Four plays that will win prize money in two categories in the 2024 National Literature Competition have been determined. Two of the four people speak English, one describes themselves as French, and the other describes himself as multilingual.

The first prize was given to Charles Meder for the play written by someone over the age of 20. Urd. For a multilingual product, as a sacrifice, display mannequin, mannequins and public mannequins (Urd. A criminal, his victim, a window mannequin, several inflatable mannequins and a multilingual play for the audience).

Meanwhile, the first (and only) award in the under 20 playwrights category went to Aimée Dhonte, who writes playwrights in English. It’s raining cats and dogs.

Won the second prize in the adults category Les Bienheureux (Blessed are they) by Antoine Pohu in French.

Second Zechariah Erik Abbott’s work, also in English, received the third prize in the adult category.

The National Literature Competition is given by the ministry of culture and this year’s professional jury consists of Luc Schiltz (chairman), Tullio Forgiarini, Carole Lorang, Sarah Rock and Pascal Seil.

There were 48 entries in the adult category. The jury praised Meder’s winning play as “a determined play on the actors” and noted that its biting humor developed into a “violent showdown” with modern Luxembourg society.

There were four applications from the 12-19 age group. The jury praised Dhonte’s winning play as a “touching play” in which literature and fairy-tale poetry transform the life of the play’s young protagonist.

The prize provides a major boost to new plays whose authors hope to bring them to the stage soon. “I sincerely hope that new talents as well as established writers are emerging and that their works will soon come to life on our national stages,” Culture Minister Eric Thill said in a press release.

The prize for the winner of the adult category is 7,500 euros, and up to 5,000 euros will be contributed to the publishing costs of the winning work, if an agreement with a well-known publishing house is presented. The second prize is 4,000 Euros and the third prize is 3,000 Euros. The under 20 category comes with a check of €3,000.

The 2024 National Literature Competition is reserved for plays in Luxembourgish, French, German and/or English, and the prizes will be awarded at a ceremony in early December. Next year’s competition will focus on novels.