The plays, by Temi Wilkey and Daniel Ward respectively, are two of nine works nominated for the award, which recognises new writing from promising playwrights.
The High Table, which saw its creator win the Best Writer category at the Olivier Awards last month, played at the Bush Theatre in February. Meanwhile, The Canary and the Crow carried out a UK tour in 2019 before having a run at the Arcola Theatre.
Previous winners of the George Divine Award, which sees the successful individual take home a £15,000 prize, include A Very Expensive Poison and I Hate Suzie writer Lucy Prebble, and Death of England co-writer Roy Williams.
Williams, who will also judge the shortlist, said that the quality this year is “exceptional”.
“They are a set of bold, diverse voices representing huge variety in style and subject matter.
“Amidst a very difficult year for theatre, it felt clear when discussing these plays with my fellow judges that there is a bright future to look towards for new writing when the industry reopens,” he said.
Other judges include Rosmersholm director and former Royal Court Artistic Director Ian Rickson, and Summer and Smoke actress Patsy Ferran.
Alongside The High Table and The Canary and the Crow, Dipo Baruwa-Etti’s When Great Trees Fall, Chris Bush’s Motherland and Nyla Levy’s Does My Bomb Look Big In This also made the shortlist.
The list is completed with Staying at Stacey’s by Annie Jenkins, There Are No Beginnings by Charley Miles, Out of Sorts by Danusia Samal and O, Island by Nina Segal.
The winner is set to be announced later this month.
Photos: Helen Murray (The High Table) and Richard Davenport/The Other Richard (The Canary and the Crow).
Liam O'Dell 