HeLa, a fascinating insight into the controversial search for a cure for cancer, has won the Scottish Theatre Fringe Award for best production in the 2013 festival.
The first prize, the Flying Artichoke award, is given annually by the Scottish Arts Club and EdinburghGuide.com.
First runner-up was If These Spasms Could Speak, while Titus took third spot. All three plays are one-person shows.
Hela, written and performed by Edinburgh-based actress Adura Onashile, directed by Graham Eatough and presented by Iron Oxide, "is an all-consuming tale, spanning race and poverty in 1950s America to current ethical debates surrounding ownership of our DNA."
The panel of five judges, chaired by Catherine Robins, said the play is "a fascinating insight into the interface between science and humanity." The play was originally commissioned by the Edinburgh International Science Festival.
The play was inspired by "The Immortal Life of Henrietta lacks" by American Rebecca Skloot, involving a cell sample taken by doctors from Henrietta without her permission which led to ground-breaking scientific discoveries -- and the question of who owns DNA.
If These Spasms Could Speak was written and performed by Robert Softley which is described as "an outstanding solo performance about disabled people's bodies, based on touching, surprising and hilarious stories". The judges said it was theatre "really breaking barriers''.
Titus, by Belgian Jan Sobrie in a new English version by Oliver Amenuel, took third spot. The solo play concerns big lies and small truths, pigs that fall in love, crows that talk and other unlikely incidents. Director Lu Kemp also directed the first Flying Artichoke-winning play, A Thousand Paper Cranes, two years ago.
All three plays were supported with funding from the Scottish government's Made in Scotland programme. The special unique sculptural award was produced by a member of the Arts Club.The winners and the runners up also received free membership of the Scottish Arts Club for the next year. The award ceremony which was held in the Scottish Arts Club in Rutland Square was packed to capacity,and a good night was had by all who attended.