Papatango and Park Theatre have announced the world première of The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights, the winner of the 2024 Papatango New Writing Prize. This prestigious prize, now in its 16th year, is the only annual UK playwriting opportunity that guarantees a new writer a full production. Previous winners have gone on to win Olivier, Critics’ Circle, and BAFTA awards and premiere in 32 countries.
Hannah Doran’s play, selected from a record-breaking 1,589 entries, is both hilarious and thought-provoking, exploring friendship and betrayal in the modern workplace. The production will be directed by Papatango’s Artistic Director George Turvey, with the full creative team and casting to be announced later.
The production opens in Park200 at Park Theatre on 4 November 2025, with previews from 30 October, and runs until 29 November.
Papatango’s Artistic Director George Turvey and Executive Director Chris Foxon said, “Since picking Hannah’s play from a record 1,589 submissions to the Prize, we’ve been getting more and more excited to produce it with the wonderful Park Theatre. It’s rare for debut playwrights to pen such big, bold stories – and still rarer for producers to offer them a stage to match. But Hannah’s startlingly ambitious account of young people exploited economically and culturally in today’s explosive America is something we and Park Theatre both felt compelled to stage. Indeed, we can see the Prize is an ever-more vital chance for new writers to get the backing to dream big, regardless of risk.”
Park Theatre’s Artistic Director Jez Bond added, “Papatango is the largest new writing competition in the UK. Not only does their mission closely complement ours but we were bowled over by the power of their production last year. As such we are thrilled to be working together this year to bring Hannah Doran’s exciting new play The Meat Kings to the stage.”
The Meat Kings! (Inc.) of Brooklyn Heights follows T, the new summer hire at Cafarelli & Sons, an iconic New York butcher. Life in the messy cutting room isn’t glamorous, and no-nonsense boss Paula tries to keep everyone in line as the business struggles. With the American dream of a better life hanging in the balance, T and her colleagues-turned-competitors sweat for their jobs. Alliances form, romance sparks, and loyalties shift. But how far will they go to secure their future?
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
