Ava Pickett
British screenwriter and playwright
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ava Pickett (born 1993 or 1994)[1] is an English screenwriter and playwright. Her debut play 1536 won the 2023–24 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize.[2] She was a staff writer on The Great[2] and she co-wrote Baz Luhrmann's upcoming film Jehanne d’Arc.[3]
Ava Pickett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993 or 1994 (age 32–33) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Screenwriter • playwright |
| Notable work | 1536 |
| Awards | Susan Smith Blackburn Prize |
Early life and education
Ava Pickett is from Colchester, Essex.[4] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in theatre from Middlesex University.[1] She went on to complete a Master of Arts (MA) at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2018.[2] Originally aspiring to be an actor, Pickett started writing when she moved back from London to Clacton-on-Sea after struggling to find work.[1]
Career
Theatre
As a member of the 2021–22 Genesis Almeida New Playwrights, Big Plays Programme cohort,[5] Pickett wrote 1536, a play following three peasant women friends in lead up to Anne Boleyn's execution.[6] 1536 ran from 6 May – 7 June 2025 at the Almeida Theatre,[7] directed by Lyndsey Turner and starring Liv Hill, Siena Kelly and Tanya Reynolds.[8]
Pickett won the 2023–24 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for 1536,[2] the play being praised by the judges for its "sparkling dialogue and thrilling, charismatic writing underpinned by great craft and restraint".[9] Pickett also received a special mention for the 2023 George Devine Award.[10]
Pickett wrote a contemporary stage adaptation of Emma by Jane Austen, directed by Christopher Haydon.[11] The show ran from 17 September – 11 October 2025 at the Rose Theatre Kingston, starring Amelia Kenworthy and Kit Young.[12] Pickett's stage adaptation of The Manningtree Witches by A. K. Blakemore is set to run from 28 February – 14 March 2026 at the Mercury Theatre in her hometown Colchester, directed by Natasha Rickman.[4] Pickett was the resident playwright at the Mercury Theatre in 2020.[2]
Television
As a staff writer on season 3 of The Great, Pickett was credited on episodes "Sweden" and "Three Pieces" alongside series creator, Tony McNamara.[13] She has also written for Ten Pound Poms,[14] Bad Education,[15] Brassic,[15] The Buccaneers, and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.[1]
Film
Pickett co-wrote the upcoming film Jehanne d’Arc with writer-director Baz Luhrmann. The script was inspired by Blood Red, Sister Rose by Thomas Keneally, a novel about Joan of Arc.[3] While writing the script, Pickett and Luhrmann travelled to Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Rouen, Kettering and the Royal Armouries Museum for research.[3] Luhrmann said of Pickett: "I feel a kindred spirit with Ava. To put it in medieval terms, I feel we were both born to jest and forced to joust."[3]
Radio
Pickett wrote the comedy radio programme Roots, which was first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2020[16] and was a Comedy of the Week.[17]