S Shakthidharan, an Australian playwright of Sri Lankan descent, popularly known as Shakthi, has been awarded the prestigious Windham-Campbell Prize for drama, valued at $175,000 USD (approximately $250,000 AUD).
This international accolade recognizes writers across various genres, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama, based on their overall body of work. Nominations for the prize are kept confidential, and candidates cannot self-nominate.
Shakthi received the honor for his innovative multigenerational plays that delve into the experiences of Sri Lankan Tamil migrants, notably for his debut work Counting and Cracking. This play, co-created with Eamon Flack, the artistic director of Belvoir, also secured the Victorian Prize for Literature, worth $100,000, in 2020.
In an interview with ABC Arts, Shakthi expressed his pride in having his narratives showcased on a global platform. He learned of his win via email while in Sri Lanka filming his first feature, The Laugh of Lakshmi, which tells the story of a mother and son separated by civil conflict.
“The tales I share are not the typical stories told in this country,” he remarked. “Receiving this global acknowledgment may help present a more progressive image of Australia than what we currently see.” He also noted that the prize funding would enable him to continue his writing career, stating, “I still face significant challenges to create in this country. It’s remarkable to write with a focus on artistry.”
Shakthi admitted to still being in disbelief over his recognition. “The award honors the entirety of an artist’s work,” he explained. “The judging panel evaluates the submissions, meaning that a group of unfamiliar individuals overseas, who had never encountered my work previously, connected with these narratives from Asia and Australia and chose to celebrate them. I find that deeply inspiring. Writing has the power to draw you into the specific, vulnerable, and emotional truths of places and peoples you may not have previously known.”
Following the Sydney premiere of Counting and Cracking in 2019, Shakthi collaborated again with Flack on The Jungle and the Sea, which poignantly addressed the repercussions of the Sri Lankan civil war (1983-2009).
His latest production, The Wrong Gods, which explores the conflict between progress and tradition alongside environmental degradation, is set to debut in Sydney in 2025. Last year, he also released his first memoir, Gather Up Your World in One Long Breath.
Shakthi serves as both a director and a co-founder of the Western Sydney theatre company Kurinji. The judges of the Windham-Campbell Prize praised him as a “unique storyteller whose works traverse time and space while remaining grounded in fundamental emotional truths.”
This year’s Windham-Campbell Prize also recognized British novelist Gwendoline Riley among its winners. Previous Australian recipients include renowned figures such as Helen Garner, playwright Patricia Cornelius, and poet Ali Cobby Eckermann.
The Jungle and the Sea will be performed from July 11 to August 2, while the Melbourne Theatre Company will host it from August 14 to September 12.
