A TEENAGER'S play exploring the toll moving away from home takes on a mother and daughter has won over judges in a national competition.

Molly O’Gorman's Broad Shadow was picked as the winner of the National Theatre's annual playwriting competition New Views.

The 17-year-old Brighton College student's work will be performed by professional actors at the National Theatre in July.

It tells the story of a strain placed on a mother and daughter relationship when a job opportunity arises and the latter has the chance to move away from her native Ireland.

Irish-born Molly, who wants to be a writer for TV, radio and theatre, said: “I am ecstatic and humbled to have won this competition, as well as incredibly grateful to the National Theatre for providing me with this opportunity to get my work out there.

"I have always wanted to be a writer, so this has been a dream come true and I hope that this won't be the last time I'm here.

"I’ve always wanted to be a writer of some sort and have been writing things for as long as I can remember, from being a kid when I would force my friends to take all the parts I wrote.

"I have dozens of half-finished plays on my laptop.

"When I was told about the competition, I started to formulate this play in my head and over the months it just came together.

"It’s a study of characters but it’s also about immigration, racism, homophobia and how young people are portrayed in society.

"It’s still sinking in that I am actually going to see my play being out on by actors – and at the National. I just can’t believe it."

Ben Power, the theatre's deputy artistic director and chairman of the judging panel, said: "The winning play—tender, truthful and quietly thrilling—stood out for all of us from a very strong field."

Molly’s friend and fellow student Hope Leslie, 17, was also shortlisted in the competition.

The New Views competition encourages young people to write plays about topics which are important to them, exploring contemporary questions and dilemmas.

Students enrolled in the programme follow an online playwriting course written by Jemma Kennedy, with contributions from celebrated playwrights including Simon Stephens, Alecky Blythe and James Graham, and are mentored in school by a team of 17 professional writers before putting pen to paper and entering their stories.

Molly O’Gorman Broad Shadow will be performed in the National Theatre's Dorfman Theatre in London on July 6, 7, and 8 at 5.30pm.

Booking opens on June 21. Visit nationaltheatre.org.uk/newviews