Michael Galvin - best known to many New Zealanders as Shortland Street's Dr Chris Warner - has been recognised as an outstanding emerging playwright with New Zealand's most significant national theatre award, the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award.

Previous winners include many of this country's most celebrated writers, including Briar Grace-Smith, David Geary and Toa Fraser. Michael Galvin - best known to many New Zealanders as Shortland Street's Dr Chris Warner - has been recognised as an outstanding emerging playwright with New Zealand's most significant national theatre award, the Bruce Mason Playwriting Award.

Previous winners include many of this country's most celebrated writers, including Briar Grace-Smith, David Geary and Toa Fraser.The author of three major works for the stage, Galvin's award recognises his dedication as a playwright and the success of his second play The Ocean Star, which premiered with Auckland Theatre Company in 2006 to strong critical notices.

The award is decided through voting by a panel of leading directors and play developers throughout New Zealand. The award sees Galvin awarded a $10,000 full-length play
commission, to be given a playreading in 2008 or 2009.

A graduate of Victoria University and Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, Galvin had an extensive stage career before joining Shortland Street. His first play, New Gold Dream, is a comedy about the reunion of a once famous performance art group obsessed with '80s music.

Recently given workshop by ATC and Playmarket, his third play Station to Station is a gutsy work where Galvin mixes comedy with tragedy: led by a charismatic television presenter turned religious zealot, a mother and son share a rollercoaster journey from drab suburbia to Jerusalem and a devastating act of terrorism.

The award is named after the man considered to be New Zealand's first most significant playwright, Bruce Mason, who died in 1982. The award is sponsored by the Downstage Theatre Society, The FAME Trust and Playmarket.

19/11/07