Lifetime award for playwright Caryl Churchill cancelled over antisemitism concerns

The 2022 European Drama Awards has cancelled a lifetime honour for British playwright Caryl Churchill after the German-appointed jury became aware her previous work was branded antisemitic.

In April, Churchill received the prestigious award along with €75,000 for her life’s work, which includes more than 30 plays.

The jury, selected by Schauspiel Stuttgart (Stuttgart Theatre Company), issued a statement, saying it had become aware of the 84-year-old British dramatist’s signatures in support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, which was “previously unknown.”

“The play Seven Jewish Children can also be regarded as being antisemitic. Therefore, to our great regret, the jury has decided not to confer the prize this year,” the statement read.

The honour is sponsored by Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Arts, whose Arts Minister, Petra Olschowski, supported the jury’s decision.

“In Germany, we have a special historical responsibility. That is why we as a country take a clear and non-negotiable stance against any form of antisemitism. This is all the more reason why a prize funded by the state cannot be awarded under the given circumstances. In my view, it was crucial that the jury reacted immediately and made its position clear,” she said.

While discussions are still ongoing about how the prize money should be used, Stuttgart Schauspiel artistic director Burkhard C. Kosminski said the company “understands the jury’s decision and supports it. We deeply regret these developments.”

The decision was condemned by 170 actors, writers and producers including who signed an open letter, calling it an “outrageous turnaround” in a campaign that “targets artists critical of Israel’s colonial violence.”

“The repression and silencing we are witnessing suggest deep seated anti-Palestinian racism, and call into question the integrity and independence of cultural institutions. We are proud to stand by Caryl Churchill and against McCarthyism,” the letter read.

Among the signatories are actress Juliet Stephenson who is currently playing a Jewish doctor battling antisemitism  in Robert Icke’s The Doctor, which is headed to Broadway; and Dame Harriet Walter, who said “Caryl Churchill deserves the highest international awards for a lifetime of game-changing work in the theatre. To withdraw any honour because of her political views is a dishonourable act reminiscent of McCarthyism.”