Frances Poet has ensured a successful start to 2019, after her play Gut was awarded Best New Play at the Writers Guild Awards last night.

The show, a chilling and intense psychological thriller, was Poet’s first full-length original play, and received its world premiere in Edinburgh in 2018, staged by the Traverse Theatre in association with National Theatre of Scotland. A critical hit, it earned a tranche of glowing reviews, as well nominations for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting and Best New Play at the UK Theatre Awards.

The award follows further nominations for the National Theatre of Scotland over the festive period. Adam Kashmiry, the star of Adam, has been nominated as a finalist for the 2019 Offies, following the show’s London debut as part of Battersea Arts Centre’s Phoenix Season. The awards, which will be announced in London on 3^rd February, celebrate the shows playing in London’s Off West End Theatres.

In addition, the National Theatre of Scotland has been nominated for the International Award at the 2019 Stage Awards, in recognition of its ambitious work with international artists and touring throughout 2018. Notable projects included Quebecois co-production First Snow/Première neige, Gob Squad’s mischievous Super Night Shot, and the Futureproof Festival, which saw the Company bring world-class international theatre-makers to ten of Scotland’s communities.

The Stage Awards are set to be announced on Saturday 19^th January.