Zodwa Nyoni is a Zimbabwean-born playwright, screenwriter and director.
Her debut play, BOI BOI IS DEAD won the Channel 4 Playwrights’ Scheme in 2014. It was also a finalist for the international Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2014/15. Since, her plays have been produced in the UK, France, Germany, USA, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Her most recent work, THE DARKEST PART OF THE NIGHT (Kiln Theatre) was shortlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award and George Devine Award 2021. It was ranked as one of the best plays of 2022 by The Independent (UK).
Zodwa’s plays are published by Bloomsbury. She has lectured in poetry and theatre since 2018. She is currently a Lecturer in Scriptwriting at Manchester Metropolitan University and an associate dramaturg for Tiata Fahodzi and Fifth Word Theatre.
She has written two radio plays, LOVE AGAIN (BBC Radio 3) and A KHOISAN WOMAN (Drama on 3); and three short films: MAHOGANY (National Trust and 24 Design Ltd) and NOTES ON BEING A LADY (New Creatives / BBC Arts) and the award winning, THE ANCESTORS (BBC Films and BFI Network).
Zodwa was an international fellow on Oxbelly’s inaugural Episodic Program in Greece. She is a BAFTA Connect member and was on the BIFA mentoring programme.
She is currently working on Netflix’s spin-off series, CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE; under commission at Manchester Royal Exchange, Bristol Old Vic and Kiln Theatre; and writing an opera for Buxton International Festival.