Writer’s top drama award for ‘mesmerising’ and ‘incredibly powerful’ debut play
STUNNED: Vicky Foster, right, gives her acceptance speech after winning the Imison Award
Vicky Foster became the first writer from Hull to win the Imison Award earlier this year. She reflected on her success in this exclusive interview with The Hull Story.
Massive congratulations to writer Vicky Foster for her landmark victory in the BBC Audio Drama Awards. In a star-studded ceremony at BBC Broadcasting House in February, Vicky won the Imison Award for her play Bathwater. Administered by the Society of Authors, the Imison is an annual award for best original script by a writer new to radio, and comes with a cheque for £3,000 courtesy of the Peggy Ramsay Foundation. It is thought to be the first time a writer from Hull has won the Imison since its launch 26 years ago.
Asked how it felt when it was announced she had won, Vicky told The Hull Story: “It felt like I’d fallen into some parallel universe. It just feels a bit surreal and I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It was already a bit strange being in this famous theatre with all these famous people and the head of Radio 4, so when they said I‘d won it was just … and because it’s the first play I’ve ever written; I can’t believe it was on the shortlist, never mind that I won it.”
She said of how the play came about: “I’d been skirting around the issues in Bathwater, writing poems that touched on it, but I got to a point where I realised what I wanted to do was get right at the heart of it and get it all out, partly for myself but also partly because by seeing other people like Toria Garbutt and Louise Wallwein performing stuff that explored their own difficult experiences, I’d realised there was a power to that, that it could have a positive effect on people who’d been through similar things.
“I think one of the most gratifying things winning it were the discussions I had with people who’d been involved in the judging process later in the night, when they told me how rigorous the process had been. These writers I really respect had read it and it had gone through all these rounds of reading and people had agreed it was the winner. Although the announcement was exciting for me that was even more fulfilling. Some had been Imison winners in the past and they are all successful radio or screenwriters and that’s what made me feel most proud, I think.
“When you write anything you’re never really sure if it’s any good and something like this gives you the confidence to carry on and think maybe I’ve got something to say that people want to listen to.”
Produced by Sue Roberts for BBC Radio Drama North, the autobiographical Bathwater was first broadcast on Radio 4 last year and subsequently featured on Pick of the Week. Vicky also acted in the production alongside Finlay McGuigan, with their performances set against a stunning soundscape by [Hull band] Broken Orchestra.
The judges said of Bathwater: “It was mesmerising. Incredibly powerful, gripping and a well-written piece that handles domestic violence in an unconventional way. Bathwater is thoughtful and explores inherited trauma well and has beautiful moments. It has great use of the medium and lovely use of language with some memorable phrases.
“The writing sucks you in, the characters are strong, and it is an intriguing, arresting piece of poetic drama, that explores the way trouble is passed on. It puts an isolated, overlooked world on the airwaves and it does so in a way that makes you really feel for the people it documents.”
Fellow writer and Hull Story arts columnist Joe Hakim said: “Vicky, along with producer Sue Roberts and sonic collaborators Broken Orchestra, delivered an incredibly powerful and moving spoken word play, which works both as a performance and audio experience. Managing to go from being gut-wrenching, to uplifting, to heartbreaking and all the way back again, it’s testament to Vicky’s talent as a writer that it loses none of its power when presented starkly on the page.
“It’s also incredibly ambitious, a riveting longform story told in verse. Bold, brave and important in its subject matter and themes, Bathwater cements Vicky’s place as one of the best writers and performers working in Hull today.”
‘ONE OF HULL’S FINEST’: Vicky Foster
The ceremony was hosted by actor and comedian Meera Syal, and also saw awards going to established stars including Stephen Dillane – known to millions as Stannis Baratheon in Game of Thrones - for Best Actor; Rebecca Front for Best Actress; and Alexei Sayle for Best Scripted Comedy (Sketch Show).
The annual awards, which celebrate audio drama and comedy broadcast on the BBC, also saw wins for the comedian Phil Wang, whose BBC 4 series Wangsplaining won the longform scripted comedy category, and the playwright Al Smith, who won best original series for Life Lines. George Kent took home best debut performance for A Kestrel for A Knave.
Other winners included the cast and production team of The Amazing Maya Angelou, who won the outstanding achievement award for adapting the poet and civil rights activist’s memoirs for Radio 4. Award presenters included Gavin and Stacey writer and actress Ruth Jones.
The Imison Award was founded in memory of radio producer Richard Imison. It was first won by Gabriel Gbadamosi, with subsequent winners including Mike Bartlett, Lee Hall, and Nell Leyshon.
Plans are being made for a tour of Bathwater, with an actress taking Vicky’s part. It is hoped this will include appearances and workshops at community and women’s centres. Bathwater is published by Wrecking Ball Press. Vicky’s first book, the poetry collection Changing Tides, was published by King’s England Press in 2016. Vicky, who is now working on her first novel, is represented by Catherine Summerhayes of Curtis Brown.
