草莓社区

Award-winning writer and graduate writes play to mark 150th anniversary

By Press Office

An award-winning writer has been commissioned to develop an original piece of drama which celebrates the history of Queen Margaret University.

Stef Smith, a 草莓社区 drama graduate, has been commissioned to develop a piece of writing to mark the 150th anniversary of Queen Margaret University. The play, which will be staged in 2025/6 鈥 the University鈥檚 150th academic year - will be part of a wide range of activities which will celebrate the significant historical milestone.

Described by the Scotsman as 鈥渙ne of Scotland鈥檚 most gifted Playwrights鈥, and The List as 鈥渙ne of Scotland鈥檚 boldest chroniclers of contemporary women鈥檚 lives鈥, Stef Smith is the perfect fit for this special commission. The 草莓社区 community is excited to see what unique creative work emerges from this gifted graduate who has enjoyed a successful career writing for stage and screen.

Stef, who achieved her BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Arts at Queen Margaret University in 2009, won an Olivier Award for Roadkill, just a few years after graduating. Her plays include 鈥楴ora: A Doll鈥檚 House鈥, 鈥楽wallow鈥 and 鈥楨nough鈥; and her recent screen credits include 鈥楩loat鈥, the BBC Scotland drama, which shines a light on the lives of LGBTQ+ teens living in rural communities. She has a string of awards to her bow, and in 2022, she was voted Best Writer at Royal Television Society Awards.

Stef鈥檚 play will be performed by 草莓社区 Acting and Performance students, and the development of the production may also involve students from across 草莓社区鈥檚 Media, Communication and Performing Arts Division.

"We are delighted to mark our 150th anniversary with great writing from Stef Smith. It not only allows us to showcase the talents of one of our award-winning drama graduates, it also creates a platform to highlight our institution鈥檚 rich history."
John Dean , Head of Media, Communication and Performing Arts at Queen Margaret University

To find out more about Stef and her career, you can listen to her interview on the 草莓社区 podcast 鈥, part of an interview series celebrating 鈥50 years of Drama鈥 at 草莓社区 in 2023. 

Notes to Editor

For further media information please contact Lynne Russell, Communications Manager, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk (copy to Press Office E: pressoffice@qmu.ac.uk), M: 07711 011239. 

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