judges:
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dan Jones, Sonja Linden, Sara Masters, Esther Richardson

Partner venues:
Birmingham Rep, Soho Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth and West Yorkshire Playhouse

Protect the Human 2007

Winning Play:
S-27by Sarah Grochala

Winning playwright Sarah Grochala receiving her award at Amnesty in 2007

Finalists:
The Stay by Cameron Grant
Fiji Land by Nick Gill

Judges:
Dan Jones, Sonja Linden, Rufus Norris, Nina Steiger, Simon Stephens

Partner venue: Soho Theatre