Jamaican playwright Aston Cooke copped the Best Play award for his entry in the 2009 National Literary Competition staged by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) at a ceremony held recently at the Rex Nettleford Hall at the University of the West Indies. Cooke's entry was a full-length manuscript called Jonkanoo Jamboree.

The judges report read: "Where there was understanding of stage craft, use of space and natural dialogue, the characters and story emerged, as in Jonkanoo Jamboree, a pantomime script."

Cooke said he was grateful for the opportunity the JCDC competition afforded.

"I respect the work of the JCDC in this area as I have always entered my plays in the literary competition," Cooke said. "It is always good to have a third party read your work and make comments and recommendation for improvement."

Cooke is no stranger to the Jamaican theatre scene. He began writing while attending Wolmer's Boys' and participated in the Secondary Schools' Drama Festival. In 1979 he penned the award winning one-act play, Pickle, entered by Wolmer's for that year's festival.

Cooke is comfortable writing for most media - film, television, radio and stage. In 1985, he wrote the first five episodes of Oliver at Large for JBC TV, which is one of Jamaica's most successful television series to date.

Cooke's writing portfolio includes LTM National Pantomimes, River Mumma and the Golden Table, Children-Children, Jamaica Run-Down, Jamaica Pepperpot, Front Room, Country Duppy, Kiss Mi Neck, Single Entry, the multiple award-winning Jamaica 2 RAHTID, Concubine and Pupalick. His current production is Me and Mi Chapsie playing at the Pantry Playhouse in New Kingston.